NameCensus.

UK surname

Gladding

A surname derived from an Old English word meaning "glade" or "clearing in a forest".

In the 1881 census there were 192 people recorded with the Gladding surname, ranking it #13,185 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 398, ranked #11,924, up from #13,185 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bengeo, St Leonard Shoreditch and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North East Lincolnshire, East Hertfordshire and Lincoln.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gladding is 428 in 2009. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 107.3%.

1881 census count

192

Ranked #13,185

Modern count

398

2016, ranked #11,924

Peak year

2009

428 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Gladding had 192 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,185 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 398 in 2016, ranked #11,924.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 283 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy Industrial and Coastal Communities.

Gladding surname distribution map

The map shows where the Gladding surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Gladding surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Gladding over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 145 #13,223
1861 historical 113 #19,151
1881 historical 192 #13,185
1891 historical 232 #13,429
1901 historical 253 #13,045
1911 historical 283 #11,883
1997 modern 379 #11,447
1998 modern 398 #11,377
1999 modern 422 #10,999
2000 modern 408 #11,232
2001 modern 404 #11,142
2002 modern 411 #11,208
2003 modern 399 #11,284
2004 modern 403 #11,224
2005 modern 399 #11,206
2006 modern 418 #10,861
2007 modern 403 #11,315
2008 modern 413 #11,185
2009 modern 428 #11,112
2010 modern 420 #11,536
2011 modern 413 #11,560
2012 modern 399 #11,740
2013 modern 404 #11,833
2014 modern 407 #11,848
2015 modern 411 #11,666
2016 modern 398 #11,924

Geography

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Where Gladdings are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bengeo, St Leonard Shoreditch, London parishes, Ipswich St Clement and Warren House and Ware (Ware). Hertford St John, Hertford All Saints. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North East Lincolnshire, East Hertfordshire, Lincoln and West Lindsey. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Bengeo Hertfordshire
2 St Leonard Shoreditch London (East Districts)
3 London parishes London 3
4 Ipswich St Clement and Warren House Suffolk
5 Ware (Ware). Hertford St John, Hertford All Saints Hertfordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North East Lincolnshire 019 North East Lincolnshire
2 North East Lincolnshire 007 North East Lincolnshire
3 East Hertfordshire 012 East Hertfordshire
4 Lincoln 010 Lincoln
5 West Lindsey 001 West Lindsey

Forenames

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First names often paired with Gladding

These lists show first names that appear often with the Gladding surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Gladding

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Gladding, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Baseline UK

Group

Legacy Industrial and Coastal Communities

Nationally, the Gladding surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy Industrial and Coastal Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Gladding household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Single-person households are common in these neighbourhoods, and these residents are typically divorced rather than never married. A high proportion of residents were born outside the UK in the EU. There are many young adults, some with young children, but relatively few residents are of normal retirement age or over. Although levels of identification with ethnic minorities are in line with the Supergroup average, individuals identifying with Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is more common than average. High long-term disability rates are observed, and unpaid care is more common than in the rest of the Group. The predominant housing types are terraced houses and flats, which are typically part of the social rented sector. This Group is commonly found in coastal areas and (present-day or former) industrial towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Gladding is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Gladding is most concentrated in decile 6 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Gladding falls in decile 7 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Gladding is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Gladding, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Gladding

The surname "Gladding" is an English surname that originated in the county of Dorset, England, in the 16th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "glaed," which means "bright" or "shining," and was likely used as a descriptive name for someone with a bright or cheerful disposition.

The earliest known record of the surname "Gladding" dates back to 1568, when a person named John Gladding was mentioned in the parish records of Bere Regis, Dorset. In the 17th century, the surname was also found in other parts of southern England, including the counties of Hampshire and Somerset.

One of the earliest notable individuals with the surname "Gladding" was Thomas Gladding, who was born in Dorset in 1625. He was a farmer and landowner, and his family's land holdings are mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086.

Another early record of the surname "Gladding" comes from the town of Glastonbury, Somerset, where a family by the name of Gladding is mentioned in the town records from the late 16th century. One notable member of this family was William Gladding, who was born in 1578 and served as the mayor of Glastonbury in 1624.

In the 18th century, the surname "Gladding" spread to other parts of England and even to the American colonies. One notable individual from this period was John Gladding, who was born in Dorset in 1712 and later emigrated to the British colony of Virginia, where he became a successful merchant and landowner.

