NameCensus.

UK surname

Hodder

An English locational surname derived from a place named after the River Hodder in Lancashire.

In the 1881 census there were 1,440 people recorded with the Hodder surname, ranking it #2,894 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,034, ranked #3,167, down from #2,894 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff and Portisham. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include West Dorset, Bristol and Weymouth and Portland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hodder is 2,167 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 41.3%.

1881 census count

1,440

Ranked #2,894

Modern count

2,034

2016, ranked #3,167

Peak year

2002

2,167 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hodder had 1,440 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,894 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,034 in 2016, ranked #3,167.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,109 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Hodder surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hodder surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Hodder 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 1,022 #2,736
1861 historical 760 #3,598
1881 historical 1,440 #2,894
1891 historical 1,578 #2,810
1901 historical 1,896 #2,787
1911 historical 2,109 #2,370
1997 modern 2,099 #2,937
1998 modern 2,141 #2,990
1999 modern 2,147 #3,003
2000 modern 2,157 #2,971
2001 modern 2,117 #2,962
2002 modern 2,167 #2,963
2003 modern 2,121 #2,957
2004 modern 2,104 #2,975
2005 modern 2,085 #2,959
2006 modern 2,093 #2,964
2007 modern 2,094 #2,988
2008 modern 2,051 #3,083
2009 modern 2,122 #3,049
2010 modern 2,108 #3,139
2011 modern 2,093 #3,117
2012 modern 2,024 #3,162
2013 modern 2,066 #3,159
2014 modern 2,063 #3,178
2015 modern 2,044 #3,166
2016 modern 2,034 #3,167

Geography

Back to top

Where Hodders are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Portisham 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 West Dorset, Bristol and Weymouth and Portland. 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 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
3 Portisham Dorset
4 London parishes London 1
5 London parishes London 3

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 West Dorset 005 West Dorset
2 West Dorset 006 West Dorset
3 Bristol 002 Bristol, City of
4 Weymouth and Portland 009 Weymouth and Portland
5 Weymouth and Portland 002 Weymouth and Portland

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Hodder

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Hodder

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Hodder is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Hodder 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

Hodder falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Hodder

The surname HODDER is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "hord," meaning a hoard or treasure. This may suggest that early bearers of the name were associated with guarding or protecting valuables.

The earliest known record of the surname HODDER can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land ownership and tenants commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The name appears in various spellings, such as "Hordere" and "Hordar," indicating its ancient roots.

In the 13th century, the surname HODDER was prominently associated with the village of Hodder in Lancashire, England. This place name likely influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname over time. The village itself is named after the River Hodder, which flows through the area.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname HODDER was John Hodder, born around 1250 in Lancashire. He was a prominent landowner and is mentioned in several historical documents from the time.

Another notable figure was Sir Richard Hodder, a knight who fought in the Hundred Years' War during the 14th century. He was recognized for his bravery and military service under King Edward III.

In the 16th century, Thomas Hodder (1544-1623) was a renowned scholar and theologian. He served as the Regius Professor of Divinity at the University of Cambridge and wrote several influential works on religious topics.

During the English Civil War in the 17th century, Captain William Hodder (1610-1677) fought on the Parliamentarian side. He was noted for his courage and leadership in several key battles against the Royalists.

In the 18th century, Mary Hodder (1742-1819) was a prominent artist known for her detailed botanical illustrations and watercolor paintings of landscapes and rural scenes.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Hodder families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hodder 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. Dorset leads with 305 Hodders recorded in 1881 and an index of 32.52x.

County Total Index
Dorset 305 32.52x
Middlesex 155 1.08x
Somerset 136 5.91x
Surrey 119 1.71x
Devon 118 3.97x
Hampshire 109 3.72x
Kent 79 1.62x
Gloucestershire 60 2.14x
Essex 37 1.31x
Cornwall 34 2.10x
Glamorgan 30 1.21x
Durham 27 0.64x
Warwickshire 26 0.72x
Yorkshire 25 0.18x
Nottinghamshire 24 1.25x
Channel Islands 20 4.72x
Berkshire 16 1.49x
Lancashire 16 0.09x
Staffordshire 16 0.33x
Wiltshire 16 1.27x
Sussex 13 0.54x
Cheshire 12 0.38x
Monmouthshire 9 0.87x
Derbyshire 8 0.36x
Leicestershire 8 0.50x
Midlothian 8 0.42x
Brecknockshire 7 2.45x
Hertfordshire 7 0.71x
Buckinghamshire 5 0.58x
Cambridgeshire 5 0.55x
Royal Navy 4 2.35x
Northumberland 3 0.14x
Northamptonshire 2 0.15x
Worcestershire 2 0.11x
Lanarkshire 1 0.02x
Lincolnshire 1 0.04x
Oxfordshire 1 0.11x
Suffolk 1 0.06x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Lyme Regis in Dorset leads with 42 Hodders recorded in 1881 and an index of 374.00x.

