NameCensus.

UK surname

Judah

A surname derived from the Hebrew name Judah, meaning "praised".

In the 1881 census there were 9 people recorded with the Judah surname, ranking it #32,416 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 139, ranked #25,001, up from #32,416 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Haringey, Hackney and East Riding of Yorkshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Judah is 143 in 2015. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 1444.4%.

1881 census count

9

Ranked #32,416

Modern count

139

2016, ranked #25,001

Peak year

2015

143 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Judah had 9 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #32,416 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 139 in 2016, ranked #25,001.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 11 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Judah surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Judah surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Judah 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 2 #33,133
1861 historical 11 #32,452
1881 historical 9 #32,416
1891 historical 1 #34,674
1901 historical 2 #34,263
1911 historical 4 #33,595
1997 modern 114 #24,967
1998 modern 115 #25,466
1999 modern 115 #25,620
2000 modern 104 #27,150
2001 modern 105 #26,620
2002 modern 113 #26,024
2003 modern 115 #25,538
2004 modern 112 #26,159
2005 modern 125 #24,398
2006 modern 120 #25,269
2007 modern 123 #25,208
2008 modern 122 #25,638
2009 modern 135 #24,594
2010 modern 135 #25,127
2011 modern 132 #25,303
2012 modern 142 #24,148
2013 modern 137 #25,149
2014 modern 142 #24,734
2015 modern 143 #24,481
2016 modern 139 #25,001

Geography

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Where Judahs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Haringey, Hackney, East Riding of Yorkshire, Barnet and Kensington and Chelsea. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Haringey 029 Haringey
2 Hackney 001 Hackney
3 East Riding of Yorkshire 035 East Riding of Yorkshire
4 Barnet 037 Barnet
5 Kensington and Chelsea 008 Kensington and Chelsea

Forenames

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First names often paired with Judah

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Judah

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Judah surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Judah 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 includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Judah is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Judah is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Judah 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 Judah 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 - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Judah

The surname Judah has its origins in the biblical Hebrew name Yehudah, meaning "praised" or "celebrated." It is derived from the ancient Hebrew word "yadah," which means "to praise" or "to give thanks." The name Judah is closely associated with the biblical figure Judah, one of the twelve sons of Jacob and the progenitor of the Israelite tribe of Judah.

The surname Judah is believed to have been adopted by Jews who were expelled from Spain during the Spanish Inquisition in the late 15th century. Many of these exiled Jews sought refuge in other parts of Europe and the Middle East, bringing with them their Hebrew names, including Judah.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Judah appears in the 16th century, when it was mentioned in the records of the Jewish community in Venice, Italy. During this period, the name was sometimes spelled as "Giudah" or "Iuda" due to the influence of Italian and Latin spelling conventions.

In the 17th century, the surname Judah was found in various Jewish communities across Europe, including England, France, and the Netherlands. One notable figure from this time was Judah Loew ben Bezalel (1525-1609), a renowned rabbi and scholar from Prague, who is remembered for his contributions to Jewish mysticism and his legendary creation of the Golem, a mythical figure in Jewish folklore.

In the 18th century, the Judah surname became more widespread, and several prominent individuals bore this name. One such person was Judah Touro (1775-1854), a Jewish-American philanthropist from New Orleans, who made significant contributions to various charitable causes and is remembered for his generosity.

Another notable figure was Judah P. Benjamin (1811-1884), a lawyer and politician who served as the Attorney General, Secretary of War, and Secretary of State for the Confederate States of America during the American Civil War.

In the 19th century, the Judah surname continued to be found in various parts of the world, including the United States and the United Kingdom. One prominent individual with this name was Judah L. Magnes (1877-1948), a American rabbi, scholar, and leader in the Zionist movement, who played a crucial role in the establishment of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

Other notable individuals with the surname Judah include Judah Halevi (c. 1075-1141), a renowned Jewish philosopher and poet from Spain, and Judah Maccabee (died c. 160 BCE), a Jewish priest and military leader who led the Maccabean Revolt against the Seleucid Empire in the 2nd century BCE.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Judah families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Judah 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. Durham leads with 5 Judahs recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.18x.

County Total Index
Durham 5 19.18x
Kent 2 6.69x
Middlesex 1 1.14x
Norfolk 1 7.42x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Gateshead in Durham leads with 5 Judahs recorded in 1881 and an index of 256.41x.

Place Total Index
Gateshead 5 256.41x
Ramsgate 2 408.16x
Hillington 1 10000.00x
Spitalfields London 1 151.52x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 2
Jane 1
Mary 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 1
John 1
Morris 1
Robert 1
Thomas 1

Top occupations

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 Judah households.

FAQ

Judah surname: questions and answers

How common was the Judah surname in 1881?

In 1881, 9 people were recorded with the Judah surname. That placed it at #32,416 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Judah surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 139 in 2016. That gives Judah a modern rank of #25,001.

What does the Judah surname mean?

A surname derived from the Hebrew name Judah, meaning "praised".

What does the Judah map show?

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