NameCensus.

UK surname

Goldenberg

A Jewish locational surname derived from various places named Goldberg, meaning "gold mountain" in German.

In the 1881 census there were 14 people recorded with the Goldenberg surname, ranking it #31,604 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 94, ranked #31,871, down from #31,604 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wolverhampton, St George in the East and St Mary Whitechapel. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Hackney, Haringey and Bournemouth.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Goldenberg is 147 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 571.4%.

1881 census count

14

Ranked #31,604

Modern count

94

2016, ranked #31,871

Peak year

1911

147 bearers

Map years

2

1901 to 1911

Key insights

  • Goldenberg had 14 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #31,604 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 94 in 2016, ranked #31,871.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 147 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Goldenberg surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Goldenberg surname density by area, 1911 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Goldenberg 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
1861 historical 1 #34,435
1881 historical 14 #31,604
1891 historical 40 #31,174
1901 historical 120 #20,545
1911 historical 147 #18,104
1997 modern 104 #26,351
1998 modern 97 #28,054
1999 modern 97 #28,187
2000 modern 104 #27,150
2001 modern 97 #27,823
2002 modern 94 #28,797
2003 modern 97 #28,217
2004 modern 93 #29,065
2005 modern 95 #28,817
2006 modern 90 #29,893
2007 modern 91 #30,061
2008 modern 88 #30,857
2009 modern 93 #30,682
2010 modern 100 #30,225
2011 modern 99 #30,218
2012 modern 96 #30,949
2013 modern 99 #30,934
2014 modern 96 #31,667
2015 modern 96 #31,624
2016 modern 94 #31,871

Geography

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Where Goldenbergs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wolverhampton, St George in the East, St Mary Whitechapel, St Dunstan Stepney and Manchester. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Hackney, Haringey, Bournemouth and Camden. 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 Wolverhampton Staffordshire
2 St George in the East London (East Districts)
3 St Mary Whitechapel London (East Districts)
4 St Dunstan Stepney London (East Districts)
5 Manchester Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Hackney 029 Hackney
2 Haringey 030 Haringey
3 Bournemouth 021 Bournemouth
4 Hackney 006 Hackney
5 Camden 011 Camden

Forenames

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First names often paired with Goldenberg

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Goldenberg

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Goldenberg surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Goldenberg household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

Senior Professionals

Within London, Goldenberg is most associated with areas classed as Senior Professionals, part of Central Connected Professionals and Managers. 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 very central neighbourhoods house residents whose ages are more skewed towards older age cohorts than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Few households have young children. Rates of illness are low. Indian ethnicity is rare compared to the Supergroup mean. Property under occupation is more common, despite the centrality of neighbourhoods, and more residents live in communal establishments than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Adult residents of these neighbourhoods are typically aged 25 to 44, working full-time in professional, managerial or associate professional occupations. There are few families with dependent children. The predominantly Inner London neighbourhoods have an international character, including many residents born elsewhere in Europe alongside high numbers of individuals identifying as of Chinese ethnicity. Many individuals are never married, childless and/or living alone. Above average numbers of individuals, likely to be full-time students, live in communal establishments. Elsewhere, privately rented flats are the dominant housing type. Residents of these areas are well-qualified, with a significant number holding Level 4 or above qualifications. There is a correspondingly high level of individuals employed full-time in professional, managerial and associated professional or technical occupations. Employing industries are financial, real estate, professional, administration, and, to a lesser degree, transport and communications. Unemployment is uncommon.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Goldenberg is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Goldenberg falls in decile 9 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Goldenberg is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Goldenberg

The surname Goldenberg is of Germanic origin, originating in the German-speaking regions of Central Europe during the Middle Ages. It is a combination of two words: "gold," meaning the precious metal, and "berg," meaning hill or mountain.

The earliest known record of the surname Goldenberg dates back to the 13th century in the area of modern-day Germany. It is believed to have been initially adopted by individuals who lived near or worked in areas associated with mining or processing gold.

In medieval times, surnames often derived from occupations, locations, or physical characteristics. The name Goldenberg likely referred to individuals who lived near a hill or mountain where gold was mined or worked.

One of the earliest documented references to the name Goldenberg can be found in the "Bairische Stammtafeln" (Bavarian Genealogical Tables), a collection of genealogical records from the 14th century. It mentions a Cunradus Goldenberg, a wealthy merchant from the town of Regensburg, Bavaria, who lived in the late 1300s.

Another notable figure with the surname Goldenberg was Hans Goldenberg, a German painter and engraver born in Nuremberg in 1561. He was known for his intricate woodcuts and engravings depicting religious and allegorical scenes.

In the 17th century, Johannes Goldenberg (1606-1667) was a prominent Lutheran theologian and professor of theology at the University of Rostock in Germany. He authored several influential works on theology and philosophy during his lifetime.

Moving into the 19th century, Carl Goldenberg (1809-1866) was a German-born American businessman and philanthropist. He made his fortune in the textile industry and became known for his charitable contributions to educational institutions in Philadelphia.

During the 20th century, one of the most notable individuals with the surname Goldenberg was Samuel Goldenberg (1905-1993), a Polish-born American artist and sculptor. He was renowned for his abstract metal sculptures and his work can be found in numerous museums and public spaces across the United States.

The surname Goldenberg has since spread beyond its Germanic roots and can be found in various countries around the world, particularly in areas with significant German or Jewish populations. However, its origins can be traced back to the hills and mountains of Central Europe, where the name first emerged as a reference to those associated with the mining or processing of gold.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Goldenberg families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Goldenberg 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 9 Goldenbergs recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.60x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 9 6.60x
Staffordshire 4 8.69x
Yorkshire 1 0.74x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Mile End Old Town London in Middlesex leads with 5 Goldenbergs recorded in 1881 and an index of 172.41x.

Place Total Index
Mile End Old Town London 5 172.41x
St George In East London 4 312.50x
Wolverhampton 4 112.99x
Sculcoates 1 46.73x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Deborah 1
Leah 1
Minnie 1
Rachel 1
Sarah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Abraham 1
Benjn. 1
Chas. 1
Henry 1
Israel 1
Joy 1
Maurice 1
Nathan 1
Samuel 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Goldenberg households.

FAQ

Goldenberg surname: questions and answers

How common was the Goldenberg surname in 1881?

In 1881, 14 people were recorded with the Goldenberg surname. That placed it at #31,604 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Goldenberg surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 94 in 2016. That gives Goldenberg a modern rank of #31,871.

What does the Goldenberg surname mean?

A Jewish locational surname derived from various places named Goldberg, meaning "gold mountain" in German.

What does the Goldenberg map show?

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