UK surname
A topographic surname referring to someone who lived near or worked in a garden or orchard.
In the 1881 census there were 37 people recorded with the Jarden surname, ranking it #28,418 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 9, ranked #37,705, down from #28,418 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Upton with Chalvey, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry and Makerston. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Jarden is 129 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 75.7%.
1881 census count
37
Ranked #28,418
Modern count
9
2016, ranked #37,705
Peak year
1861
129 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Jarden surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Jarden surname density by area, 1861 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 55 | #23,413 |
| 1861 | historical | 129 | #17,271 |
| 1881 | historical | 37 | #28,418 |
| 1891 | historical | 14 | #33,037 |
| 1901 | historical | 18 | #32,032 |
| 1911 | historical | 14 | #32,045 |
| 1997 | modern | 1 | #38,839 |
| 1998 | modern | 2 | #38,550 |
| 1999 | modern | 3 | #38,318 |
| 2000 | modern | 3 | #38,248 |
| 2001 | modern | 3 | #38,091 |
| 2002 | modern | 2 | #38,400 |
| 2003 | modern | 2 | #38,424 |
| 2004 | modern | 3 | #38,241 |
| 2005 | modern | 3 | #38,312 |
| 2006 | modern | 3 | #38,334 |
| 2007 | modern | 3 | #38,372 |
| 2008 | modern | 3 | #38,396 |
| 2009 | modern | 4 | #38,287 |
| 2010 | modern | 3 | #38,552 |
| 2011 | modern | 3 | #38,546 |
| 2012 | modern | 7 | #37,854 |
| 2013 | modern | 6 | #38,049 |
| 2014 | modern | 7 | #37,929 |
| 2015 | modern | 7 | #37,920 |
| 2016 | modern | 9 | #37,705 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Upton with Chalvey, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry, Makerston, Midsomer Norton, Paulton, Chilcompton and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Upton with Chalvey | Buckinghamshire |
| 2 | Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry | Forfar |
| 3 | Makerston | Roxburgh |
| 4 | Midsomer Norton, Paulton, Chilcompton | Somerset |
| 5 | Glasgow | Lanark |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Jarden surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Jarden, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Jarden surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Jarden household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Jarden is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Jarden is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Jarden, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Jarden is believed to have originated in England during the Middle Ages. It is thought to be derived from the Old English words "geard" or "gerd," which both refer to an enclosed area or yard, and "dun," meaning a hill or elevated ground. This suggests that the name may have initially been used to describe someone who lived near or worked on an enclosed yard or farm on elevated land.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1195, where it is spelled "Gereden." This document mentions a landowner named Walter de Gereden, indicating that the name was likely already in use by the late 12th century.
By the 13th century, variations of the name such as "Gerdun," "Jardyn," and "Jerdun" can be found in various county records across southern and central England, including Oxfordshire, Berkshire, and Wiltshire. This suggests that the name had spread and become more widely established during this period.
In the 14th century, the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1279 mention a John de Gerdun, while the Parliament Rolls of 1307 refer to a Robert de Jerdun. These records demonstrate the continued use and evolution of the name's spelling during the Middle Ages.
One notable historical figure with this surname was Sir Robert Jarden (c.1460-1522), a prominent English merchant and member of the Worshipful Company of Mercers in London. He served as Lord Mayor of London in 1516-1517 and was known for his philanthropic efforts, including the founding of several schools and charitable institutions.
Another individual of note was Thomas Jarden (1572-1636), an English clergyman and theologian who served as the Bishop of Norwich from 1633 until his death. He was a prominent figure in the Church of England during the early 17th century.
In the 18th century, the name appears in various parish records and genealogical sources, such as the marriage of Edward Jarden and Mary Pearce in 1736 in Wiltshire, and the birth of John Jarden in Somerset in 1765.
The Jarden surname has also been associated with several place names in England, such as Jarden's Hill in Oxfordshire and Jarden's Wood in Gloucestershire, further indicating its long-standing presence in these regions.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Jarden surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Cheshire leads with 8 Jardens recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.05x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Cheshire | 8 | 10.05x |
| Angus | 7 | 20.95x |
| Lancashire | 5 | 1.17x |
| Middlesex | 5 | 1.39x |
| Staffordshire | 4 | 3.28x |
| Northumberland | 2 | 3.73x |
| Hertfordshire | 1 | 4.02x |
| Kent | 1 | 0.81x |
| Merionethshire | 1 | 15.15x |
| Renfrewshire | 1 | 3.58x |
| Selkirkshire | 1 | 30.67x |
| Wiltshire | 1 | 3.13x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Runcorn in Cheshire leads with 8 Jardens recorded in 1881 and an index of 434.78x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Runcorn | 8 | 434.78x |
| Dundee | 7 | 56.09x |
| Islington London | 4 | 11.44x |
| Wednesbury | 4 | 131.58x |
| Preston | 3 | 26.20x |
| Morpeth | 2 | 317.46x |
| Dolgelley | 1 | 204.08x |
| Edington | 1 | 833.33x |
| Galashiels | 1 | 82.64x |
| Gilston | 1 | 3333.33x |
| Houston Killallan | 1 | 370.37x |
| Liverpool | 1 | 3.85x |
| Newton | 1 | 30.30x |
| St George Bloomsbury | 1 | 48.31x |
| Woolwich | 1 | 21.98x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Jarden surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Jarden surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Jarden households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 5 |
| Labourer | 2 |
| Charwoman | 1 |
| Chemical Lab | 1 |
| Cotton Sloven Tenter | 1 |
| Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Machinist | 1 |
| Miner (Coal) | 1 |
| Pensioner | 1 |
| Printers Compositor | 1 |
| Retailing At Times (Gen Shop) | 1 |
| Seamstress | 1 |
| Tailor | 1 |
| Tailoress | 1 |
| Wife Of Chemical Lab | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 37 people were recorded with the Jarden surname. That placed it at #28,418 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 9 in 2016. That gives Jarden a modern rank of #37,705.
A topographic surname referring to someone who lived near or worked in a garden or orchard.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Jarden bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.