NameCensus.

UK surname

Golding

Derived from an Old English nickname meaning "the golden-haired one" or referring to someone with gold or wealth.

In the 1881 census there were 5,274 people recorded with the Golding surname, ranking it #843 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 7,200, ranked #929, down from #843 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes and St Leonard Shoreditch. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wakefield, King's Lynn and West Norfolk and East Cambridgeshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Golding is 7,696 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 36.5%.

1881 census count

5,274

Ranked #843

Modern count

7,200

2016, ranked #929

Peak year

1999

7,696 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Golding had 5,274 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #843 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 7,200 in 2016, ranked #929.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 7,129 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Golding surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Golding surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Golding 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 3,515 #808
1861 historical 3,503 #808
1881 historical 5,274 #843
1891 historical 5,856 #805
1901 historical 6,581 #845
1911 historical 7,129 #730
1997 modern 7,372 #873
1998 modern 7,618 #881
1999 modern 7,696 #880
2000 modern 7,567 #891
2001 modern 7,389 #889
2002 modern 7,508 #895
2003 modern 7,276 #905
2004 modern 7,348 #891
2005 modern 7,162 #903
2006 modern 7,121 #912
2007 modern 7,125 #919
2008 modern 7,145 #921
2009 modern 7,380 #911
2010 modern 7,531 #912
2011 modern 7,505 #907
2012 modern 7,262 #912
2013 modern 7,351 #915
2014 modern 7,346 #922
2015 modern 7,232 #928
2016 modern 7,200 #929

Geography

Back to top

Where Goldings are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes, St Leonard Shoreditch and St Pancras. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wakefield, King's Lynn and West Norfolk, East Cambridgeshire, Neath Port Talbot and Maldon. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 London parishes London 1
3 St Leonard Shoreditch London (East Districts)
4 London parishes London 3
5 St Pancras London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wakefield 016 Wakefield
2 King's Lynn and West Norfolk 016 King's Lynn and West Norfolk
3 East Cambridgeshire 002 East Cambridgeshire
4 Neath Port Talbot 016 Neath Port Talbot
5 Maldon 001 Maldon

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Golding

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Golding

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

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Golding surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Golding 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 comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Golding 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

Golding 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

Golding 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 Golding is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Golding

The surname Golding originates from England, with roots dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "golde," meaning "golden" or "yellow," suggesting that the name was initially given as a descriptive nickname for someone with golden hair or a fair complexion.

The earliest known record of the name Golding can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from the year 1176, where a person named Goldingus is mentioned. This suggests that the name was already in use during the late 12th century.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as Goldinge, Goldynge, and Guldyng, reflecting the variations in spelling and pronunciation common during that time.

The Golding surname has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One of the most prominent figures was Arthur Golding (c. 1536-1606), an English translator known for his translations of Ovid's "Metamorphoses" and Caesar's "Commentaries." His work significantly influenced English literature and language during the Renaissance period.

Another notable bearer of the surname was Sir Edward Golding (1617-1693), an English lawyer and politician who served as a Member of Parliament and held the position of Solicitor-General during the reign of King Charles II.

In the 18th century, John Golding (1729-1805) was a renowned English writer and antiquarian who published several works on the history and antiquities of various English counties.

The 19th century saw the prominence of Samuel Golding (1826-1890), a British engineer and inventor who made significant contributions to the development of early typewriters and mechanical calculators.

More recently, the name Golding gained literary fame through the British novelist William Golding (1911-1993), best known for his acclaimed novel "Lord of the Flies," for which he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1983.

While the Golding surname has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly through British migration and colonization. Today, the name can be found in various countries, reflecting the global diaspora of English families over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Golding families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Golding 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 1,000 Goldings recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.94x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 1,000 1.94x
Kent 552 3.14x
Surrey 464 1.85x
Essex 364 3.58x
Gloucestershire 352 3.49x
Lancashire 330 0.54x
Hampshire 248 2.35x
Suffolk 240 3.83x
Berkshire 162 4.19x
Sussex 161 1.85x
Cambridgeshire 142 4.35x
Yorkshire 137 0.27x
Staffordshire 114 0.66x
Worcestershire 96 1.43x
Wiltshire 95 2.09x
Norfolk 94 1.19x
Warwickshire 79 0.61x
Northamptonshire 67 1.38x
Cheshire 50 0.44x
Durham 47 0.31x
Hertfordshire 47 1.32x
Bedfordshire 42 1.58x
Buckinghamshire 40 1.29x
Huntingdonshire 35 3.42x
Monmouthshire 35 0.94x
Lincolnshire 33 0.40x
Glamorgan 31 0.35x
Somerset 31 0.37x
Dorset 28 0.83x
Oxfordshire 22 0.69x
Northumberland 20 0.26x
Cumberland 19 0.43x
Devon 19 0.18x
Derbyshire 17 0.21x
Leicestershire 17 0.30x
Nottinghamshire 10 0.14x
Royal Navy 10 1.63x
Cornwall 8 0.14x
Shropshire 7 0.16x
Lanarkshire 6 0.04x
Herefordshire 2 0.09x
Ayrshire 1 0.03x
Brecknockshire 1 0.10x
Clackmannanshire 1 0.24x
Denbighshire 1 0.05x
Selkirkshire 1 0.21x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bristol St George in Gloucestershire leads with 112 Goldings recorded in 1881 and an index of 23.98x.

