NameCensus.

UK surname

Knowlden

An English surname derived from a place name, possibly meaning "valley of the well" or "valley of the spring".

In the 1881 census there were 137 people recorded with the Knowlden surname, ranking it #16,358 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 182, ranked #20,890, down from #16,358 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Saffron Walden and St George the Martyr. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Medway, Guildford and North Norfolk.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Knowlden is 207 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 32.8%.

1881 census count

137

Ranked #16,358

Modern count

182

2016, ranked #20,890

Peak year

1901

207 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Knowlden had 137 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #16,358 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 182 in 2016, ranked #20,890.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 207 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Knowlden surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Knowlden surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Knowlden 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 110 #16,093
1861 historical 81 #23,431
1881 historical 137 #16,358
1891 historical 149 #18,420
1901 historical 207 #14,803
1911 historical 183 #15,811
1997 modern 192 #18,103
1998 modern 195 #18,397
1999 modern 189 #18,862
2000 modern 191 #18,752
2001 modern 188 #18,652
2002 modern 193 #18,713
2003 modern 182 #19,215
2004 modern 173 #19,937
2005 modern 161 #20,799
2006 modern 168 #20,368
2007 modern 171 #20,387
2008 modern 170 #20,672
2009 modern 180 #20,341
2010 modern 192 #19,960
2011 modern 183 #20,425
2012 modern 189 #19,949
2013 modern 200 #19,524
2014 modern 198 #19,841
2015 modern 188 #20,417
2016 modern 182 #20,890

Geography

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Where Knowldens are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Saffron Walden, St George the Martyr, Lambeth and Brenzett. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Medway, Guildford, North Norfolk, Tonbridge and Malling and Gedling. 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 3
2 Saffron Walden Essex
3 St George the Martyr London (South Districts)
4 Lambeth London (South Districts)
5 Brenzett Kent

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Medway 026 Medway
2 Guildford 014 Guildford
3 North Norfolk 013 North Norfolk
4 Tonbridge and Malling 009 Tonbridge and Malling
5 Gedling 014 Gedling

Forenames

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First names often paired with Knowlden

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Knowlden

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

Knowlden 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

Knowlden 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 Knowlden 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 Knowlden, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Knowlden

The surname Knowlden is of English origin, tracing its roots back to the counties of Lancashire and Yorkshire in northern England. It is believed to have emerged during the medieval period, sometime between the 11th and 15th centuries.

Knowlden is likely derived from a combination of the Old English words "cnoll" or "cnoll-dun," meaning "a hill," and "dene," meaning "a valley." This suggests that the name may have originally referred to a person residing in a valley near a hill or a person from a specific place with such a geographical feature.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Subsidy Rolls of Lancashire in 1332, where it is listed as "Knolden." This variation in spelling was common during that era, as standardized spellings were not yet established.

In the 16th century, the name Knowlden can be found in various records, such as the Wills and Inventories of the Archdeaconry of Richmond, Yorkshire, dated 1542. This suggests that the name had spread to neighboring counties by that time.

Interestingly, there is a record of a William Knowlden, born in 1603 in Lancashire, who was one of the earliest settlers in the Massachusetts Bay Colony in North America. His arrival in the New World highlights the migration patterns of English families during the colonial era.

Another notable figure was John Knowlden, born in 1678 in Yorkshire, who was a prominent merchant and landowner. His legacy can be traced through various property records and legal documents from that period.

In the 18th century, the name Knowlden appears in the parish records of Clitheroe, Lancashire, where a family by that name is documented as early as 1712. This provides further evidence of the name's long-standing presence in the region.

A significant figure from the 19th century was Sir William Knowlden (1804-1879), a respected businessman and philanthropist who made significant contributions to the city of Manchester. His legacy is commemorated through the Knowlden Almshouses, a charitable institution he established for the poor.

While the Knowlden surname may not be among the most common in modern times, its history spans several centuries and is deeply rooted in the northern counties of England. It serves as a reflection of the rich tapestry of English surnames and their origins in the country's diverse landscapes and settlements.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Knowlden families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Knowlden 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 49 Knowldens recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.81x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 49 3.81x
Kent 45 10.24x
Surrey 18 2.87x
Sussex 5 2.30x
Hampshire 4 1.52x
Essex 3 1.18x
Hertfordshire 3 3.38x
Dorset 2 2.37x
Gloucestershire 1 0.40x
Lancashire 1 0.07x
Suffolk 1 0.64x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Lambeth in Surrey leads with 11 Knowldens recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.80x.

Place Total Index
Lambeth 11 9.80x
Chatham 8 66.23x
Faversham 8 190.93x
Westminster St John 8 51.02x
Bromley London 7 24.72x
Clerkenwell London 6 19.74x
Islington London 6 4.81x
Limehouse London 6 42.46x
Bermondsey 5 13.04x
Mile End Old Town London 5 18.25x
Udimore 5 2631.58x
Brenzett 4 2857.14x
Folkestone 4 46.95x
Southampton St Mary 4 24.11x
Tenterden 4 258.06x
Tonbridge 4 25.25x
Ashford 3 294.12x
Harrietsham 3 1000.00x
Watford 3 43.60x
Greenwich 2 9.76x
Horton Kirby 2 294.12x
Lewisham 2 8.54x
Melcombe Regis 2 57.14x
Ratcliffe London 2 28.13x
St James Isle Of Grain 2 1666.67x
St Mary Le Strand London 2 425.53x
West Ham 2 3.56x
Beddington 1 41.15x
Bristol St James St Paul 1 11.88x
Camberwell 1 1.22x
Haverhill 1 71.94x
Ivychurch 1 909.09x
Manchester 1 1.46x
Paddington London 1 2.11x
Ruckinge 1 588.24x
Saffron Walden 1 37.17x
St George In East London 1 8.26x
St Pancras London 1 0.97x
Stoke Newington London 1 9.97x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 7
Caroline 4
Elizabeth 4
Emma 4
Harriet 4
Florence 3
Jane 3
Sarah 3
Amelia 2
Clara 2
Eliza 2
Ellen 2
Louisa 2
Margaret 2
Ada 1
Aines 1
Albinia 1
Alice 1
Ann 1
Betsy 1
Celia 1
Charlotte 1
Esther 1
Frances 1
Hannah 1
Jemima 1
Jessy 1
Lilian 1
Matilda 1
Rebecca 1
Rose 1
Rosetta 1
Sophia 1
Susan 1
Susanna 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 6
Harry 5
Alfred 4
Charles 4
Thomas 4
Albert 3
Edward 3
George 3
Jesse 3
John 3
Richard 3
Fredk. 2
Henry 2
Joseph 2
Walter 2
A.J. 1
Alexander 1
Clarence 1
Daniel 1
David 1
Frank 1
G. 1
J. 1
Percival 1
Peter 1
Robert 1
Samson 1
Sidney 1
Walker 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Knowlden surname: questions and answers

How common was the Knowlden surname in 1881?

In 1881, 137 people were recorded with the Knowlden surname. That placed it at #16,358 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Knowlden surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 182 in 2016. That gives Knowlden a modern rank of #20,890.

What does the Knowlden surname mean?

An English surname derived from a place name, possibly meaning "valley of the well" or "valley of the spring".

What does the Knowlden map show?

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