NameCensus.

UK surname

Goulden

Of English origin, a habitational name derived from a place name meaning "golden valley".

In the 1881 census there were 1,051 people recorded with the Goulden surname, ranking it #3,750 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,486, ranked #4,153, down from #3,750 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Prestbury, Stockport and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Riding of Yorkshire, Calderdale and Cheshire West and Chester.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Goulden is 1,640 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 41.4%.

1881 census count

1,051

Ranked #3,750

Modern count

1,486

2016, ranked #4,153

Peak year

1999

1,640 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Goulden had 1,051 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,750 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,486 in 2016, ranked #4,153.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,463 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Goulden surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Goulden surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Goulden 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 645 #4,025
1861 historical 654 #4,101
1881 historical 1,051 #3,750
1891 historical 1,234 #3,499
1901 historical 1,366 #3,675
1911 historical 1,463 #3,295
1997 modern 1,570 #3,756
1998 modern 1,596 #3,851
1999 modern 1,640 #3,785
2000 modern 1,625 #3,795
2001 modern 1,563 #3,867
2002 modern 1,582 #3,893
2003 modern 1,543 #3,900
2004 modern 1,536 #3,918
2005 modern 1,489 #3,986
2006 modern 1,465 #4,050
2007 modern 1,497 #4,005
2008 modern 1,518 #3,979
2009 modern 1,515 #4,081
2010 modern 1,563 #4,044
2011 modern 1,503 #4,150
2012 modern 1,464 #4,165
2013 modern 1,527 #4,091
2014 modern 1,526 #4,118
2015 modern 1,511 #4,113
2016 modern 1,486 #4,153

Geography

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Where Gouldens are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Prestbury, Stockport, Manchester, Warrington and London parishes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Riding of Yorkshire, Calderdale, Cheshire West and Chester, Warrington and Cheshire East. 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 Prestbury Cheshire
2 Stockport Cheshire
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 Warrington Lancashire
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Riding of Yorkshire 038 East Riding of Yorkshire
2 Calderdale 027 Calderdale
3 Cheshire West and Chester 020 Cheshire West and Chester
4 Warrington 019 Warrington
5 Cheshire East 016 Cheshire East

Forenames

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First names often paired with Goulden

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Goulden

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Goulden is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Goulden 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

Goulden falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Goulden 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 Goulden, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Goulden

The surname Goulden is of English origin, tracing its roots back to the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English word "golde," meaning "yellow" or "golden," and was likely a nickname or descriptive name given to someone with blonde or yellow hair.

The earliest recorded instance of the Goulden surname dates back to the late 13th century in the Huntingdonshire area of England. In 1273, a man named William Goldyn was mentioned in the Hundred Rolls, an ancient census record from the reign of King Edward I.

During the 14th century, the name appeared in various spellings, including Goldene, Goldin, and Goulden, as documented in the Poll Tax Returns of Yorkshire from 1379. This variation in spelling was common due to the lack of standardized spelling conventions at the time.

One notable historical figure bearing the Goulden surname was Sir John Goulden, a prominent merchant and alderman in the City of London during the 16th century. He served as Sheriff of London in 1543 and played a crucial role in the city's trade and governance.

In the 17th century, the Goulden name was found in various parts of England, including Lancashire and Yorkshire. One notable individual from this period was Robert Goulden (1592-1669), a clergyman and author who served as the Rector of Brighstone in the Isle of Wight.

The 18th century saw the Goulden surname spread further across England, with records showing instances in counties like Derbyshire and Staffordshire. One notable bearer of the name during this time was William Goulden (1718-1790), a prominent clockmaker from Wigan, Lancashire, whose timepieces were highly regarded for their craftsmanship.

In the 19th century, the Goulden surname continued to be found throughout England, with some individuals emigrating to other parts of the British Empire, including Canada and Australia. One notable figure from this period was James Goulden (1823-1902), a Canadian politician and businessman who served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.

Overall, the surname Goulden has a rich history spanning several centuries, with its origins rooted in medieval England. It has been borne by notable individuals in various fields, from merchants and clergymen to politicians and clockmakers, and has spread to various parts of the world through migration and exploration.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Goulden families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Goulden 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. Lancashire leads with 386 Gouldens recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.16x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 386 3.16x
Cheshire 194 8.53x
Yorkshire 132 1.29x
Kent 71 2.02x
Middlesex 51 0.50x
Hampshire 44 2.08x
Surrey 29 0.58x
Warwickshire 24 0.92x
Derbyshire 17 1.05x
Glamorgan 10 0.56x
Norfolk 10 0.63x
Durham 9 0.29x
Angus 8 0.84x
Northumberland 8 0.52x
Shropshire 8 0.90x
Wiltshire 8 0.88x
Staffordshire 7 0.20x
Berkshire 5 0.65x
Isle of Man 5 2.61x
Suffolk 5 0.40x
Sussex 5 0.29x
Dorset 4 0.59x
Nottinghamshire 4 0.29x
Somerset 3 0.18x
Channel Islands 2 0.66x
Lanarkshire 2 0.06x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.15x
Devon 1 0.05x
Essex 1 0.05x
Lincolnshire 1 0.06x
Ross-shire 1 0.35x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Manchester in Lancashire leads with 45 Gouldens recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.19x.

