NameCensus.

UK surname

Gurden

A locational surname derived from the village of Gourdon in northern France.

In the 1881 census there were 157 people recorded with the Gurden surname, ranking it #15,046 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 217, ranked #18,535, down from #15,046 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St Pancras and Cowley, Iffley (Nuneham Courtney, Berkshire, including Littlemoor Liberty), St Clement. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wealden, Huntingdonshire and Oxford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gurden is 280 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 38.2%.

1881 census count

157

Ranked #15,046

Modern count

217

2016, ranked #18,535

Peak year

1911

280 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Gurden had 157 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #15,046 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 217 in 2016, ranked #18,535.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 280 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Gurden surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Gurden surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Gurden 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 132 #14,174
1861 historical 80 #23,566
1881 historical 157 #15,046
1891 historical 204 #14,702
1901 historical 262 #12,740
1911 historical 280 #11,982
1997 modern 228 #16,211
1998 modern 271 #14,883
1999 modern 264 #15,223
2000 modern 267 #15,055
2001 modern 254 #15,363
2002 modern 251 #15,770
2003 modern 242 #15,960
2004 modern 231 #16,591
2005 modern 220 #17,078
2006 modern 236 #16,384
2007 modern 239 #16,449
2008 modern 242 #16,432
2009 modern 238 #17,002
2010 modern 235 #17,477
2011 modern 226 #17,792
2012 modern 221 #17,979
2013 modern 227 #17,922
2014 modern 226 #18,088
2015 modern 223 #18,165
2016 modern 217 #18,535

Geography

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Where Gurdens are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St Pancras, Cowley, Iffley (Nuneham Courtney, Berkshire, including Littlemoor Liberty), St Clement, Manchester and Ham, East. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wealden, Huntingdonshire, Oxford, Shropshire and Torfaen. 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 London parishes London 3
2 St Pancras London (North Districts)
3 Cowley, Iffley (Nuneham Courtney, Berkshire, including Littlemoor Liberty), St Clement Oxfordshire
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 Ham, East Essex

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wealden 006 Wealden
2 Huntingdonshire 021 Huntingdonshire
3 Oxford 005 Oxford
4 Shropshire 023 Shropshire
5 Torfaen 013 Torfaen

Forenames

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First names often paired with Gurden

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Gurden

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Gurden, 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 Gurden surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Gurden 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, Gurden 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

Gurden is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Gurden falls in decile 10 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.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Gurden

The surname Gurden has its origins in England, with the earliest records dating back to the 13th century. The name is derived from the Old English word "gyrden," which means "enclosed yard" or "garden." This suggests that the name may have originally referred to someone who lived near an enclosed yard or garden, or perhaps someone who worked as a gardener.

The name Gurden appears in various historical records, including the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where it is spelled "Gurdon." This early spelling variation highlights the fluidity of surnames during that time period, as they were often spelled phonetically or based on regional dialects.

One of the earliest documented individuals with the surname Gurden was John Gurdon, who was recorded in the Pipe Rolls of Bedfordshire in 1273. Another notable figure was Sir Adam Gurdon, a 14th-century English politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament for Cambridgeshire in 1335 and 1337.

In the 16th century, the Gurden surname can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Suffolk in 1524, where it is listed as "Gurdyn." This record provides insight into the distribution of the name across various regions of England during that time.

The Gurden name also has connections to place names, such as the village of Grundisburgh in Suffolk, which was formerly known as "Gurdunsburi" or "Gurdon's Burgh" in the Domesday Book of 1086. This suggests a possible link between the surname and a historical landowner or prominent figure associated with that area.

Notable individuals with the surname Gurden throughout history include Brampton Gurdon (1614-1679), an English politician and lawyer who served as a Member of Parliament for Suffolk, and John Gurdon (1688-1768), a British colonial administrator who served as the Governor of Bermuda from 1709 to 1711.

