NameCensus.

UK surname

Loud

A surname originating from an Old English word meaning "loud" or "noisy".

In the 1881 census there were 278 people recorded with the Loud surname, ranking it #10,259 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 313, ranked #14,318, down from #10,259 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Seaton, Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff and Mitton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North Somerset, Torridge and West Dorset.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Loud is 465 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 12.6%.

1881 census count

278

Ranked #10,259

Modern count

313

2016, ranked #14,318

Peak year

1911

465 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Loud had 278 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,259 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 313 in 2016, ranked #14,318.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 465 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Loud surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Loud surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Loud 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 244 #8,950
1861 historical 304 #8,340
1881 historical 278 #10,259
1891 historical 327 #10,379
1901 historical 322 #11,090
1911 historical 465 #8,292
1997 modern 317 #13,053
1998 modern 324 #13,189
1999 modern 338 #12,922
2000 modern 340 #12,824
2001 modern 337 #12,702
2002 modern 351 #12,583
2003 modern 341 #12,655
2004 modern 336 #12,848
2005 modern 325 #13,080
2006 modern 329 #13,044
2007 modern 329 #13,168
2008 modern 318 #13,604
2009 modern 327 #13,599
2010 modern 320 #14,088
2011 modern 320 #13,976
2012 modern 310 #14,210
2013 modern 323 #14,003
2014 modern 324 #14,058
2015 modern 320 #14,090
2016 modern 313 #14,318

Geography

Back to top

Where Louds are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Seaton, Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Mitton, Northfield and Shute. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North Somerset, Torridge and West Dorset. 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 Seaton Devon
2 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
3 Mitton Lancashire
4 Northfield Worcestershire
5 Shute Devon

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North Somerset 018 North Somerset
2 North Somerset 020 North Somerset
3 North Somerset 023 North Somerset
4 Torridge 006 Torridge
5 West Dorset 008 West Dorset

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Loud

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Loud

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

Loud 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

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

Meaning and origin of Loud

The surname Loud is believed to have originated in England, with its earliest recorded use dating back to the 12th century. The name is thought to be derived from the Old English word "hlud," meaning "loud" or "noisy," suggesting that it may have been initially used as a nickname for someone with a boisterous personality or a loud voice.

One of the earliest known references to the name Loud appears in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire in 1190, where it is recorded as "Hludd." This early spelling variation highlights the evolution of the name over time, reflecting the changes in language and pronunciation.

During the medieval period, the Loud surname was primarily concentrated in the counties of Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, and Somerset in the southwest of England. Records from this era mention individuals such as William Loud, who was documented in the Subsidy Rolls of Gloucestershire in 1327.

As the name spread across England, various place names and locations likely influenced its spelling. For instance, the village of Loud in Wiltshire may have contributed to the surname's evolution, with some families adopting the name based on their place of origin or residence.

In the 16th century, the Loud surname gained prominence with the birth of Sir Thomas Loud (1518-1592), a renowned English jurist and Member of Parliament during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. Another notable figure was John Loud (1572-1651), an English clergyman and author who served as the rector of Newington Butts in Surrey.

The 17th century saw the emergence of other prominent individuals bearing the Loud surname, such as Sir Samuel Loud (1631-1707), a wealthy merchant and philanthropist who served as the Lord Mayor of London in 1689. Additionally, Edward Loud (1647-1708) was a successful banker and Member of Parliament for the constituency of Shaftesbury.

As the centuries progressed, the Loud surname continued to be represented by notable figures, including the British artist and painter Sir Robert Loud (1760-1836), known for his landscapes and portraits of notable individuals, and the American politician and lawyer Benjamin Loud (1789-1865), who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from Pennsylvania.

Throughout its history, the Loud surname has maintained a strong presence in various parts of England, as well as in other English-speaking countries, where its bearers have made significant contributions across various fields, from law and politics to art and literature.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Loud families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Loud 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. Devon leads with 74 Louds recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.40x.

