NameCensus.

UK surname

Layden

A surname derived from the name of an English place, possibly referring to someone from Layden.

In the 1881 census there were 183 people recorded with the Layden surname, ranking it #13,596 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 411, ranked #11,654, up from #13,596 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Sunderland, Govan Combination and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bassetlaw, Laurieston and Tradeston and Collin.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Layden is 439 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 124.6%.

1881 census count

183

Ranked #13,596

Modern count

411

2016, ranked #11,654

Peak year

2010

439 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Layden had 183 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,596 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 411 in 2016, ranked #11,654.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 270 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Routine Occupations or Retirement.

Layden surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Layden surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Layden 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 46 #24,985
1861 historical 76 #24,114
1881 historical 183 #13,596
1891 historical 270 #12,027
1901 historical 237 #13,574
1911 historical 142 #18,487
1997 modern 343 #12,349
1998 modern 371 #12,027
1999 modern 373 #12,054
2000 modern 395 #11,503
2001 modern 382 #11,606
2002 modern 394 #11,561
2003 modern 386 #11,544
2004 modern 387 #11,559
2005 modern 396 #11,271
2006 modern 413 #10,959
2007 modern 407 #11,228
2008 modern 417 #11,100
2009 modern 428 #11,112
2010 modern 439 #11,121
2011 modern 424 #11,314
2012 modern 409 #11,547
2013 modern 412 #11,647
2014 modern 412 #11,743
2015 modern 407 #11,760
2016 modern 411 #11,654

Geography

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Where Laydens are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Sunderland, Govan Combination, Edinburgh, Eccles and Ashdon. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bassetlaw, Laurieston and Tradeston, Collin, Lochside and Lincluden and Lambeth. 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 Sunderland Durham
2 Govan Combination Lanark
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 Eccles Lancashire
5 Ashdon Essex

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bassetlaw 004 Bassetlaw
2 Laurieston and Tradeston Glasgow City
3 Collin Dumfries and Galloway
4 Lochside and Lincluden Dumfries and Galloway
5 Lambeth 036 Lambeth

Forenames

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First names often paired with Layden

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Layden

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

Legacy Communities

Group

Routine Occupations or Retirement

Nationally, the Layden surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Routine Occupations or Retirement, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Layden household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods are characterised by high proportions of single, often never-married adults of normal retirement age or older, including many that are in the most advanced age groups. Most adults are UK born and live at high residential densities, and many of the children living with parents are in adulthood. Individuals identifying as members of ethnic minorities are uncommon, but above average proportions of households include individuals that identify with different ethnic groups. Long-term disability is relatively common, and the dominant accommodation type is flats. Unemployment rates are high, with most of those employed working in routine occupations. Few individuals have high level qualifications. Car ownership is not high.

Wider pattern

These neighbourhoods characteristically comprise pockets of flats that are scattered across the UK, particularly in towns that retain or have legacies of heavy industry or are in more remote seaside locations. Employed residents of these neighbourhoods work mainly in low-skilled occupations. Residents typically have limited educational qualifications. Unemployment is above average. Some residents live in overcrowded housing within the social rented sector and experience long-term disability. All adult age groups are represented, although there is an overall age bias towards elderly people in general and the very old in particular. Individuals identifying as belonging to ethnic minorities or Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups are uncommon.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Layden is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Layden 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

Layden falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Layden is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Layden

The surname Layden is of English origin, tracing its roots back to the medieval era. It is believed to have originated from the Old English words 'leah' meaning a meadow or clearing, and 'denu' meaning a valley or hollow. This suggests that the name was likely initially a locational surname, referring to someone who resided in a meadow or valley.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Layden can be found in various historical records from the 13th and 14th centuries, often appearing under slightly different spellings such as Leyden, Laydon, or Laydon. One notable early reference is in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire, a census-like document from 1279, which mentions a William de Leydene.

In the 15th century, the surname appears to have gained prominence in the county of Suffolk, where several Layden families were recorded in various villages and towns. One of the earliest known individuals with this surname was John Layden, born around 1420 in Ipswich, Suffolk.

