NameCensus.

UK surname

Gliddon

A variant spelling of the English surname Gliddon, from an Old English place name meaning "the bright valley."

In the 1881 census there were 366 people recorded with the Gliddon surname, ranking it #8,490 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 557, ranked #9,196, down from #8,490 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Topsham, Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall, Torridge and West Somerset.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gliddon is 605 in 2004. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 52.2%.

1881 census count

366

Ranked #8,490

Modern count

557

2016, ranked #9,196

Peak year

2004

605 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Gliddon had 366 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,490 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 557 in 2016, ranked #9,196.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 581 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Gliddon surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Gliddon surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Gliddon 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 273 #8,212
1861 historical 314 #8,088
1881 historical 366 #8,490
1891 historical 456 #7,996
1901 historical 534 #7,683
1911 historical 581 #7,005
1997 modern 584 #8,299
1998 modern 597 #8,422
1999 modern 600 #8,438
2000 modern 595 #8,473
2001 modern 588 #8,417
2002 modern 602 #8,442
2003 modern 602 #8,313
2004 modern 605 #8,299
2005 modern 591 #8,363
2006 modern 598 #8,302
2007 modern 597 #8,383
2008 modern 584 #8,591
2009 modern 594 #8,663
2010 modern 602 #8,766
2011 modern 593 #8,767
2012 modern 560 #9,050
2013 modern 554 #9,279
2014 modern 563 #9,217
2015 modern 561 #9,153
2016 modern 557 #9,196

Geography

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Where Gliddons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Topsham, Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes, Sutcombe, Pancrassweek and Tavistock. Whitechurch, St Peter Tavy. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall, Torridge, West Somerset and Basingstoke and Deane. 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 Topsham Devon
2 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Sutcombe, Pancrassweek Devon
5 Tavistock. Whitechurch, St Peter Tavy Devon

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 001 Cornwall
2 Torridge 008 Torridge
3 West Somerset 004 West Somerset
4 Torridge 009 Torridge
5 Basingstoke and Deane 004 Basingstoke and Deane

Forenames

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First names often paired with Gliddon

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Gliddon

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Gliddon, 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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Gliddon surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Gliddon household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Gliddon is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Gliddon is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy end of the index.

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

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Gliddon falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Gliddon is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Gliddon

The surname Gliddon is believed to have originated in the southwestern region of England, specifically in the county of Cornwall, during the late medieval period. It is derived from the Cornish place name "Glidden," which refers to a small hamlet or village nestled among the verdant countryside.

The earliest recorded mention of the name Gliddon can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Cornwall from the 14th century, where it appeared as "Glyddon." This spelling variation suggests that the name may have evolved from the Cornish term "glyd," meaning "bright" or "shining," possibly referring to a geographical feature or a person's physical characteristic.

In the 16th century, the Gliddon surname was documented in various parish records and manorial rolls throughout Cornwall, indicating the family's longstanding presence in the region. One notable early bearer of the name was John Gliddon, a yeoman farmer born in the village of St. Erth in 1542, whose descendants continued to reside in the area for generations.

As the Gliddon family spread across England in the subsequent centuries, the name underwent minor spelling variations, such as "Glyddon," "Glydden," and "Gliden." These variations were common during a time when standardized spelling was not yet established, and names were often recorded phonetically by scribes.

In the 18th century, a prominent figure bearing the Gliddon surname was George Gliddon, a renowned archaeologist and Egyptologist born in Devonport, England, in 1809. He gained recognition for his contributions to the study of ancient Egyptian artifacts and his collaboration with renowned scholars like Samuel George Morton.

Another notable individual was John Gliddon, a successful merchant and shipowner from Cornwall, who lived from 1765 to 1843. His maritime ventures and trade connections played a significant role in the economic growth of the region during the late 18th and early 19th centuries.

In the 19th century, the Gliddon surname also appeared in historical records related to the British Empire's expansion and colonization efforts. For instance, William Gliddon, born in 1822, served as a colonial administrator in British India, where he held various administrative positions until his retirement in 1875.

Furthermore, the name Gliddon has been associated with several place names in Cornwall, such as Gliddon Farm in the parish of Towednack and Gliddon Barn in the parish of St. Erth. These place names serve as tangible reminders of the surname's deep-rooted connection to the Cornish landscape and its historical significance in the region.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Gliddon families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gliddon 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. Devon leads with 186 Gliddons recorded in 1881 and an index of 24.49x.

County Total Index
Devon 186 24.49x
Middlesex 62 1.70x
Cornwall 43 10.41x
Gloucestershire 30 4.19x
Surrey 12 0.68x
Lancashire 8 0.18x
Channel Islands 7 6.48x
Somerset 7 1.19x
Glamorgan 5 0.79x
Sussex 4 0.65x
Kent 2 0.16x
Dorset 1 0.42x
Durham 1 0.09x
Hampshire 1 0.13x
Hertfordshire 1 0.40x
Norfolk 1 0.18x
Royal Navy 1 2.30x
Worcestershire 1 0.21x
Yorkshire 1 0.03x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Plymouth St Andrew in Devon leads with 31 Gliddons recorded in 1881 and an index of 52.99x.

