NameCensus.

UK surname

Housden

An English surname derived from a place name, possibly related to households or homesteads.

In the 1881 census there were 667 people recorded with the Housden surname, ranking it #5,405 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 731, ranked #7,448, down from #5,405 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Biggleswade, London parishes and Gamlingay. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Uttlesford, King's Lynn and West Norfolk and Huntingdonshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Housden is 885 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 9.6%.

1881 census count

667

Ranked #5,405

Modern count

731

2016, ranked #7,448

Peak year

1911

885 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Housden had 667 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,405 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 731 in 2016, ranked #7,448.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 885 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Housden surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Housden surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Housden 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 410 #5,916
1861 historical 360 #7,095
1881 historical 667 #5,405
1891 historical 753 #5,289
1901 historical 843 #5,400
1911 historical 885 #5,032
1997 modern 790 #6,602
1998 modern 806 #6,713
1999 modern 821 #6,663
2000 modern 826 #6,608
2001 modern 814 #6,556
2002 modern 821 #6,634
2003 modern 803 #6,630
2004 modern 800 #6,673
2005 modern 751 #6,952
2006 modern 732 #7,121
2007 modern 746 #7,085
2008 modern 734 #7,229
2009 modern 742 #7,312
2010 modern 760 #7,315
2011 modern 763 #7,209
2012 modern 745 #7,267
2013 modern 760 #7,269
2014 modern 751 #7,369
2015 modern 732 #7,463
2016 modern 731 #7,448

Geography

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Where Housdens are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Biggleswade, London parishes, Gamlingay, Linton and Sawbridgeworth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Uttlesford, King's Lynn and West Norfolk, Huntingdonshire, Fenland and North Warwickshire. 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 Biggleswade Bedfordshire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Gamlingay Cambridgeshire
4 Linton Cambridgeshire
5 Sawbridgeworth Hertfordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Uttlesford 002 Uttlesford
2 King's Lynn and West Norfolk 016 King's Lynn and West Norfolk
3 Huntingdonshire 019 Huntingdonshire
4 Fenland 011 Fenland
5 North Warwickshire 003 North Warwickshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Housden

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Housden

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Housden 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

Housden is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Housden falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Housden 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 - British

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

Meaning and origin of Housden

The surname Housden is of English origin, tracing its roots back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "hus" meaning house and "denu" meaning valley or deep wooded glen. The combination of these words suggests that the name originally referred to someone who lived in a house situated in a valley or secluded area.

The earliest recorded instances of the Housden surname can be found in historical records from the counties of Sussex and Kent in southern England. One of the earliest known references is in the Assize Rolls of Kent from the year 1317, where a person named William de Housedene is mentioned.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in various spellings such as Housedene, Housdene, and Howsden, reflecting the regional variations in pronunciation and spelling at the time. The surname is also closely associated with the village of Houghton, which was formerly known as Housdene or Housden in medieval times.

Prominent individuals bearing the Housden surname include Sir John Housden (1558-1628), a renowned English lawyer and judge who served as the Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer during the reign of King James I. Another notable figure was William Housden (1692-1766), an English clergyman and author who published several religious works in the 18th century.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Housden family was well-established in the county of Sussex, where they held land and estates in villages such as Buxted and Mayfield. John Housden (1547-1612) and his son Richard Housden (1585-1638) were both prominent landowners and members of the local gentry in this region.

In the 18th century, the Housden surname gained recognition in the field of science and exploration. Edward Housden (1738-1805) was a renowned naturalist and explorer who traveled extensively in the West Indies and South America, making significant contributions to the study of flora and fauna in these regions.

Throughout its history, the Housden surname has maintained a strong presence in England, particularly in the southern counties of Sussex, Kent, and Surrey. While the name has spread to other parts of the world through migration and immigration, its origins can be traced back to the ancient English countryside and the distinctive valleys and glens that gave rise to this distinctive surname.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Housden families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Housden 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. Essex leads with 132 Housdens recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.29x.