Place Total Index
Lyme Regis 42 374.00x
Portisham 28 802.29x
Lambeth 27 2.17x
Whitchurch Canonicorum 26 499.04x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 25 9.47x
Madron Penzance 23 39.10x
Malborough 23 194.59x
Southwark Christchurch 22 32.86x
West Ham 22 3.53x
Ystradyfodwg 21 9.62x
Allington 20 239.23x
Millbrook 20 27.11x
Southampton St Mary 20 10.86x
Frome 19 34.53x
Portland 18 35.69x
Portsea 18 3.14x
Bridport 17 88.04x
Chard 17 61.02x
Islington London 17 1.23x
Netherbury 17 219.35x
Symondsbury 17 284.76x
Bedminster 16 7.40x
Kensington London 16 2.01x
Nottingham St Mary 16 3.21x
Winsham 16 380.95x
Wrotham 15 92.88x
Berkeley 13 83.33x
Birmingham 13 1.08x
Camberwell 13 1.42x
Seal 13 165.18x
Aveton Gifford 12 279.07x
Battersea 12 2.28x
Bradpole 12 156.05x
Charmouth 12 392.16x
Croydon 12 3.10x
Rimpton 12 944.88x
Eling 11 37.07x
Holy Trinity 11 3.23x
Axminster 10 71.68x
Hackney London 10 1.25x
Melcombe Regis 10 25.73x
Stockport 10 6.16x
Aston 9 0.91x
Broadwinsor 9 146.58x
Melksham 9 41.02x
Paul 9 30.62x
Poplar London 9 3.34x
St Anne Soho London 9 11.03x
Tanfield 9 17.80x
Tiverton 9 17.56x
Wyke Regis 9 66.86x
Abbotsbury 8 167.01x
Barking 8 9.69x
Bromley 8 10.76x
Clerkenwell London 8 2.37x
Fairfield 8 53.48x
Fulham London 8 3.86x
Kilmington 8 325.20x
Lewisham 8 3.08x
Marshwood 8 487.80x
Milford 8 93.46x
Plymouth St Andrew 8 3.49x
St Peter Port 8 10.21x
Timsbury 8 114.78x
Tottenham 8 3.51x
Uplyme 8 179.37x
Willesden 8 5.94x
Wolstanton 8 5.46x
Bethnal Green London 7 1.13x
Brighton 7 1.44x
Cannington 7 102.49x
Cheshunt 7 20.33x
Coyty Lower 7 43.34x
Deptford St Paul 7 1.86x
Hampstead London 7 3.15x
Hawkchurch 7 239.73x
Loughborough 7 9.74x
Odcombe 7 229.51x
St Helier 7 5.08x
Ugborough 7 97.36x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 74
George 72
John 67
Thomas 43
Charles 37
Henry 37
James 31
Albert 24
Robert 22
Edwin 20
Frederick 19
Harry 14
Alfred 13
Joseph 13
Samuel 12
Walter 12
Frank 10
Richard 10
Arthur 9
Edward 8
Ernest 7
Herbert 7
Francis 6
Reginald 5
Benjamin 4
Lionel 4
Sidney 4
David 3
Frederic 3
Geo. 3
Jacob 3
Job 3
Tom 3
Abraham 2
Anthony 2
Ben 2
Daniel 2
Edmund 2
Ephraim 2
Fred 2
Grant 2
Hartley 2
Isaac 2
Leonard 2
Peter 2
Philip 2
Robt. 2
Thos. 2
W. 2
Willie 2

FAQ

Hodder surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hodder surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,440 people were recorded with the Hodder surname. That placed it at #2,894 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hodder surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,034 in 2016. That gives Hodder a modern rank of #3,167.

What does the Hodder surname mean?

An English locational surname derived from a place named after the River Hodder in Lancashire.

What does the Hodder map show?

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