Place Total Index
Manchester 45 8.19x
Stockport 40 34.18x
Leeds 34 5.90x
Warrington 34 23.46x
Salford 30 8.34x
Bowdon 28 310.42x
Hulme 27 10.58x
Altrincham 20 50.34x
Macclesfield 20 19.79x
Chorlton On Medlock 17 8.75x
Ashton Under Lyne 15 5.61x
Howden 15 216.14x
Kearsley 15 58.32x
Pendleton In Salford 15 10.30x
Ramsgate 15 26.15x
South Stoneham 15 32.75x
Hunslet 13 8.17x
Rishworth 12 306.12x
Sale 11 39.44x
Birmingham 10 1.16x
Islington London 10 1.00x
Lower Bebington 10 74.02x
Millbrook 10 18.80x
Penketh 10 227.27x
Portsea 10 2.42x
Charlton Next Woolwich 9 24.56x
Coyty Lower 9 77.32x
Liverpool 9 1.21x
Blackburn 8 2.46x
Dundee 8 2.25x
Huddersfield 8 5.38x
Keighley 8 7.35x
Newington 8 2.10x
Newton In Makerfield 8 21.37x
Pennington In Leigh 8 34.12x
Southampton St Mary 8 6.03x
Sutton 8 19.52x
Adlington 7 230.26x
Aston 7 0.98x
Burtonwood 7 155.90x
Bury 7 5.01x
Canterbury St Mary 7 29.67x
Clerkenwell London 7 2.88x
Dukinfield 7 6.66x
Farnham 7 17.93x
Finchley 7 17.73x
Goole 7 40.91x
Habergham Eaves 7 6.27x
Hartford 7 136.19x
North Meols 7 5.85x
Over 7 30.29x
Sutton In Macclesfield 7 29.66x
Warwick St Mary 7 31.04x
Winshill 7 68.09x
Ardwick 6 5.44x
Barrow In Furness 6 3.61x
Great Sankey 6 266.67x
Lancaster 6 8.25x
Shrewsbury St Chad 6 19.21x
Westminster St John 6 4.78x
Beswick 5 15.99x
Bootle Cum Linacre 5 5.15x
Brinnington 5 23.54x
Ecclesall Bierlow 5 2.41x
Folkestone 5 7.33x
Gateshead 5 2.18x
Newchurch 5 5.00x
Stoke Upon Trent 5 1.36x
Wardleworth 5 7.16x
Whitstable 5 29.00x
Wilton 5 77.64x
Woodbastwick 5 675.68x
Brimington 4 32.65x
Bury St Edmunds St Mary 4 16.99x
Butley 4 205.13x
Deptford St Paul 4 1.48x
Lambeth 4 0.45x
Middleton In Oldham 4 10.91x
Mile End New Town London 4 19.66x
Whalley 4 22.46x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 98
Sarah 40
Elizabeth 39
Ann 25
Jane 20
Alice 18
Annie 18
Ellen 17
Hannah 16
Margaret 16
Martha 16
Emma 14
Eliza 10
Bridget 8
Catherine 8
Ada 6
Emily 6
Harriett 6
Anne 5
Charlotte 5
Louisa 5
Agnes 4
Edith 4
Elizth. 4
Florence 4
Frances 4
Harriet 4
Barbara 3
Caroline 3
Clara 3
Esther 3
Fanny 3
Gertrude 3
Julia 3
Kate 3
Rebecca 3
Rose 3
Ruth 3
Amelia 2
Amy 2
Bertha 2
Betsy 2
Dorothy 2
Eleanor 2
Grace 2
Lavinia 2
Louise 2
Margt. 2
Minnie 2
Rachel 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 74
William 53
James 48
Thomas 47
George 35
Henry 25
Joseph 22
Charles 19
Michael 10
Peter 9
Robert 8
Alfred 7
Arthur 7
Edward 7
Frederick 7
Patrick 7
Richard 7
Herbert 6
Albert 5
Francis 5
Harry 5
Daniel 4
Ernest 4
Frank 4
Fred 4
Harold 4
Samuel 4
Walter 4
Anthony 3
Benjamin 3
Edwin 3
Isaac 3
Christopher 2
Edmund 2
Edwd. 2
Josiah 2
Owen 2
Stephen 2
Thos. 2
Tom. 2
Anty 1
Chas. 1
David 1
Felix 1
Fred. 1
Joshua 1
Lenord 1
Lewis 1
Lionel 1
Woodhouse 1

FAQ

Goulden surname: questions and answers

How common was the Goulden surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,051 people were recorded with the Goulden surname. That placed it at #3,750 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Goulden surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,486 in 2016. That gives Goulden a modern rank of #4,153.

What does the Goulden surname mean?

Of English origin, a habitational name derived from a place name meaning "golden valley".

What does the Goulden map show?

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