NameCensus.

UK surname

Loader

An occupational surname referring to one who loaded carts, ships, or other conveyances.

In the 1881 census there were 1,667 people recorded with the Loader surname, ranking it #2,580 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,271, ranked #2,856, down from #2,580 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Poole St James and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Dorset, Malvern Hills and Herefordshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Loader is 2,532 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 36.2%.

1881 census count

1,667

Ranked #2,580

Modern count

2,271

2016, ranked #2,856

Peak year

1911

2,532 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Loader had 1,667 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,580 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,271 in 2016, ranked #2,856.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,532 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Loader surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Loader surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Loader 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 1,180 #2,402
1861 historical 887 #3,126
1881 historical 1,667 #2,580
1891 historical 1,872 #2,463
1901 historical 2,297 #2,367
1911 historical 2,532 #2,015
1997 modern 2,387 #2,623
1998 modern 2,472 #2,642
1999 modern 2,466 #2,663
2000 modern 2,447 #2,670
2001 modern 2,392 #2,667
2002 modern 2,486 #2,631
2003 modern 2,358 #2,697
2004 modern 2,363 #2,699
2005 modern 2,326 #2,699
2006 modern 2,294 #2,729
2007 modern 2,302 #2,746
2008 modern 2,275 #2,794
2009 modern 2,321 #2,813
2010 modern 2,350 #2,840
2011 modern 2,317 #2,840
2012 modern 2,237 #2,882
2013 modern 2,293 #2,864
2014 modern 2,310 #2,856
2015 modern 2,278 #2,859
2016 modern 2,271 #2,856

Geography

Back to top

Where Loaders are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Poole St James, St Pancras and Portsmouth, Portsea. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Dorset, Malvern Hills, Herefordshire and South Somerset. 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 Poole St James Dorset
3 London parishes London 3
4 St Pancras London (North Districts)
5 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Dorset 001 East Dorset
2 Malvern Hills 011 Malvern Hills
3 Malvern Hills 007 Malvern Hills
4 Herefordshire 019 Herefordshire, County of
5 South Somerset 005 South Somerset

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Loader

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Loader

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Loader surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Loader household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Loader 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

Loader is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Loader

The surname Loader is of Anglo-Saxon origin, and it is an occupational name that originally referred to someone who loaded goods onto boats, carts, or other modes of transportation. The name can be traced back to the 13th century in England, specifically in areas such as Norfolk and Suffolk.

The name is derived from the Old English word "hladan," which means "to load." It is closely related to the Old English word "hlaedere," meaning "one who loads." Over time, the spelling of the name evolved from "Lader" to "Loader."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Loader can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Norfolk, a historical record of landowners and their properties compiled in 1273. The name is also mentioned in the Subsidy Rolls of Suffolk from 1327.

In the 14th century, the name Loader appeared in various documents, such as the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire (1379) and the Poll Tax Returns of Cambridgeshire (1381). These records provide valuable insights into the distribution and prevalence of the name during that period.

One notable individual bearing the surname Loader was William Loader, who was born in Norfolk around 1520. He was a prominent merchant and landowner in the 16th century, and his name appears in various legal documents and land transactions from that time.

Another historically significant figure was John Loader, born in Essex in 1632. He was a Puritan minister and author, known for his religious writings and sermons. His works were widely circulated in the 17th century and contributed to the spread of Puritan teachings.

In the 18th century, Samuel Loader (1720-1795) was a respected English potter from Staffordshire. He was renowned for his innovative techniques and contributions to the local pottery industry. His works are now highly valued by collectors and historians.

In the 19th century, Thomas Loader (1809-1885) from Gloucestershire made a name for himself as a pioneering architect. He was responsible for designing several notable buildings, including churches and schools, throughout the region.

Another notable figure from the same century was Emily Loader (1837-1920), a British author and educator. She wrote several books on literature and education, and her works were widely used in schools during her lifetime.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Loader families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Loader 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 359 Loaders recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.21x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 359 2.21x
Hampshire 302 9.07x
Dorset 281 26.36x
Berkshire 115 9.43x
Surrey 103 1.30x
Kent 99 1.79x
Somerset 76 2.91x
Lancashire 58 0.30x
Wiltshire 39 2.72x
Oxfordshire 37 3.69x
Worcestershire 22 1.04x
Warwickshire 21 0.51x
Gloucestershire 20 0.63x
Sussex 19 0.69x
Northumberland 18 0.74x
Yorkshire 17 0.11x
Hertfordshire 16 1.43x
Buckinghamshire 13 1.32x
Essex 10 0.31x
Durham 8 0.17x
Northamptonshire 7 0.46x
Glamorgan 4 0.14x
Lincolnshire 3 0.12x
Nottinghamshire 3 0.14x
Aberdeenshire 2 0.13x
Derbyshire 2 0.08x
Norfolk 2 0.08x
Staffordshire 2 0.04x
Ayrshire 1 0.08x
Bedfordshire 1 0.12x
Cheshire 1 0.03x
Monmouthshire 1 0.09x
Royal Navy 1 0.52x
Suffolk 1 0.05x
Wigtownshire 1 0.46x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Portsea in Hampshire leads with 60 Loaders recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.20x.

