NameCensus.

UK surname

Judd

A surname of English origin, derived from the personal name Jordan or Judah, or referring to someone from Jude.

In the 1881 census there were 3,882 people recorded with the Judd surname, ranking it #1,172 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 4,333, ranked #1,573, down from #1,172 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St Pancras and Winterslow, Idmiston. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Boston, East Hertfordshire and King's Lynn and West Norfolk.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Judd is 4,948 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 11.6%.

1881 census count

3,882

Ranked #1,172

Modern count

4,333

2016, ranked #1,573

Peak year

1911

4,948 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Judd had 3,882 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,172 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 4,333 in 2016, ranked #1,573.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 4,948 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Judd surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Judd surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Judd 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 2,479 #1,199
1861 historical 2,179 #1,344
1881 historical 3,882 #1,172
1891 historical 3,654 #1,315
1901 historical 4,552 #1,251
1911 historical 4,948 #1,055
1997 modern 4,574 #1,432
1998 modern 4,799 #1,414
1999 modern 4,817 #1,418
2000 modern 4,725 #1,442
2001 modern 4,583 #1,455
2002 modern 4,690 #1,454
2003 modern 4,544 #1,460
2004 modern 4,497 #1,475
2005 modern 4,372 #1,498
2006 modern 4,344 #1,511
2007 modern 4,348 #1,524
2008 modern 4,378 #1,521
2009 modern 4,435 #1,534
2010 modern 4,478 #1,555
2011 modern 4,437 #1,543
2012 modern 4,354 #1,548
2013 modern 4,417 #1,553
2014 modern 4,446 #1,556
2015 modern 4,361 #1,569
2016 modern 4,333 #1,573

Geography

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Where Judds are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St Pancras, Winterslow, Idmiston and Lambeth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Boston, East Hertfordshire, King's Lynn and West Norfolk, Babergh and Horsham. 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 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 St Pancras London (North Districts)
4 Winterslow, Idmiston Wiltshire
5 Lambeth London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Boston 001 Boston
2 East Hertfordshire 014 East Hertfordshire
3 King's Lynn and West Norfolk 016 King's Lynn and West Norfolk
4 Babergh 004 Babergh
5 Horsham 012 Horsham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Judd

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Judd

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Judd 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

Judd 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

Judd falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Judd

The surname Judd is of Old English origin, derived from the personal name Judd, a diminutive form of the name Jordan. It is believed to have originated in the areas of Devon and Cornwall in South West England during the early medieval period.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Judd can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which mentions a landowner named Judd in the county of Devon. This suggests that the name was already established in that region by the late 11th century.

The name Judd is also closely associated with the town of Juddridge, located in the county of Dorset. This place name is derived from the Old English words "Juddes" and "hrycg," meaning "Judd's ridge," indicating that the surname may have been connected to this particular location.

In the 13th century, a notable figure bearing the name Judd was Sir John Judd, a prominent landowner and knight who lived in the county of Somerset. He is mentioned in several historical records from that period.

During the 16th century, the name Judd gained further recognition with the birth of Sir Andrew Judd (1492-1558), a prominent English merchant and benefactor who founded the Tonbridge School in Kent. He is considered one of the most influential figures with this surname.

Another notable individual was Thomas Judd (1516-1590), an English Protestant clergyman and writer who authored several religious works during the Reformation period.

In the 17th century, Samuel Judd (1622-1694) was a renowned English nonconformist minister and author who played a significant role in the Puritan movement.

The 18th century saw the prominence of Sylvanus Judd (1789-1860), an American author and educator who published several popular works on grammar and rhetoric.

Throughout history, the surname Judd has been associated with various notable individuals across different fields, including politics, literature, and education, reflecting its long-standing presence and significance within English-speaking communities.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Judd families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Judd 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. Middlesex leads with 793 Judds recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.09x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 793 2.09x
Essex 402 5.37x
Hampshire 394 5.07x
Surrey 367 1.98x
Warwickshire 235 2.46x
Kent 228 1.76x
Wiltshire 131 3.90x
Northamptonshire 106 2.97x
Devon 100 1.27x
Hertfordshire 88 3.36x
Leicestershire 86 2.04x
Yorkshire 79 0.21x
Lincolnshire 72 1.19x
Norfolk 69 1.18x
Nottinghamshire 63 1.23x
Oxfordshire 63 2.69x
Lancashire 61 0.14x
Staffordshire 59 0.46x
Berkshire 55 1.93x
Glamorgan 52 0.79x
Buckinghamshire 45 1.96x
Bedfordshire 34 1.73x
Dorset 30 1.20x
Huntingdonshire 30 3.98x
Gloucestershire 28 0.38x
Durham 26 0.23x
Cambridgeshire 25 1.04x
Somerset 23 0.38x
Worcestershire 20 0.40x
Brecknockshire 19 2.50x
Monmouthshire 19 0.69x
Cornwall 14 0.33x
Shropshire 14 0.43x
Cheshire 13 0.16x
Lanarkshire 8 0.07x
Sussex 8 0.13x
Royal Navy 7 1.55x
Suffolk 7 0.15x
Flintshire 6 0.59x
Denbighshire 5 0.35x
Anglesey 1 0.15x
Ayrshire 1 0.04x
Derbyshire 1 0.02x
Midlothian 1 0.02x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.08x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Islington London in Middlesex leads with 86 Judds recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.34x.