County Total Index
Essex 132 10.29x
Cambridgeshire 128 31.11x
Middlesex 119 1.83x
Bedfordshire 66 19.62x
Surrey 50 1.58x
Hertfordshire 46 10.27x
Kent 34 1.53x
Northamptonshire 15 2.45x
Huntingdonshire 10 7.75x
Norfolk 9 0.90x
Yorkshire 9 0.14x
Lancashire 8 0.10x
Suffolk 8 1.01x
Durham 7 0.36x
Nottinghamshire 7 0.80x
Dorset 5 1.17x
Sussex 4 0.37x
Hampshire 3 0.23x
Cheshire 2 0.14x
Derbyshire 1 0.10x
Glamorgan 1 0.09x
Monmouthshire 1 0.21x
Somerset 1 0.10x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Saffron Walden in Essex leads with 73 Housdens recorded in 1881 and an index of 538.75x.

Place Total Index
Saffron Walden 73 538.75x
Biggleswade 31 281.31x
Little Gransden 20 3703.70x
Hackney London 16 4.39x
Shoreditch London 15 5.33x
Edmonton 14 26.75x
Gamlingay 14 326.34x
Linton 14 358.06x
Bedford St Paul 13 56.35x
Landbeach 13 1150.44x
Tottenham 12 11.60x
Ware 12 93.46x
Bromley London 11 7.70x
Lambeth 11 1.94x
Newington 11 4.58x
Standon 11 238.61x
West Ham 11 3.89x
Sawbridgeworth 10 147.49x
Chatteris 9 85.71x
Faversham 9 42.57x
Islington London 9 1.43x
Paddington London 9 3.77x
Upwell 9 193.55x
Wicken 9 478.72x
Bishop Stortford 8 53.48x
Helpstone 8 506.33x
Hildersham 8 1481.48x
Newport 8 358.74x
Potton 8 178.97x
Sandy 8 134.91x
Debden 7 386.74x
Great Chesterford 7 344.83x
Leyton 7 31.69x
St Pancras London 7 1.34x
Stockton On Tees 7 7.51x
Sudbury St Gregory 7 110.41x
Basford 6 14.87x
Bermondsey 6 3.10x
Elm 6 148.88x
Gravesend 6 31.97x
Nether Hallam 6 6.89x
St Andrewthe Less 6 12.76x
Whitechapel London 6 9.37x
Clapham 5 6.16x
Elmdon 5 364.96x
Hammersmith London 5 3.12x
Rotherhithe 5 6.23x
Swaffham Prior 5 276.24x
Canterbury St Paul 4 100.50x
Everton 4 1.63x
Great Sampford 4 289.86x
Hastings St Mary 4 14.67x
Kinson 4 48.02x
Lewisham 4 3.38x
March 4 29.03x
Poplar London 4 3.26x
Ratcliffe London 4 11.15x
Sevenoaks 4 22.26x
Southwark St John 4 20.13x
Tansor 4 714.29x
Waterbeach 4 119.05x
Bury 3 384.62x
Great Gransden 3 212.77x
Hatley St George 3 1034.48x
Streatham 3 6.22x
Writtle 3 57.25x
Beckenham 2 6.90x
Chatham 2 3.28x
Clophill 2 80.97x
Cottenham 2 36.56x
Haddenham 2 51.68x
Ickleford 2 160.00x
Kirkdale 2 1.54x
Little Meolse 2 97.56x
Northowram 2 4.43x
Penge 2 4.82x
Peterborough 2 4.52x
St Thomas Winchester 2 21.28x
Westminster St Margaret 2 6.38x
Wimblington 2 82.30x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 42
George 27
Charles 23
John 16
James 14
Henry 13
Joseph 12
Alfred 11
Arthur 11
Walter 11
Thomas 10
Frederick 9
Herbert 7
Frank 6
Robert 5
Albert 4
David 4
Ernest 4
Fredk. 4
Samuel 4
Edgar 3
Edward 3
Fred 3
Josiah 3
Reuben 3
Sidney 3
Wm. 3
Cornelius 2
Daniel 2
Edwin 2
Lewis 2
Mark 2
Philip 2
Richard 2
Conrad 1
Dennis 1
Ebenezer 1
Eli 1
Esau 1
Francis 1
Fred. 1
Fredc. 1
Fredk.Wm. 1
Fredrick 1
Jeremiah 1
Job 1
Joshua 1
Morris 1
Percy 1
Peter 1

FAQ

Housden surname: questions and answers

How common was the Housden surname in 1881?

In 1881, 667 people were recorded with the Housden surname. That placed it at #5,405 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Housden surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 731 in 2016. That gives Housden a modern rank of #7,448.

What does the Housden surname mean?

An English surname derived from a place name, possibly related to households or homesteads.

What does the Housden map show?

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