In the 19th century, Joseph Gurden (1780-1869) was a British architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Church of St. Michael and All Angels in Shoreditch. Another prominent figure was Thomas Gurden (1851-1919), an English cricketer who played for Gloucestershire County Cricket Club in the late 19th century.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Gurden families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gurden 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. Oxfordshire leads with 53 Gurdens recorded in 1881 and an index of 56.04x.

County Total Index
Oxfordshire 53 56.04x
Middlesex 32 2.09x
Lancashire 14 0.77x
Leicestershire 11 6.48x
Yorkshire 11 0.72x
Surrey 9 1.21x
Northamptonshire 7 4.86x
Warwickshire 7 1.81x
Hampshire 3 0.96x
Kent 2 0.38x
Nottinghamshire 2 0.97x
Berkshire 1 0.87x
Durham 1 0.22x
Gloucestershire 1 0.33x
Lincolnshire 1 0.41x
Rutland 1 8.90x
Staffordshire 1 0.19x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Cowley in Oxfordshire leads with 17 Gurdens recorded in 1881 and an index of 576.27x.

Place Total Index
Cowley 17 576.27x
Marston 14 5185.19x
St Pancras London 13 10.55x
Headington 10 680.27x
St Marylebone London 10 12.23x
York St Cuthbert 9 647.48x
Henley On Thames 7 360.82x
Leicester All Sts 7 210.21x
Manchester 6 7.34x
Croughton 5 1562.50x
Liverpool 5 4.53x
Newington 4 7.07x
Poplar London 4 13.84x
Studley 4 242.42x
Burton Dassett 3 882.35x
Islington London 3 2.02x
Oxford St Aldate 3 300.00x
Southwark St George Martyr 3 9.73x
Canterbury St Mary 2 56.98x
Cottesbach 2 2000.00x
Daventry 2 98.04x
Nottingham St Mary 2 3.75x
Portsea 2 3.25x
Belgrave 1 26.11x
Bourton On The Water 1 163.93x
Croydon 1 2.41x
Deddington 1 97.09x
Ecclesfield 1 8.98x
Garston 1 18.66x
Great Grimsby 1 6.44x
Hampstead London 1 4.19x
Kilby 1 666.67x
Little Wittenham 1 1666.67x
Littlemore 1 384.62x
Longwood 1 40.82x
Paddington London 1 1.78x
Pemberton 1 13.79x
Portsmouth 1 13.83x
Stockton On Tees 1 4.55x
Stoke Upon Trent 1 1.82x
Tottington Lower End 1 11.57x
Uppingham 1 74.63x
Walton On Thames 1 29.15x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 11
Elizabeth 6
Sarah 5
Annie 3
Edith 3
Ellen 3
Harriet 3
Jane 3
Maud 3
Ada 2
Alice 2
Eliza 2
Lucy 2
Rose 2
Susan 2
Amy 1
Ann 1
Blanche 1
Clara 1
Emily 1
Emmack 1
Ester 1
Esther 1
Ethel 1
Flora 1
Grace 1
Hannah 1
Julia 1
Kate 1
Laura 1
Lily 1
Louisa 1
Martha 1
Mrs. 1
Rebecca 1
Rosa 1
Rosina 1
Royley 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 9
John 8
Charles 6
George 6
James 6
Alfred 5
Edwin 4
Edward 3
Richard 3
Thomas 3
Albert 2
Arthur 2
Caleb 2
Cornelius 2
Edmund 2
Francis 2
Eli 1
Ernest 1
Felix 1
Fredk. 1
Henry 1
Herbert 1
Jas.H. 1
Jno. 1
Joseph 1
Leese 1
Mr. 1
Raymond 1
Richd. 1
Robert 1
Samuel 1
Vincent 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Gurden surname: questions and answers

How common was the Gurden surname in 1881?

In 1881, 157 people were recorded with the Gurden surname. That placed it at #15,046 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Gurden surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 217 in 2016. That gives Gurden a modern rank of #18,535.

What does the Gurden surname mean?

A locational surname derived from the village of Gourdon in northern France.

What does the Gurden map show?

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