Place Total Index
Plymouth St Andrew 31 52.99x
Topsham 28 782.12x
Plymouth Charles The 25 74.72x
Bristol St Paul In 18 94.44x
North Tamerton 15 2500.00x
Stoke Damerel 14 26.34x
Kensington London 13 6.41x
Hackney London 11 5.38x
Launcells 9 1304.35x
Islington London 8 2.26x
Okehampton 8 279.72x
Sutcombe 8 1538.46x
Westminster St James 8 21.33x
Bristol St James St Paul 7 29.34x
Clawton 7 1250.00x
Holsworthy 7 327.10x
Huxham 7 4375.00x
Pilton 7 278.88x
St Peter Port 7 35.00x
Thornbury 7 1794.87x
Kirkdale 6 8.24x
Paddington London 6 4.47x
St Germans 6 208.33x
Exeter St David 5 77.04x
Lambeth 5 1.57x
Phillack 5 93.81x
St Marylebone London 5 2.57x
Bethnal Green London 4 2.52x
Newington 4 2.97x
Tavistock 4 46.24x
Williton 4 203.05x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 3 4.45x
Chertsey 3 26.11x
Eastbourne 3 10.60x
Egg Buckland 3 230.77x
Exeter St Mary Major 3 65.50x
Llandaff 3 14.20x
Newlyn 3 170.45x
Poplar London 3 4.36x
Stogumber 3 193.55x
Stonehouse East 3 77.92x
Barnstaple 2 16.78x
Exeter Heavitree 2 35.34x
Roath 2 6.93x
Thrushelton 2 377.36x
Tormoham 2 6.22x
Barnard Castle 1 18.66x
Bishops Tawton 1 42.19x
Black Torrington 1 91.74x
Blandford Forum 1 21.19x
Bradstone 1 625.00x
Bristol St James In 1 9.51x
Calverley Cum Farsley 1 9.74x
Claines 1 7.65x
Compton Gifford 1 42.02x
East Blatchington 1 370.37x
Exeter St Sidwell 1 5.75x
Great Yarmouth 1 2.15x
Hitchin 1 8.81x
Hound 1 19.69x
Hythe St Leonard 1 22.73x
Lawhitton 1 185.19x
Lezant 1 108.70x
Liverpool 1 0.38x
Maidstone 1 2.70x
Pancrasweek 1 243.90x
Pyworthy 1 158.73x
Quethiock 1 163.93x
Royal Navy 1 2.69x
Sampford Courtenay 1 87.72x
Sidmouth 1 22.99x
Southill 1 158.73x
St Luke London 1 1.71x
St Paul Covent Garden 1 27.40x
Toxteth Park 1 0.68x
Westbury On Trym 1 4.13x
Whitstone 1 196.08x
Willesden 1 2.91x
Withycombe Rawleigh 1 25.25x
Woodbury 1 44.44x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 29
Elizabeth 19
Sarah 11
Jane 7
Alice 6
Emily 6
Florence 6
Eliza 5
Emma 5
Annie 4
Ellen 4
Bessie 3
Caroline 3
Hannah 3
Maria 3
Susan 3
Ada 2
Amy 2
Ann 2
Edith 2
Ethel 2
Eva 2
Flora 2
Harriett 2
Isabella 2
Jessie 2
Kate 2
Lily 2
Louisa 2
Norah 2
Rosa 2
Rosina 2
Selina 2
Agness 1
Amelia 1
Amina 1
Aves 1
Beatrice 1
Christiana 1
Dameres 1
Deborah 1
Etta 1
Hemily 1
Ida 1
James 1
Julia 1
Julie 1
Laura 1
Lilly 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 25
John 23
George 12
Joseph 11
James 10
Charles 8
Richard 8
Thomas 8
Alfred 6
Samuel 6
Arthur 5
Edward 4
Henry 4
Albert 3
Benjamin 3
Frederick 3
Fredk. 3
Edwin 2
Francis 2
Frank 2
Herbert 2
Joshua 2
Norman 2
Ralph 2
Robert 2
Augustus 1
Aurelius 1
Cade 1
Douglas 1
Earnest 1
Ernest 1
F. 1
Fil 1
Frederic 1
Fredrick 1
Gamis 1
Gerald 1
Harold 1
Harry 1
Louis 1
Percy 1
Sidney 1
Sydney 1
Thos. 1
Unamed 1
Unnamed 1
W.H. 1
Walter 1
Willey 1
Willie 1

FAQ

Gliddon surname: questions and answers

How common was the Gliddon surname in 1881?

In 1881, 366 people were recorded with the Gliddon surname. That placed it at #8,490 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Gliddon surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 557 in 2016. That gives Gliddon a modern rank of #9,196.

What does the Gliddon surname mean?

A variant spelling of the English surname Gliddon, from an Old English place name meaning "the bright valley."

What does the Gliddon map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Gliddon 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.