Place Total Index
Islington London 86 2.34x
Lambeth 73 2.21x
Hackney London 68 3.20x
Kensington London 65 3.08x
Bethnal Green London 56 3.40x
Paddington London 53 3.80x
Battersea 49 3.51x
Bermondsey 47 4.16x
Winterslow 46 408.53x
Southampton St Mary 43 8.79x
Nottingham St Mary 42 3.17x
Shoreditch London 41 2.49x
St Pancras London 41 1.34x
Portsea 40 2.62x
Aston 37 1.40x
Newington 37 2.64x
West Ham 37 2.24x
St Marylebone London 36 1.78x
Kingston On Thames 34 7.65x
Mile End Old Town London 34 4.21x
Birmingham 30 0.94x
Millbrook 30 15.31x
Tottenham 29 4.80x
Croydon 28 2.73x
Great Torrington 28 62.51x
Chelsea London 27 2.36x
Coventry St Michael 27 8.78x
Handsworth 25 7.92x
Eling 22 27.93x
Leamington Priors 22 9.34x
South Stoneham 22 13.04x
St George Hanover Square 22 3.29x
Hampstead London 21 3.55x
Tonbridge 20 4.28x
Broughton 19 161.84x
Hartley Wintney 19 81.27x
Northampton Priory St 19 8.87x
Bishop Stortford 18 20.60x
Cubbington 18 141.07x
Holbeach 18 26.64x
Fisherton Anger 17 27.37x
Hatfield Broad Oak 17 67.25x
High Ongar 16 115.86x
Leicester St Margaret 16 1.56x
West Wickham 16 127.90x
Hammersmith London 15 1.60x
Maidstone 15 3.89x
Nazeing 15 155.76x
Roath 15 5.00x
Swanscombe 15 25.79x
Brenchley 14 30.22x
Cheshunt 14 15.31x
Peterborough 14 5.42x
Rotherhithe 14 2.99x
South Weald 14 21.82x
St Mary Kalendar 14 86.42x
Clerkenwell London 13 1.45x
Croughton 13 165.18x
Foleshill 13 12.91x
Fringford 13 243.45x
Hunslet 13 2.22x
Leicester St Mary 12 3.53x
Longworth 12 155.04x
Moreton 12 204.08x
Quorndon 12 50.83x
Southampton All Sts 12 8.99x
Stebbing 12 82.70x
Takeley 12 111.94x
Waltham Holy Cross 12 17.14x
Westminster St John 12 2.60x
Chelveston Cum Caldecott 11 200.36x
Doncaster 11 4.00x
Gravesend 11 10.03x
Leyton 11 8.53x
Llanelly 11 12.11x
Spittlegate 11 13.11x
Streatham 11 3.91x
Upminster 11 70.69x
Walthamstow 11 4.08x
Westminster St James 11 2.82x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 215
Elizabeth 168
Sarah 137
Eliza 93
Alice 79
Ann 71
Emma 70
Annie 66
Ellen 65
Jane 65
Emily 59
Louisa 42
Maria 39
Florence 38
Hannah 35
Harriet 29
Lucy 29
Edith 28
Charlotte 25
Fanny 25
Ada 24
Martha 23
Rose 23
Kate 22
Caroline 21
Harriett 21
Margaret 18
Clara 16
Frances 16
Amy 15
Sophia 15
Amelia 14
Susan 14
Catherine 13
Rebecca 13
Anne 12
Isabella 12
Agnes 11
Gertrude 11
Lydia 11
Beatrice 10
Julia 10
Laura 10
Minnie 10
Jessie 9
Elizth. 8
Grace 8
Helen 6
Henrietta 6
Lizzie 6

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 223
John 158
George 126
Thomas 120
Henry 112
James 112
Charles 98
Alfred 49
Joseph 49
Arthur 47
Walter 47
Frederick 45
Harry 40
Robert 36
Edward 32
Albert 28
Samuel 23
Richard 22
Herbert 20
Edwin 18
Ernest 18
Francis 18
Frank 17
Stephen 14
Daniel 12
Thos. 12
Wm. 12
David 10
Fred 10
Fredk. 9
Benjamin 8
Chas. 8
Isaac 7
Philip 7
Sidney 7
Jesse 6
Lewis 6
Mark 5
Jas. 4
Percy 4
Sydney 4
Tom 4
Abraham 3
Augustus 3
Cecil 3
Earnest 3
Fredrick 3
Horace 3
Jabez 3
Owen 3

FAQ

Judd surname: questions and answers

How common was the Judd surname in 1881?

In 1881, 3,882 people were recorded with the Judd surname. That placed it at #1,172 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Judd surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 4,333 in 2016. That gives Judd a modern rank of #1,573.

What does the Judd surname mean?

A surname of English origin, derived from the personal name Jordan or Judah, or referring to someone from Jude.

What does the Judd map show?

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