Place Total Index
Bristol St George 112 23.98x
Islington London 84 1.68x
St Pancras London 77 1.86x
West Ham 66 2.94x
Kensington London 62 2.17x
Camberwell 61 1.85x
Lambeth 59 1.31x
Bitton Oldland 54 52.32x
Paddington London 51 2.69x
Maidstone 46 8.79x
Liverpool 45 1.21x
Hackney London 44 1.52x
Battersea 43 2.27x
Shoreditch London 43 1.93x
Bethnal Green London 41 1.83x
Dudley 40 4.89x
Newington 40 2.10x
Tottenham 39 4.76x
Deptford St Paul 38 2.80x
Mile End Old Town London 37 3.38x
Bermondsey 35 2.28x
Portsea 33 1.60x
Willesden 33 6.80x
Chelsea London 30 1.93x
Farnham 30 15.38x
St Luke London 30 3.63x
St George Hanover Square 29 3.20x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 28 2.95x
Goudhurst 28 57.59x
St George In East London 28 5.78x
Hammersmith London 27 2.13x
Chelmsford 26 14.91x
Poplar London 26 2.68x
St Marylebone London 26 0.95x
Bromley London 25 2.21x
Bury St Edmunds St Mary 25 21.24x
St Ives 24 45.27x
Clerkenwell London 23 1.89x
Oakington 23 239.33x
Southampton St Mary 23 3.47x
Southwark St George Martyr 23 2.22x
Greenwich 22 2.68x
Tetbury 22 38.43x
Toxteth Park 22 1.06x
Aston 21 0.59x
Middlesbrough 21 3.16x
Rowley Regis 21 4.34x
Wantage 21 34.09x
Wolverhampton 21 1.57x
Belchamp St Paul 20 160.26x
Westminster St James 20 3.78x
Cavendish 19 93.83x
Deptford St Nicholas 19 13.63x
Mangotsfield 19 18.88x
Oulton 19 284.43x
Plumstead 19 3.24x
Quy 19 306.95x
Rotherhithe 19 2.99x
Everton 18 0.92x
Millbrook 18 6.77x
Newport Pagnell 18 27.65x
Northampton All Sts 18 10.95x
Birmingham 17 0.39x
Clarendon Park 17 445.03x
Holdenhurst 17 6.14x
Hornsey 17 2.61x
Rainham 17 35.22x
Wimbledon 17 6.04x
Brighton 16 0.91x
Glemsford 16 36.33x
Kempston 16 26.44x
Streatham 16 4.19x
Tonbridge 16 2.53x
West Derby 16 0.90x
Colchester St Peter 15 36.89x
Kirkdale 15 1.46x
Lechlade 15 72.36x
Lower Booths 15 13.70x
Moss Side 15 4.67x
Sedgley 15 2.32x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 298
Sarah 195
Elizabeth 181
Jane 105
Ellen 103
Alice 97
Annie 91
Ann 84
Eliza 83
Emily 83
Emma 74
Hannah 51
Harriet 48
Charlotte 45
Florence 44
Louisa 41
Caroline 39
Martha 39
Maria 34
Margaret 33
Ada 32
Edith 29
Kate 29
Fanny 28
Agnes 27
Catherine 27
Susan 26
Anne 24
Lucy 23
Rose 21
Harriett 20
Matilda 20
Amelia 19
Esther 18
Lydia 18
Minnie 15
Anna 14
Laura 14
Amy 13
Clara 13
Frances 13
Maud 12
Rebecca 12
Ethel 11
Julia 11
Rosa 11
Jessie 10
Elizth. 9
Isabella 9
Susannah 9

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 316
John 239
George 228
James 152
Thomas 150
Henry 127
Charles 121
Edward 72
Arthur 64
Frederick 60
Joseph 57
Alfred 51
Albert 46
Robert 46
Samuel 45
Walter 43
Harry 38
Richard 32
Frank 26
Herbert 25
Ernest 18
Edwin 17
David 16
Thos. 14
Fred 13
Geo. 13
Francis 12
Isaac 12
Patrick 12
Wm. 11
Abraham 10
Benjamin 10
Sidney 9
Stephen 9
Daniel 8
Fredk. 8
Peter 8
Willm. 8
Fredrick 7
Michael 7
Philip 7
Elijah 6
Horace 6
Tom 6
Willie 6
Enoch 5
Jesse 5
Jonathan 5
Luke 5
Mark 5

FAQ

Golding surname: questions and answers

How common was the Golding surname in 1881?

In 1881, 5,274 people were recorded with the Golding surname. That placed it at #843 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Golding surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 7,200 in 2016. That gives Golding a modern rank of #929.

What does the Golding surname mean?

Derived from an Old English nickname meaning "the golden-haired one" or referring to someone with gold or wealth.

What does the Golding map show?

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