County Total Index
Devon 74 13.40x
Somerset 31 7.26x
Lancashire 30 0.95x
Gloucestershire 28 5.38x
Warwickshire 25 3.74x
Surrey 20 1.55x
Middlesex 18 0.68x
Worcestershire 13 3.75x
Kent 9 0.99x
Glamorgan 6 1.30x
Staffordshire 6 0.67x
Yorkshire 6 0.23x
Dorset 2 1.15x
Cumberland 1 0.44x
Lanarkshire 1 0.12x
Northumberland 1 0.25x
Westmorland 1 1.72x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Axminster in Devon leads with 23 Louds recorded in 1881 and an index of 888.03x.

Place Total Index
Axminster 23 888.03x
Shute 23 4339.62x
Seaton 16 751.17x
Aighton Bailey 14 921.05x
Northfield 13 197.87x
Aston 12 6.51x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 12 24.49x
Chelsea London 12 15.01x
Worle 9 1022.73x
Pluckley 8 952.38x
Weston 8 243.90x
Clifton 7 26.61x
Camberwell 6 3.54x
Cricket St Thomas 6 6000.00x
Gnosall 6 277.78x
Llandaff 6 39.04x
Battersea 5 5.12x
Leatherhead 5 154.32x
Chilvers Coton 4 145.45x
Dymock 4 322.58x
Maxstoke 4 1818.18x
Southcoates 4 27.40x
Birmingham 3 1.35x
Chard 3 58.03x
Cheltenham 3 7.47x
Great Harwood 3 52.72x
Paignton 3 71.43x
Preston 3 3.56x
Brightside Bierlow 2 3.88x
Chardstock 2 165.29x
Clerkenwell London 2 3.19x
Exeter St David 2 42.37x
Goosnargh 2 196.08x
Haughton 2 43.57x
Hoghton 2 253.16x
Musbury 2 416.67x
North Curry 2 137.93x
Reigate Foreign 2 14.29x
Richmond 2 11.04x
Tormoham 2 8.56x
Abram 1 41.32x
Altham 1 277.78x
Barony 1 0.46x
Blackburn 1 1.19x
Bristol St James In 1 13.07x
Bromley London 1 1.71x
Buckland In Dover 1 33.33x
Cheddon Fitzpaine 1 370.37x
Coventry St Michael 1 4.65x
Devonport 1 15.75x
Earsdon 1 31.15x
Exminster 1 50.25x
Honington 1 500.00x
Kensington London 1 0.68x
Lyncombe Widcombe 1 8.94x
Newton Abbot St Mary 1 21.60x
Northleach 1 129.87x
Paddington London 1 1.03x
Ponsonby 1 666.67x
Spitalfields London 1 5.01x
Stretford 1 5.77x
Undermilbeck 1 52.08x
Walcot 1 4.40x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 18
Ellen 10
Sarah 10
Jane 9
Ann 8
Elizabeth 8
Emma 5
Annie 4
Charlotte 4
Edith 4
Florence 4
Alice 3
Amelia 3
Eliza 3
Harriett 3
Lucy 3
Maria 3
Matilda 3
Catherine 2
Frances 2
Helen 2
Kate 2
Louisa 2
Margaret 2
Amey 1
Anne 1
Beatrice 1
Bessie 1
Blanche 1
Caroline 1
Charlot 1
Clara 1
Elizth. 1
Emily 1
Everyline 1
Fanny 1
Florance 1
Harriet 1
Henrietta 1
Joan 1
Julia 1
Laviena 1
Lydia 1
Marina 1
Martha 1
Minnie 1
Penelope 1
Regina 1
Sicily 1
Susan 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 16
Henry 12
George 11
John 9
James 8
Thomas 8
Charles 7
Edward 4
Robert 4
Albert 3
Alfred 3
Geo. 3
Timothy 3
David 2
Frank 2
Frederick 2
Samuel 2
Sydney 2
Wm. 2
Albion 1
Clifford 1
Dennise 1
Earnest 1
Eli 1
Francis 1
Fred 1
Frederic 1
Herbert 1
Infant 1
Isaac 1
Jas. 1
Joseph 1
Joshia 1
Levi 1
Luke 1
Mark 1
Regiland 1
Sidney 1
Tom 1

FAQ

Loud surname: questions and answers

How common was the Loud surname in 1881?

In 1881, 278 people were recorded with the Loud surname. That placed it at #10,259 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Loud surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 313 in 2016. That gives Loud a modern rank of #14,318.

What does the Loud surname mean?

A surname originating from an Old English word meaning "loud" or "noisy".

What does the Loud map show?

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