Place Total Index
Portsea 60 9.20x
Kensington London 40 4.43x
St Pancras London 37 2.83x
Islington London 36 2.29x
Millbrook 35 41.74x
Binfield 32 341.88x
Ryde 26 36.36x
Horton 25 972.76x
Thame 25 137.06x
Wokingham 24 86.24x
Hammersmith London 21 5.25x
Lambeth 20 1.41x
St Marylebone London 20 2.31x
Camberwell 19 1.83x
High Ham 19 304.98x
Hornsey 19 9.25x
Lillington 19 2435.90x
Mile End Old Town London 19 5.50x
Kinson 17 81.61x
Poole St James 16 39.95x
St George In East London 16 10.47x
Yetminster 16 404.04x
Loose 15 184.28x
Windle 15 13.83x
Bethnal Green London 14 1.98x
Ealing 14 9.65x
Limehouse London 14 7.85x
Plumstead 14 7.58x
Shoreditch London 14 1.99x
Spetisbury 14 474.58x
Studley 14 79.95x
Beer Hackett 13 2826.09x
Lewisham 13 4.40x
St Thomas Winchester 13 55.30x
Sway 13 292.13x
West Wellow 13 404.98x
Mirfield 12 13.58x
Woolwich 12 5.86x
Longfleet 11 89.07x
Sherborne 11 35.03x
Buckhorn Weston 10 344.83x
Clifton 10 6.21x
Itchen Abbas 10 680.27x
Sturminster Marshall 10 224.72x
West Derby 10 1.77x
Woodlands 10 396.83x
Abingdon St Helen 9 25.25x
Basing 9 144.69x
Dunkerton 9 158.73x
Finchampstead 9 243.24x
Hackney London 9 0.99x
Hampstead London 9 3.56x
Hurst 9 56.39x
Melbury Bubb 9 1097.56x
Radstock 9 52.36x
Redditch 9 20.93x
Romsey Infra 9 79.79x
South Stoneham 9 12.46x
Westminster St Margaret 9 11.49x
Whiteparish 9 147.06x
Worsley 9 7.58x
Aldershot 8 7.17x
Bapchild 8 344.83x
Bow London 8 3.87x
Brown Candover 8 540.54x
Deptford St Nicholas 8 18.19x
Egham 8 16.46x
Hampreston 8 103.36x
Harpenden 8 46.87x
Marnhull 8 103.09x
Sherfield English 8 509.55x
St George Hanover Square 8 2.80x
St Helens 8 33.06x
Woodford 8 22.04x
Cholsey 7 72.54x
Cramlington 7 21.92x
East West Hanney 7 146.14x
Up Cerne 7 1666.67x
Westoe 7 2.56x
Yardley 7 12.90x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 109
Elizabeth 81
Sarah 46
Jane 32
Eliza 29
Alice 26
Ann 25
Annie 25
Emily 23
Emma 23
Ellen 22
Louisa 19
Charlotte 17
Fanny 15
Edith 13
Florence 13
Susan 13
Ada 12
Martha 12
Kate 11
Caroline 10
Maria 10
Hannah 9
Rose 9
Frances 8
Agnes 7
Amelia 7
Harriet 7
Julia 7
Amy 6
Jessie 6
Louise 6
Matilda 6
Clara 5
Harriett 5
Laura 5
Anne 4
Catherine 4
Esther 4
Ethel 4
Lydia 4
Nellie 4
Phoebe 4
Elizth. 3
Ella 3
Henrietta 3
Isabella 3
Margaret 3
Maude 3
Rebecca 3

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 95
George 84
John 71
Henry 50
Charles 47
James 45
Thomas 43
Frederick 21
Alfred 20
Edward 20
Joseph 17
Albert 15
Robert 15
Walter 15
Harry 13
Arthur 12
Ernest 10
Samuel 9
Edwin 8
Frank 8
Richard 8
Herbert 7
Francis 5
Caleb 4
Stephen 4
Thos. 4
Alexander 3
Andrew 3
Benjamin 3
Jesse 3
Job 3
Matthew 3
Percy 3
Simeon 3
Sydney 3
Augustus 2
Chas. 2
Clames 2
Daniel 2
David 2
Earnest 2
Edgar 2
Fredrick 2
Joe 2
Louis 2
Mark 2
Nathaniel 2
T. 2
Tom 2
W. 2

FAQ

Loader surname: questions and answers

How common was the Loader surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,667 people were recorded with the Loader surname. That placed it at #2,580 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Loader surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,271 in 2016. That gives Loader a modern rank of #2,856.

What does the Loader surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to one who loaded carts, ships, or other conveyances.

What does the Loader map show?

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