NameCensus.

UK surname

Ludden

English surname derived from an Old English place name meaning "muddy hill".

In the 1881 census there were 39 people recorded with the Ludden surname, ranking it #28,137 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 194, ranked #19,976, up from #28,137 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include St. Helens, Redditch and West Oxfordshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ludden is 199 in 2015. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 397.4%.

1881 census count

39

Ranked #28,137

Modern count

194

2016, ranked #19,976

Peak year

2015

199 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Ludden had 39 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #28,137 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 194 in 2016, ranked #19,976.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 58 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Multicultural Inner Suburbs.

Ludden surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Ludden surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Ludden 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 23 #29,205
1861 historical 42 #28,691
1881 historical 39 #28,137
1891 historical 56 #29,638
1901 historical 58 #27,724
1911 historical 58 #27,001
1997 modern 175 #19,161
1998 modern 181 #19,229
1999 modern 176 #19,722
2000 modern 187 #18,990
2001 modern 183 #18,980
2002 modern 180 #19,533
2003 modern 168 #20,171
2004 modern 184 #19,183
2005 modern 180 #19,395
2006 modern 192 #18,753
2007 modern 194 #18,855
2008 modern 184 #19,666
2009 modern 182 #20,201
2010 modern 188 #20,235
2011 modern 183 #20,425
2012 modern 179 #20,679
2013 modern 191 #20,124
2014 modern 198 #19,841
2015 modern 199 #19,640
2016 modern 194 #19,976

Geography

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Where Luddens 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 St. Helens, Redditch and West Oxfordshire. 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 St. Helens 011 St. Helens
2 Redditch 008 Redditch
3 St. Helens 020 St. Helens
4 West Oxfordshire 005 West Oxfordshire
5 St. Helens 014 St. Helens

Forenames

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First names often paired with Ludden

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Ludden

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

Baseline UK

Group

Multicultural Inner Suburbs

Nationally, the Ludden surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Multicultural Inner Suburbs, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Ludden household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house many younger and middle-aged adults with children. All ethnic minorities, apart from those identifying as Pakistani or Bangladeshi, appear to be present in above average proportions. Affiliation to Christian religions is uncommon. Long-term disability rates are low, mirrored in limited provision of unpaid care. Privately rented terrace houses and flats are the norm. Managerial, professional and technical occupations are prevalent, and work is rarely part time. Many individuals have degree level qualifications. These areas form the inner suburbs of many of the UK’s towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles

Group

Established Homeowners with Children

Within London, Ludden is most associated with areas classed as Established Homeowners with Children, part of Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles. 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

These predominantly British-born residents are typically married/in civil partnerships and own the properties in which they are raising their children. Parents are typically over 45, and many other residents are beyond normal retirement age. Detached and semi-detached houses predominate and multiple car ownership is common.

Wider London pattern

These neighbourhoods house people of all ages, predominantly of White British or European extraction. Resident turnover is low. Religious affiliation is less common than average and tends to be Christian if expressed. Homeownership, typically of terraced houses, is common but use of the social rented sector is not. Employment is typically in professional, managerial and associate professional or technical occupations. There are few full-time students. Level 4 qualifications are common. More households lack dependent children than have them which, considered alongside low levels of crowding and over-all age structure, indicates that many households may be post child-rearing and in late middle age. Incidence of disability is low, as is residence in communal establishments.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Ludden 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

Ludden 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 Ludden 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
White - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Ludden

The surname Ludden is believed to have originated in England, likely in the Middle Ages. It is thought to be a locational name derived from a place called Ludden or a similar spelling, possibly from the Old English words "lud" meaning loud or "hlud" meaning loud or famous, combined with the suffix "-en" indicating a location.

One of the earliest recorded references to the name Ludden can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Luddenam," suggesting the existence of a place called Ludden or a similar name at that time. This ancient record provides valuable insight into the origins and early usage of the surname.

In the 13th century, a document from Worcestershire, England, mentions a "John de Ludden," indicating the presence of individuals bearing the surname in that region during that period. Another early record from the 14th century refers to a "William Ludden" in Lancashire, England.

The name Ludden has been associated with various place names throughout history, such as Luddenham in Kent, England, and Luddendenfoot in West Yorkshire, England. These place names may have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname over time.

Notable individuals with the surname Ludden include:

1. Allen Ludden (1917-1981), an American television personality and host of popular game shows like "GE College Bowl" and "Password." 2. Martha Ludden (1943-1976), an American novelist and author of the book "The Empress of Elsewhere." 3. Sir Edmund Ludden (1616-1691), an English politician and Member of Parliament for Huntingdonshire in the 17th century. 4. Thomas Ludden (1790-1857), a British architect known for designing several churches and buildings in Liverpool, England. 5. Sarah Ludden (1761-1829), an American Revolutionary War heroine recognized for her role in the Battle of Fort Stanwix in 1777.

These examples demonstrate the historical presence and significance of the surname Ludden in various fields and across different time periods, contributing to the rich tapestry of its legacy.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Ludden families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Ludden 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. Lancashire leads with 18 Luddens recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.10x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 18 4.10x
Shropshire 8 25.00x
Yorkshire 8 2.18x
Middlesex 2 0.54x
Northumberland 1 1.81x
Staffordshire 1 0.80x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Newport in Shropshire leads with 8 Luddens recorded in 1881 and an index of 2051.28x.

Place Total Index
Newport 8 2051.28x
Hale 5 7142.86x
Leeds 5 24.12x
Oldham 4 28.19x
Manchester 3 15.17x
Clitheroe 2 155.04x
Islington London 2 5.57x
Shipley 2 105.26x
Cheetham 1 30.49x
Garston 1 76.92x
Linthorpe 1 45.66x
Liverpool 1 3.75x
Toxteth Park 1 6.72x
Wallsend 1 57.14x
Wolstanton 1 26.32x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 8
Ellen 2
Ann 1
Annie 1
Bridget 1
Elizabeth 1
Hannah 1
Jane 1
Kafharina 1
Ketie 1
Maggie 1
Sarah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Thomas 6
John 4
Patrick 2
Daniel 1
Louis 1
Mark 1
Martin 1
Michael 1
Patk. 1

FAQ

Ludden surname: questions and answers

How common was the Ludden surname in 1881?

In 1881, 39 people were recorded with the Ludden surname. That placed it at #28,137 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Ludden surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 194 in 2016. That gives Ludden a modern rank of #19,976.

What does the Ludden surname mean?

English surname derived from an Old English place name meaning "muddy hill".

What does the Ludden map show?

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