UK surname
A surname indicating someone who lived near a barn or other loading dock area.
In the 1881 census there were 102 people recorded with the Laden surname, ranking it #19,518 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 84, ranked #32,726, down from #19,518 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Govan Combination, Edinburgh and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Laden is 127 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 17.6%.
1881 census count
102
Ranked #19,518
Modern count
84
2016, ranked #32,726
Peak year
1861
127 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1881
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Laden surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Laden surname density by area, 1881 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 | 85 | #18,940 |
| 1861 | historical | 127 | #17,469 |
| 1881 | historical | 102 | #19,518 |
| 1891 | historical | 81 | #26,632 |
| 1901 | historical | 58 | #27,724 |
| 1911 | historical | 49 | #27,894 |
| 1997 | modern | 57 | #31,917 |
| 1998 | modern | 60 | #31,931 |
| 1999 | modern | 61 | #31,971 |
| 2000 | modern | 65 | #31,641 |
| 2001 | modern | 63 | #31,693 |
| 2002 | modern | 61 | #32,286 |
| 2003 | modern | 56 | #32,797 |
| 2004 | modern | 54 | #33,248 |
| 2005 | modern | 52 | #33,619 |
| 2006 | modern | 57 | #33,513 |
| 2007 | modern | 54 | #34,042 |
| 2008 | modern | 57 | #34,015 |
| 2009 | modern | 64 | #33,675 |
| 2010 | modern | 59 | #34,273 |
| 2011 | modern | 62 | #34,045 |
| 2012 | modern | 71 | #33,573 |
| 2013 | modern | 81 | #32,996 |
| 2014 | modern | 83 | #32,910 |
| 2015 | modern | 81 | #32,975 |
| 2016 | modern | 84 | #32,726 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Govan Combination, Edinburgh, Manchester, Birstall and Old Monkland. 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 | Govan Combination | Lanark |
| 2 | Edinburgh | Edinburgh |
| 3 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 4 | Birstall | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 5 | Old Monkland | Lanark |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Laden 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 Laden, 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 Laden surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Laden 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, Laden 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 Laden is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Laden, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Laden is of German origin, emerging in the late medieval period around the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old German word "lad," meaning a person who loads or unloads cargo, suggesting that the name's earliest bearers were likely involved in transportation or trade professions.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the Laden surname can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus Saxoniae Regiae, a collection of historical documents from the Kingdom of Saxony, dating back to the year 1295. This record mentions a merchant named Heinrich Laden, residing in the city of Leipzig.
In the 15th century, the Laden name appeared in various German regions, including the Rhineland and Saxony. Notably, the town of Ladenburgh in modern-day Baden-Württemberg is thought to have been named after a prominent Laden family who owned land in the area during that time.
During the 16th century, the Laden surname gained prominence in the German state of Prussia. Johannes Laden (1516-1586), a Lutheran theologian and reformer, was a notable figure who contributed to the establishment of Protestantism in the region.
As the Laden family spread across Germany, variations in spelling emerged, such as Laaden, Lahden, and Ladden. These variations were often influenced by regional dialects and scribal errors in historical records.
In the 18th century, the Laden name gained recognition through the works of the German poet and philosopher Johann Gottfried von Herder (1744-1803), who wrote extensively about the importance of language and culture in shaping national identities.
Another prominent individual with the Laden surname was the German composer and pianist Ludwig Laden (1809-1876), whose works were widely performed in concert halls across Europe during the Romantic era.
As the Industrial Revolution took hold in the 19th century, many Laden families migrated from rural areas to cities in search of employment opportunities, contributing to the spread of the surname throughout Germany and beyond.
Overall, the surname Laden has a rich history deeply rooted in German culture and traditions, with a diverse range of notable individuals bearing the name across various fields, from theology and literature to music and philosophy.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Laden 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. Yorkshire leads with 30 Ladens recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.01x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Yorkshire | 30 | 3.01x |
| Lanarkshire | 21 | 6.46x |
| Lancashire | 11 | 0.92x |
| Midlothian | 8 | 5.94x |
| Kirkcudbrightshire | 7 | 48.14x |
| Durham | 6 | 2.01x |
| Staffordshire | 6 | 1.77x |
| Devon | 5 | 2.39x |
| Middlesex | 3 | 0.30x |
| Derbyshire | 2 | 1.27x |
| Northumberland | 2 | 1.34x |
| Oxfordshire | 1 | 1.61x |
| Royal Navy | 1 | 8.35x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Attercliffe Cum Darnall in Yorkshire leads with 9 Ladens recorded in 1881 and an index of 97.09x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Attercliffe Cum Darnall | 9 | 97.09x |
| Heckmondwike | 8 | 250.00x |
| Middlesbrough | 8 | 61.73x |
| Barony | 7 | 8.51x |
| Troqueer | 7 | 366.49x |
| Ashton Under Lyne | 6 | 23.03x |
| Stoke Upon Trent | 6 | 16.69x |
| Govan | 5 | 6.22x |
| Old Monkland | 5 | 38.79x |
| Stoke Damerel | 5 | 34.15x |
| Glasgow | 4 | 6.93x |
| Lasswade | 4 | 129.87x |
| Edinburgh Canongate | 3 | 87.46x |
| Huddersfield | 3 | 20.69x |
| Chesterfield | 2 | 33.90x |
| Hedworth Monkton Jarrow | 2 | 15.44x |
| Manchester | 2 | 3.73x |
| Monkwearmouth Shore | 2 | 34.31x |
| Oldham | 2 | 5.20x |
| Bodicote | 1 | 416.67x |
| Cleckheaton | 1 | 27.25x |
| Edinburgh New | 1 | 95.24x |
| Elswick | 1 | 8.38x |
| Hammersmith London | 1 | 4.04x |
| Hulme | 1 | 4.02x |
| Lowick | 1 | 192.31x |
| Royal Navy | 1 | 9.78x |
| St Marylebone London | 1 | 1.86x |
| Stancill Cum Wellingley | 1 | 5000.00x |
| Sunderland | 1 | 18.94x |
| Usworth | 1 | 62.89x |
| Westminster St John | 1 | 8.18x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Laden 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 Laden surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
FAQ
In 1881, 102 people were recorded with the Laden surname. That placed it at #19,518 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 84 in 2016. That gives Laden a modern rank of #32,726.
A surname indicating someone who lived near a barn or other loading dock area.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Laden 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.