As the name spread across England, it also took on various localized spellings, reflecting the region's dialect and naming conventions. For instance, in the northern counties, it was often spelled as Leyden or Leydon, while in the south, Layden was more common.

One notable historical figure bearing this surname was Sir Thomas Layden (1558-1625), an English politician and member of Parliament who served as the Lord Mayor of London in 1618. Another prominent individual was William Layden (1625-1698), a clergyman and author who served as the Archdeacon of Carlisle.

In later centuries, the Layden surname continued to be found throughout England, with some families migrating to other parts of the British Isles and eventually to the United States and other English-speaking countries. Notable individuals include John Layden (1770-1837), an Irish-born military officer who served in the British Army, and Joseph Layden (1823-1889), a British-born American architect known for designing several notable buildings in New York City.

While the surname Layden is not among the most common surnames in the English-speaking world, it has a rich history and can be traced back to its origins in the medieval English landscape, where it likely referred to those who lived in meadows or valleys.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Layden families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Layden 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. Lanarkshire leads with 49 Laydens recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.44x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 49 8.44x
Yorkshire 28 1.57x
Midlothian 23 9.57x
Durham 18 3.37x
Derbyshire 16 5.69x
Lancashire 14 0.66x
Shropshire 8 5.16x
Middlesex 6 0.33x
Cheshire 5 1.26x
Stirlingshire 5 7.55x
Cumberland 4 2.59x
Ayrshire 1 0.74x
Denbighshire 1 1.47x
Hampshire 1 0.27x
Hertfordshire 1 0.81x
Renfrewshire 1 0.72x
Royal Navy 1 4.68x
Staffordshire 1 0.17x
Surrey 1 0.11x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Govan in Lanarkshire leads with 14 Laydens recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.75x.

Place Total Index
Govan 14 9.75x
Glasgow 12 11.64x
Sunderland 12 127.25x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 11 11.37x
Blantyre 10 165.56x
Chesterfield 9 85.47x
Hamilton 9 55.59x
Oswestry Town 8 160.97x
Sculcoates 8 28.37x
Dronfield 7 194.44x
Hook 7 179.03x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 5 30.18x
Edinburgh Old 5 342.47x
Falkirk 5 32.26x
Gateshead 5 12.51x
Macclesfield 5 28.39x
Sheffield 5 8.83x
Barony 4 2.72x
Hulme 4 8.99x
St Cuthbert Within 4 223.46x
Warrington 4 15.84x
Borthwick 2 186.92x
Currie 2 136.05x
Hampton London 2 67.80x
Little Bolton 2 7.30x
Newbattle 2 97.09x
Salford 2 3.19x
St Pancras London 2 1.38x
Standish With Langtree 2 76.34x
Alverstoke 1 7.51x
Audley 1 16.69x
Barnoldswick 1 40.32x
Bishopwearmouth 1 2.18x
Braughing 1 158.73x
Croydon 1 2.06x
Ealing 1 6.23x
Holy Trinity 1 2.34x
Llanrwst 1 42.55x
Muirkirk 1 31.75x
Neilston 1 14.33x
Rawmarsh 1 15.92x
Royal Navy 1 5.47x
South Leith 1 3.70x
St George Hanover Square 1 3.16x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 10
Annie 4
Catherine 4
Bridget 2
Elizabeth 2
Emma 2
Jane 2
Margrate 2
Susan 2
Agnes 1
Alice 1
Ann 1
Bertha 1
Caroline 1
Ellen 1
Hannah 1
Margaret 1
Margt. 1
Maria 1
Sarah 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Layden surname: questions and answers

How common was the Layden surname in 1881?

In 1881, 183 people were recorded with the Layden surname. That placed it at #13,596 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Layden surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 411 in 2016. That gives Layden a modern rank of #11,654.

What does the Layden surname mean?

A surname derived from the name of an English place, possibly referring to someone from Layden.

What does the Layden map show?

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