NameCensus.

UK surname

Linda

A feminine form of the Spanish and Portuguese word for "pretty".

In the 1881 census there were 8 people recorded with the Linda surname, ranking it #32,581 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 157, ranked #23,006, up from #32,581 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Central Bedfordshire, Greenwich and Kensington and Chelsea.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Linda is 157 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 1862.5%.

1881 census count

8

Ranked #32,581

Modern count

157

2016, ranked #23,006

Peak year

2016

157 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • Linda had 8 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #32,581 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 157 in 2016, ranked #23,006.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 26 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Linda surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Linda surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Linda 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 4 #32,658
1861 historical 26 #30,677
1881 historical 8 #32,581
1891 historical 6 #33,800
1901 historical 1 #34,548
1911 historical 12 #32,302
1997 modern 49 #32,776
1998 modern 45 #33,374
1999 modern 38 #34,142
2000 modern 25 #35,382
2001 modern 25 #35,248
2002 modern 34 #34,634
2003 modern 42 #34,040
2004 modern 40 #34,387
2005 modern 39 #34,652
2006 modern 51 #33,992
2007 modern 59 #33,634
2008 modern 57 #34,015
2009 modern 63 #33,751
2010 modern 58 #34,346
2011 modern 60 #34,202
2012 modern 81 #32,796
2013 modern 105 #29,916
2014 modern 122 #27,358
2015 modern 142 #24,617
2016 modern 157 #23,006

Geography

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Where Lindas 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 Central Bedfordshire, Greenwich, Kensington and Chelsea, Dudley and Milton Keynes. 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 Central Bedfordshire 016 Central Bedfordshire
2 Greenwich 007 Greenwich
3 Kensington and Chelsea 007 Kensington and Chelsea
4 Dudley 027 Dudley
5 Milton Keynes 013 Milton Keynes

Forenames

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First names often paired with Linda

These lists show first names that appear often with the Linda 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 Linda

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Linda surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Linda 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 is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Linda is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Linda 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

Linda falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Linda 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
Other Ethnic Group

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

Meaning and origin of Linda

The surname Linda is of English origin, derived from the Old English word "lind," meaning a lime tree or linden tree. It likely originated as a topographic name, referring to someone who lived near a linden tree or a place abundant with these trees.

The name Linda can be traced back to the 12th century in various records and documents from England. One of the earliest recorded instances of this surname is in the Pipe Rolls of Staffordshire from the year 1199, which mentions a person named Richard de la Lynde.

Another notable early reference to the name Linda is found in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1273, which lists a person named William de la Linde. This spelling variation, "de la Linde," suggests a connection to a specific place or location associated with linden trees.

During the medieval period, the surname Linda was also found in various forms, such as Lynde, Lind, and Linde. These variations likely stemmed from different regional dialects and scribal practices at the time.

One of the earliest recorded bearers of the Linda surname was John Lynde, born around 1590 in England. He later immigrated to the Massachusetts Bay Colony in America and became a prominent figure, serving as a magistrate and a member of the colony's General Court.

Another notable individual with the surname Linda was Sir Humphrey Lynde (1579-1636), an English lawyer and politician who served as a Member of Parliament and held several important legal positions during the reign of King Charles I.

In the 17th century, the Linda surname also gained recognition through the works of the English clergyman and author, Humphrey Linde (1579-1662), who wrote several religious treatises and sermons.

The Linda surname has also been associated with various place names throughout England, such as Linden in Buckinghamshire, Lindon in Derbyshire, and Lyndhurst in Hampshire, all of which likely derived their names from the abundance of linden trees in those areas.

Other notable individuals with the surname Linda include: 1. William Lynde (1695-1776), an American jurist and politician from Massachusetts. 2. Sir Benjamin Linde (1720-1793), a British naval officer and colonial administrator in India. 3. Sarah Linda (1823-1899), an American artist and illustrator known for her botanical illustrations. 4. John Lynde Wilson (1846-1923), an American architect and a pioneer of the Prairie School architectural style. 5. Theodor Linde (1873-1938), a German engineer and inventor, best known for his contributions to refrigeration technology and the development of the Linde process for liquefying gases.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Linda families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Linda 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 7 Lindas recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.97x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 7 8.97x
Durham 1 4.31x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hornsey in Middlesex leads with 5 Lindas recorded in 1881 and an index of 505.05x.

Place Total Index
Hornsey 5 505.05x
Chelsea London 2 85.11x
Bishopwearmouth 1 50.25x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Amelia 1
Edith 1
Julia 1
Mary 1
Zoe 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Edgar 2
Raphael 1

FAQ

Linda surname: questions and answers

How common was the Linda surname in 1881?

In 1881, 8 people were recorded with the Linda surname. That placed it at #32,581 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Linda surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 157 in 2016. That gives Linda a modern rank of #23,006.

What does the Linda surname mean?

A feminine form of the Spanish and Portuguese word for "pretty".

What does the Linda map show?

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