UK surname
An occupational surname referring to someone who worked with wool.
In the 1881 census there were 32 people recorded with the Ludd surname, ranking it #29,082 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1, ranked #39,061, down from #29,082 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to St Dunstan Stepney, Southampton St Mary and Lambeth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ludd is 228 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 96.9%.
1881 census count
32
Ranked #29,082
Modern count
1
2016, ranked #39,061
Peak year
1861
228 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Ludd surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Ludd surname density by area, 1891 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 37 | #26,673 |
| 1861 | historical | 228 | #10,703 |
| 1881 | historical | 32 | #29,082 |
| 1891 | historical | 148 | #18,506 |
| 1901 | historical | 31 | #30,616 |
| 1911 | historical | 30 | #30,073 |
| 1997 | modern | 3 | #38,317 |
| 1998 | modern | 3 | #38,304 |
| 1999 | modern | 1 | #38,820 |
| 2000 | modern | 2 | #38,472 |
| 2001 | modern | 2 | #38,335 |
| 2002 | modern | 2 | #38,400 |
| 2003 | modern | 2 | #38,424 |
| 2004 | modern | 4 | #38,013 |
| 2005 | modern | 3 | #38,312 |
| 2006 | modern | 3 | #38,334 |
| 2007 | modern | 3 | #38,372 |
| 2008 | modern | 3 | #38,396 |
| 2009 | modern | 3 | #38,494 |
| 2010 | modern | 1 | #39,020 |
| 2011 | modern | 2 | #38,745 |
| 2012 | modern | 1 | #38,986 |
| 2013 | modern | 1 | #39,008 |
| 2014 | modern | 1 | #39,020 |
| 2015 | modern | 1 | #39,021 |
| 2016 | modern | 1 | #39,061 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around St Dunstan Stepney, Southampton St Mary, Lambeth, Hound and St Marylebone. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | St Dunstan Stepney | London (East Districts) |
| 2 | Southampton St Mary | Hampshire |
| 3 | Lambeth | London (South Districts) |
| 4 | Hound | Hampshire |
| 5 | St Marylebone | London (North Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Ludd surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Ludd, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Ludd surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Ludd household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Ludd is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Ludd is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Ludd, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname LUDD is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is thought to be derived from an Old English personal name, "Ludd," which itself may have roots in the Old English words "lud" or "hlude," meaning "loud" or "noisy."
The earliest known record of the LUDD surname dates back to the 13th century in the county of Yorkshire, where a man named William Ludd was mentioned in the Feet of Fines for the year 1273. Over the next few centuries, variations of the name such as Lude, Ludde, and Luddington began to appear in various records across England.
In the 16th century, the LUDD surname gained notoriety due to its association with Ned Ludd, a legendary figure from Nottinghamshire who is said to have instigated the Luddite movement. The Luddites were a group of English textile workers who protested against the introduction of machinery that threatened to replace their skilled labor. Although the historical existence of Ned Ludd is disputed, his name became synonymous with the Luddite rebellion, which took place between 1811 and 1816.
One of the earliest prominent individuals with the LUDD surname was John Ludd (c. 1595-1664), an English writer and clergyman who served as the rector of Newington in Oxfordshire. Another notable bearer of the name was Samuel Ludd (1670-1737), a British politician and Member of Parliament for Grimsby.
During the 18th and 19th centuries, the LUDD surname spread across various parts of the British Isles, with several individuals making their mark in different fields. One such person was Henry Ludd (1781-1851), a British naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars and later became a captain in the Royal Navy.
Another individual of note was William Ludd (1832-1910), a British architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Royal Masonic School for Boys in Bushey and the Church of St. Peter in Cricklewood.
As the centuries progressed, the LUDD surname also found its way to other parts of the world, particularly through migration and colonization. However, its origins and historical associations remain deeply rooted in the English countryside and the events that shaped the country's industrial revolution.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Ludd surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Surrey leads with 10 Ludds recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.79x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Surrey | 10 | 6.79x |
| Middlesex | 7 | 2.32x |
| Lincolnshire | 6 | 12.41x |
| Cornwall | 2 | 5.84x |
| Kent | 2 | 1.94x |
| Berkshire | 1 | 4.41x |
| Northumberland | 1 | 2.22x |
| Oxfordshire | 1 | 5.36x |
| Yorkshire | 1 | 0.33x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Lambeth in Surrey leads with 7 Ludds recorded in 1881 and an index of 26.56x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lambeth | 7 | 26.56x |
| Pinchbeck | 6 | 1935.48x |
| Islington London | 5 | 17.06x |
| Camberwell | 3 | 15.54x |
| Maker | 2 | 625.00x |
| Attercliffe Cum Darnall | 1 | 35.84x |
| Aylesford | 1 | 344.83x |
| Gillingham | 1 | 46.95x |
| Newcastle On Tyne | 1 | 2000.00x |
| Oxford St Michael | 1 | 1250.00x |
| Sonning | 1 | 400.00x |
| St George Hanover Square | 1 | 18.76x |
| Stoke Newington London | 1 | 42.37x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Ludd surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Ludd surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
FAQ
In 1881, 32 people were recorded with the Ludd surname. That placed it at #29,082 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 1 in 2016. That gives Ludd a modern rank of #39,061.
An occupational surname referring to someone who worked with wool.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Ludd bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.