NameCensus.

UK surname

Howden

A locational surname referring to someone from the towns of Howden in Yorkshire and elsewhere.

In the 1881 census there were 1,531 people recorded with the Howden surname, ranking it #2,741 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,150, ranked #3,008, down from #2,741 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Haddington, London parishes and Bubwith. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Selby, North East Lincolnshire and East Lindsey.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Howden is 2,272 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 40.4%.

1881 census count

1,531

Ranked #2,741

Modern count

2,150

2016, ranked #3,008

Peak year

1999

2,272 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Howden had 1,531 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,741 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,150 in 2016, ranked #3,008.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,058 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Howden surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Howden surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Howden 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 1,142 #2,467
1861 historical 1,112 #2,522
1881 historical 1,531 #2,741
1891 historical 1,734 #2,625
1901 historical 2,058 #2,604
1911 historical 1,619 #2,999
1997 modern 2,171 #2,851
1998 modern 2,237 #2,877
1999 modern 2,272 #2,852
2000 modern 2,230 #2,890
2001 modern 2,167 #2,906
2002 modern 2,256 #2,866
2003 modern 2,185 #2,882
2004 modern 2,170 #2,908
2005 modern 2,154 #2,885
2006 modern 2,183 #2,860
2007 modern 2,180 #2,878
2008 modern 2,201 #2,881
2009 modern 2,203 #2,946
2010 modern 2,237 #2,974
2011 modern 2,194 #2,978
2012 modern 2,141 #2,991
2013 modern 2,175 #2,996
2014 modern 2,199 #2,986
2015 modern 2,184 #2,977
2016 modern 2,150 #3,008

Geography

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Where Howdens are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Haddington, London parishes, Bubwith, Edinburgh and Wakefield. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Selby, North East Lincolnshire, East Lindsey and Wakefield. 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 Haddington Haddington
2 London parishes London 3
3 Bubwith Yorkshire, East Riding
4 Edinburgh Edinburgh
5 Wakefield Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Selby 005 Selby
2 North East Lincolnshire 013 North East Lincolnshire
3 North East Lincolnshire 016 North East Lincolnshire
4 East Lindsey 013 East Lindsey
5 Wakefield 008 Wakefield

Forenames

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First names often paired with Howden

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Howden

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Howden surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Howden household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Howden 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

Howden 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

Howden 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 Howden is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Howden

The surname Howden is of Anglo-Saxon origin and is a locational name derived from the village of Howden in Yorkshire, England. The place-name itself is thought to be derived from the Old English words "hoh" meaning "heel" or "ridge," and "denu" meaning "valley" or "deep valley."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Houdene." This suggests that the name has been in use for at least nine centuries.

During the Middle Ages, the name Howden was particularly prominent in Yorkshire and the surrounding areas. In the 13th century, a Robert de Howden was a canon of the Church of Howden, while in the 14th century, a John de Howden was a prominent landowner in the region.

In the 15th century, the name is recorded in various spellings, such as "Howdene," "Houdene," and "Howdyn." This variation in spelling was common during this period due to the lack of standardized spelling conventions.

One notable bearer of the name was Roger Howden, a 12th-century English chronicler and author of the "Chronica" and "Gesta Regis Henrici Secundi." He was born around 1145 and died sometime after 1201.

Another famous Howden was John Howden, a 14th-century English theologian and philosopher who studied at the University of Oxford. He was born around 1320 and is known for his work on logic and metaphysics.

In the 16th century, the name is found in various records, including the Parish Registers of Yorkshire, where it appears in forms such as "Howdene" and "Houden."

One notable bearer from this period was Richard Howden, a 16th-century English merchant and explorer who traveled to the New World. He was born around 1540 and is known for his expeditions to the Caribbean and South America.

In the 17th century, the name is found in various parish records, including those of the village of Howden itself. One notable bearer from this period was William Howden, a 17th-century English clergyman and author who was born around 1620 and wrote on theological subjects.

In the 18th century, the name continued to be found in various records, including those of the village of Howden and the surrounding areas. One notable bearer from this period was John Howden, a 18th-century English architect who was born around 1730 and is known for his work on various churches and public buildings in Yorkshire.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Howden families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Howden 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. Yorkshire leads with 450 Howdens recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.07x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 450 3.07x
Midlothian 199 10.03x
Lincolnshire 190 8.02x
East Lothian 117 59.65x
Middlesex 105 0.71x
Lanarkshire 67 1.40x
Lancashire 67 0.38x
Durham 37 0.84x
Stirlingshire 30 5.49x
Selkirkshire 27 20.15x
Surrey 26 0.36x
Northumberland 21 0.95x
Cheshire 15 0.46x
Peeblesshire 14 20.10x
Renfrewshire 14 1.22x
Roxburghshire 14 5.22x
Warwickshire 13 0.35x
Buckinghamshire 10 1.12x
Cumberland 9 0.71x
Kent 9 0.18x
Essex 8 0.27x
Shropshire 8 0.63x
Angus 7 0.51x
Gloucestershire 7 0.24x
West Lothian 7 3.14x
Aberdeenshire 6 0.44x
Huntingdonshire 6 2.04x
Fife 5 0.57x
Derbyshire 4 0.17x
Inverness-shire 4 0.90x
Perthshire 4 0.60x
Hampshire 3 0.10x
Sussex 3 0.12x
Argyllshire 2 0.49x
Isle of Man 2 0.73x
Norfolk 2 0.09x
Staffordshire 2 0.04x
Berkshire 1 0.09x
Somerset 1 0.04x
Suffolk 1 0.06x
Westmorland 1 0.31x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Edinburgh St Cuthberts in Midlothian leads with 88 Howdens recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.03x.

