NameCensus.

UK surname

Longden

A surname referring to someone who lived in a long valley or den.

In the 1881 census there were 1,386 people recorded with the Longden surname, ranking it #2,976 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,258, ranked #2,877, up from #2,976 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Prestbury, Manchester and Chesterfield. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include High Peak, Rotherham and North East Derbyshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Longden is 2,381 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 62.9%.

1881 census count

1,386

Ranked #2,976

Modern count

2,258

2016, ranked #2,877

Peak year

2000

2,381 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Longden had 1,386 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,976 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,258 in 2016, ranked #2,877.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,166 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Longden surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Longden surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Longden 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 860 #3,164
1861 historical 821 #3,356
1881 historical 1,386 #2,976
1891 historical 1,605 #2,775
1901 historical 1,936 #2,731
1911 historical 2,166 #2,324
1997 modern 2,282 #2,721
1998 modern 2,362 #2,743
1999 modern 2,357 #2,768
2000 modern 2,381 #2,724
2001 modern 2,324 #2,732
2002 modern 2,369 #2,736
2003 modern 2,320 #2,737
2004 modern 2,311 #2,740
2005 modern 2,293 #2,726
2006 modern 2,257 #2,764
2007 modern 2,266 #2,778
2008 modern 2,264 #2,808
2009 modern 2,293 #2,845
2010 modern 2,334 #2,857
2011 modern 2,300 #2,858
2012 modern 2,294 #2,820
2013 modern 2,325 #2,829
2014 modern 2,337 #2,829
2015 modern 2,274 #2,868
2016 modern 2,258 #2,877

Geography

Back to top

Where Longdens are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Prestbury, Manchester, Chesterfield, Sheffield and Rotherham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to High Peak, Rotherham, North East Derbyshire and Cheshire East. 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 Prestbury Cheshire
2 Manchester Lancashire
3 Chesterfield Derbyshire
4 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Rotherham Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 High Peak 008 High Peak
2 High Peak 013 High Peak
3 Rotherham 009 Rotherham
4 North East Derbyshire 014 North East Derbyshire
5 Cheshire East 013 Cheshire East

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Longden

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Longden

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Longden 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

Longden is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Longden 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 Longden is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Longden

The surname Longden is of English origin, emerging in the medieval period. It is a locational name derived from the place name Longden, found in several areas of England, including Derbyshire, Staffordshire, and Shropshire. The name is believed to be derived from the Old English words "lang" meaning long and "denu" meaning valley, indicating a long valley or stretch of land.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Longden can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Langedene" in reference to a settlement in Shropshire. This suggests that the name was already well-established in the region by the 11th century.

In the 13th century, records show a Roger de Longedene in Staffordshire, while in the 14th century, a Johannes de Longeden is mentioned in the Subsidy Rolls of Derbyshire. These early spellings demonstrate the variations in the name's spelling over time.

Notable individuals bearing the surname Longden include Sir Ralph Longden (c. 1384-1457), a English landowner and Member of Parliament for Derbyshire in the 15th century. Another prominent figure was John Longden (1552-1623), an English clergyman and writer who served as the Bishop of Lincoln.

In the 17th century, Robert Longden (1594-1662) was a prominent English lawyer and judge who served as the Chief Justice of the Common Pleas. His son, Henry Longden (1619-1679), followed in his footsteps and became a notable lawyer and Member of Parliament.

During the 18th century, John Longden (1719-1790) was a renowned English architect who designed several notable buildings, including the Radcliffe Observatory in Oxford.

The Longden surname has also been associated with several place names, such as Longden Green in Gloucestershire, Longden-upon-Tern in Shropshire, and Longdendale in Derbyshire, further reinforcing its locational origins.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Longden families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Longden 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. Yorkshire leads with 488 Longdens recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.65x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 488 3.65x
Derbyshire 321 15.20x
Lancashire 197 1.23x
Cheshire 148 4.97x
Lincolnshire 49 2.27x
Middlesex 35 0.26x
Staffordshire 27 0.59x
Gloucestershire 25 0.94x
Warwickshire 21 0.62x
Surrey 19 0.29x
Lanarkshire 13 0.30x
Kent 12 0.26x
Durham 7 0.17x
Nottinghamshire 4 0.22x
Suffolk 4 0.24x
Worcestershire 4 0.23x
Devon 3 0.11x
Sussex 2 0.09x
Berkshire 1 0.10x
East Lothian 1 0.56x
Northamptonshire 1 0.08x
Royal Navy 1 0.62x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Sheffield in Yorkshire leads with 56 Longdens recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.16x.