In the 19th century, the surname "Gladding" was also found in other parts of the world, including Australia and New Zealand, where some descendants of English immigrants with the name had settled. One notable individual from this period was Charles Gladding, who was born in London in 1832 and later emigrated to New Zealand, where he became a prominent farmer and community leader.

Throughout history, the surname "Gladding" has been associated with various occupations, including farming, merchanting, and public service. While not a particularly common surname, it has had a presence in various parts of the English-speaking world for several centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Gladding families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gladding surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 51 Gladdings recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.72x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 51 2.72x
Lincolnshire 36 12.02x
Suffolk 35 15.34x
Essex 25 6.76x
Hertfordshire 20 15.49x
Surrey 8 0.88x
Nottinghamshire 6 2.38x
Kent 5 0.78x
Lancashire 5 0.23x
Leicestershire 1 0.48x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Ipswich St Clement in Suffolk leads with 16 Gladdings recorded in 1881 and an index of 275.86x.

Place Total Index
Ipswich St Clement 16 275.86x
West Ham 16 19.60x
Hackney London 14 13.33x
Bengeo 13 866.67x
Bethnal Green London 9 11.06x
St Botolph Lincoln 8 372.09x
Cabourn 7 6363.64x
Hornsey 7 29.56x
Ipswich St Peter 7 228.01x
Fotherby 6 4000.00x
Great Holland 6 2307.69x
Carlton 5 173.61x
Ipswich St Mathew 5 78.25x
Liverpool 5 3.70x
Mile End Old Town London 5 12.54x
St Albans 5 188.68x
Great Grimsby 4 21.04x
Quadring 4 689.66x
Wigtoft 4 930.23x
Lambeth 3 1.84x
Richmond 3 23.46x
Shoreditch London 3 3.70x
St Benet Fink London 3 3750.00x
Woolwich 3 12.71x
Ipswich St Helen 2 74.07x
Limehouse London 2 9.73x
Ratcliffe London 2 19.34x
Romford 2 34.25x
Ware 2 54.05x
Whitechapel London 2 10.83x
Camberwell 1 0.84x
Chattisham 1 714.29x
Chilham 1 109.89x
Crowland 1 53.19x
Hadleigh 1 45.25x
Higham 1 909.09x
Holbeach 1 29.94x
Ipswich St Margaret 1 12.92x
Ipswich St Mary At Elms 1 138.89x
Islington London 1 0.55x
Leicester St Mary 1 5.96x
Lenton 1 16.81x
Little Holland 1 2500.00x
North Forty Foot Bank 1 769.23x
Paddington London 1 1.45x
Southwark St George Martyr 1 2.65x
St Andrew Holborn London 1 12.33x
Stoke Newington London 1 6.85x
Wye 1 101.01x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Gladding surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Elizabeth 11
Mary 9
Alice 7
Sarah 6
Emma 5
Jane 4
Ada 3
Annie 3
Clara 3
Ellen 3
Kate 3
Caroline 2
Charlotte 2
Eliza 2
Harriet 2
Louisa 2
Margaret 2
Martha 2
Ruth 2
Sophia 2
Agnes 1
Ann 1
Anna 1
Augusta 1
Betsy 1
Estha 1
Esther 1
Eveline 1
Flor. 1
Florance 1
Florence 1
Frances 1
Hannah 1
Harriett 1
Jessie 1
Josephine 1
Lavinia 1
Maria 1
Maryann 1
Rachael 1
Rose 1
Rosetta 1
Selinia 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Gladding surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
George 9
John 8
William 8
James 6
Charles 5
David 5
Alfred 4
Arthur 4
Henry 4
Thomas 4
Geo. 3
Samuel 3
Albert 2
Andrew 2
Herbert 2
Robert 2
Walter 2
Abraham 1
Barth 1
Chields 1
Darral 1
Edgar 1
Edmond 1
Edwd. 1
Enever 1
Frederic 1
Frederick 1
Joseph 1
Leonard 1
Quickfall 1
Richard 1
Robt. 1
Sam 1
Stephen 1
Tom 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Gladding surname: questions and answers

How common was the Gladding surname in 1881?

In 1881, 192 people were recorded with the Gladding surname. That placed it at #13,185 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Gladding surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 398 in 2016. That gives Gladding a modern rank of #11,924.

What does the Gladding surname mean?

A surname derived from an Old English word meaning "glade" or "clearing in a forest".

What does the Gladding map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Gladding bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.