Place Total Index
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 88 11.03x
Breighton Cum Gunby 43 4673.91x
Leeds 32 3.86x
Haddington 31 107.08x
Wakefield 25 22.19x
Barony 23 1.90x
Boston 22 30.62x
Falkirk 21 16.43x
South Leith 18 8.06x
York St Mary 18 29.62x
Ecclesall Bierlow 17 5.70x
Horbury 16 62.33x
Stoke Newington London 16 13.87x
Castleford 15 28.07x
Duddingston 15 37.67x
Great Grimsby 14 9.32x
Darlington 13 7.64x
Dirleton 13 168.83x
Everton 13 2.32x
Selby 13 42.39x
Whitekirk Tynninghame 13 242.54x
Prestonkirk 12 122.32x
St Marylebone London 12 1.52x
Stow 12 117.65x
Stow 12 618.56x
Wortley In Bramley 12 10.33x
Bubwith 11 418.25x
Edinburgh St Georges 11 26.72x
Gorton 11 6.66x
Islington London 11 0.77x
Batley 10 7.17x
Brightside Bierlow 10 3.47x
Galashiels 10 20.19x
Gladsmuir 10 114.42x
Govan 10 0.84x
Peebles 10 48.59x
Abbey 9 5.14x
Camberwell 9 0.95x
Hunslet 9 3.93x
Kensington London 9 1.09x
Larbert 9 27.57x
Sheffield 9 1.93x
Toxteth Park 9 1.51x
Asselby 8 592.59x
Bethnal Green London 8 1.24x
Bothwell 8 6.16x
Cleckheaton 8 14.80x
Clifton In York 8 26.07x
Dewsbury 8 5.32x
Eton 8 39.41x
Glasgow 8 0.94x
Idle 8 11.76x
Leamington Priors 8 8.71x
Methley 8 38.72x
Prestonpans 8 60.84x
Shrewsbury Holy Cross 8 56.62x
St Peterat Gowts Lincoln 8 24.02x
Sutton Stoneferry 8 19.06x
Winteringham 8 235.29x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 7 5.12x
Bennington By Boston 7 251.80x
Brandon Byshottles 7 12.68x
Dalserf 7 14.65x
Edinburgh Buccleuch 7 14.92x
Edinburgh New 7 45.43x
Elswick 7 3.98x
Great Crosby 7 14.61x
Hackney London 7 0.84x
Leverton 7 232.56x
Liverpool 7 0.66x
Oldhamstocks 7 243.06x
Salmonby 7 1346.15x
Shoreditch London 7 1.09x
St Martin Lincoln 7 31.86x
St Maryle Wigford 7 38.06x
Stanley Cum Wrenthorpe 7 10.27x
Stockton On Tees 7 3.30x
Westbury On Trym 7 7.11x
Westgate 7 5.13x
Pencaitland 6 107.33x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 66
William 51
George 39
James 32
Thomas 32
Robert 26
Joseph 20
Henry 19
Arthur 16
Charles 14
Richard 11
Edward 10
Walter 9
Herbert 8
David 7
Frederick 7
Samuel 7
Tom 7
Albert 6
Alfred 6
Benjamin 4
Fred 4
Geo. 4
Wm. 4
Harold 3
Harry 3
Matthew 3
Alexander 2
Edwin 2
Ernest 2
Frank 2
Fredrick 2
Hardy 2
Joe 2
Michael 2
Percy 2
Peter 2
Philip 2
Ralph 2
Sidney 2
Thos. 2
Vincent 2
Ambrose 1
Chas.Ernest 1
Ethelbert 1
Farrow 1
Fergus 1
Homer 1
Ian 1
Isaac 1

FAQ

Howden surname: questions and answers

How common was the Howden surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,531 people were recorded with the Howden surname. That placed it at #2,741 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Howden surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,150 in 2016. That gives Howden a modern rank of #3,008.

What does the Howden surname mean?

A locational surname referring to someone from the towns of Howden in Yorkshire and elsewhere.

What does the Howden map show?

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