Place Total Index
Sheffield 56 13.16x
Nether Hallam 53 29.30x
Chesterfield 49 61.88x
Macclesfield 43 32.48x
Manchester 43 5.97x
Ecclesall Bierlow 41 15.08x
Chapel En Le Frith 37 191.91x
Rawmarsh 35 74.11x
Kimberworth 32 43.13x
Hulme 30 8.98x
Hyde 22 25.03x
Glossop Dale 20 20.22x
Brampton 18 60.98x
West Ardsley 18 111.87x
Aston 17 1.81x
Peak Forest 17 739.13x
Ardwick 15 10.39x
Oldham 15 2.90x
Eckington 14 27.29x
Saddleworth 14 13.58x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 13 10.44x
Govan 13 1.20x
Hemsworth 13 169.27x
Darfield 12 98.60x
Swinton In Rotherham 12 33.95x
Aston Cum Aughton 11 100.55x
Bristol St Paul In 11 15.61x
Greasbrough 11 62.32x
Hope Woodlands 11 1067.96x
Marple 11 53.82x
Salford 11 2.34x
Sutton In Macclesfield 11 35.60x
Worsbrough 11 28.08x
Ashton Under Lyne 10 2.86x
Foolow 10 970.87x
Sandal Magna 10 50.58x
Brightside Bierlow 9 3.43x
Charlton Next Woolwich 9 18.75x
Killamarsh 9 68.49x
Litchurch 9 10.59x
St Marylebone London 9 1.25x
Bramley In Rotherham 8 432.43x
Chelmorton 8 740.74x
Dronfield 8 29.55x
Great Hucklow 8 1000.00x
Heeley 8 19.69x
Keighley 8 5.61x
Leeds 8 1.06x
Newton 8 6.48x
St Andrew Holborn London 8 13.70x
Swineshead 8 112.84x
Walsall Foreign 8 3.40x
Bradfield 7 13.58x
Bredbury 7 40.63x
Brimington 7 43.64x
Cleckheaton 7 14.21x
Easington 7 120.27x
Latchford 7 35.39x
Newbold Dunston 7 34.88x
Sculcoates 7 3.30x
South Kirkby 7 238.91x
Toynton St Peter 7 454.55x
Welton Melton 7 179.03x
Binbrooke 6 111.52x
Chadderton 6 7.67x
Disley Stanley 6 39.14x
Droylsden 6 11.49x
Hartington Upper 6 59.52x
Headingley Cum Burley 6 6.97x
Kensington London 6 0.80x
Lockwood 6 12.47x
Rotherham 6 7.96x
Stoke Upon Trent 6 1.24x
Stretford 6 6.81x
Thornbury 6 33.17x
Coal Aston 5 137.36x
Dukinfield 5 3.63x
Matlock 5 17.63x
Micklefield 5 155.76x
Whittington 5 17.11x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 94
William 60
George 55
James 42
Thomas 41
Charles 30
Joseph 30
Henry 28
Robert 20
Arthur 19
Walter 14
Samuel 13
Alfred 11
Frederick 10
Herbert 10
Benjamin 9
Edward 9
Harry 9
Isaac 9
Albert 8
Richard 7
Wm. 7
Edwin 6
Frank 6
Ernest 5
Fred 5
Matthew 5
Francis 4
Moses 4
Thos. 4
Abraham 3
Daniel 3
Jonathan 3
Mark 3
Mathew 3
Peter 3
Robt. 3
A.B. 2
Andrew 2
Arther 2
David 2
Geo. 2
Harold 2
Horace 2
Leonard 2
Lewis 2
Reuben 2
Reubin 2
Saml. 2
W.H. 2

FAQ

Longden surname: questions and answers

How common was the Longden surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,386 people were recorded with the Longden surname. That placed it at #2,976 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Longden surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,258 in 2016. That gives Longden a modern rank of #2,877.

What does the Longden surname mean?

A surname referring to someone who lived in a long valley or den.

What does the Longden map show?

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