NameCensus.

UK surname

Madden

Derived from the Irish surname Ó Madáin, meaning "descendant of Madáin," a personal name of unknown meaning.

In the 1881 census there were 2,586 people recorded with the Madden surname, ranking it #1,726 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 7,108, ranked #941, up from #1,726 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Govan Combination and Gateshead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Blaenau Gwent, Corby and Port Glasgow Mid, East and Central.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Madden is 7,261 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 174.9%.

1881 census count

2,586

Ranked #1,726

Modern count

7,108

2016, ranked #941

Peak year

2010

7,261 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Madden had 2,586 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,726 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 7,108 in 2016, ranked #941.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 3,332 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Madden surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Madden surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Madden 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 1,210 #2,358
1861 historical 1,434 #1,982
1881 historical 2,586 #1,726
1891 historical 2,856 #1,663
1901 historical 3,332 #1,678
1911 historical 3,009 #1,729
1997 modern 6,459 #1,005
1998 modern 6,802 #991
1999 modern 6,873 #990
2000 modern 6,817 #990
2001 modern 6,666 #988
2002 modern 6,851 #986
2003 modern 6,718 #985
2004 modern 6,720 #985
2005 modern 6,726 #971
2006 modern 6,715 #974
2007 modern 6,805 #967
2008 modern 6,877 #966
2009 modern 7,136 #945
2010 modern 7,261 #948
2011 modern 7,098 #964
2012 modern 6,973 #955
2013 modern 7,056 #963
2014 modern 7,148 #955
2015 modern 7,124 #942
2016 modern 7,108 #941

Geography

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Where Maddens are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Govan Combination, Gateshead and Manchester. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Blaenau Gwent, Corby, Port Glasgow Mid, East and Central, Manchester and High Blantyre. 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 London parishes London 3
3 Govan Combination Lanark
4 Gateshead Durham
5 Manchester Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Blaenau Gwent 005 Blaenau Gwent
2 Corby 006 Corby
3 Port Glasgow Mid, East and Central Inverclyde
4 Manchester 041 Manchester
5 High Blantyre South Lanarkshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Madden

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Madden

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Madden surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Madden household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Madden 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

Madden is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Madden 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 Madden is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Madden

The surname Madden has its origins in Ireland, stemming from the Irish Gaelic name O'Madaidhin, which means "descendant of the little dog." This name likely arose as a descriptive nickname for an ancestor who possessed traits likened to a small dog.

The earliest recorded instances of the name date back to the 13th century in County Galway, Ireland. Historical records indicate that the Madden family held lands in the parish of Annaghdown in that region. The name appears in the Annals of Connacht, a medieval Irish chronicle, in references from the 14th century.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Madden name spread throughout Ireland, with notable families settling in counties such as Mayo, Sligo, and Roscommon. The name also underwent various spelling variations, including Maddin, Maden, and Maddyn.

One of the earliest documented examples of the name is Sir John Madden (c. 1310-1348), an Irish nobleman and landowner from County Galway. He served as Lord Chancellor of Ireland and was a prominent figure during the reign of Edward III.

Another notable individual was Sir Samuel Molyneux Madden (1686-1765), an Irish author, playwright, and philanthropist. He founded the Madden Prize for the promotion of Protestant interests and authored works such as "Memoirs of the Twentieth Century" and "Themistocles, the Lover of his Country."

In the 19th century, Thomas More Madden (1844-1902) gained recognition as a noted Irish historian and author. His works included "The Life and Martyrdom of Savonarola" and "The Constitutional and Parliamentary History of Ireland till the Union."

The name Madden also has ties to the United States, with Edward R. Madden (1805-1856) serving as a Congressman from Pennsylvania in the mid-1800s. He was a prominent figure in the Democratic Party and held various political offices.

Another American figure with the surname was Martin B. Madden (1872-1944), a Congressman from Illinois who played a significant role in the development of labor legislation during the early 20th century.

Throughout its history, the surname Madden has been carried by individuals from diverse backgrounds, including politicians, authors, historians, and landowners, all contributing to the rich tapestry of this Irish name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Madden families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Madden 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 648 Maddens recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.16x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 648 2.16x
Middlesex 343 1.36x
Lanarkshire 265 3.24x
Yorkshire 235 0.94x
Durham 123 1.64x
Surrey 121 0.98x
Glamorgan 69 1.57x
Staffordshire 67 0.79x
Kent 57 0.66x
Warwickshire 54 0.85x
Cheshire 51 0.91x
Essex 48 0.96x
Monmouthshire 42 2.30x
Renfrewshire 35 1.79x
Ayrshire 34 1.80x
Hampshire 32 0.62x
Sussex 32 0.75x
Nottinghamshire 30 0.88x
Gloucestershire 28 0.57x
Devon 27 0.51x
Derbyshire 24 0.61x
Midlothian 20 0.59x
Royal Navy 14 4.65x
Stirlingshire 14 1.50x
Shropshire 13 0.60x
Fife 11 0.74x
Suffolk 11 0.36x
Cornwall 10 0.35x
Hertfordshire 10 0.57x
Northumberland 10 0.27x
Oxfordshire 10 0.64x
Dunbartonshire 8 1.18x
Worcestershire 7 0.21x
Angus 6 0.26x
Brecknockshire 6 1.19x
Buteshire 6 3.92x
Dorset 6 0.36x
Berkshire 5 0.26x
Caernarfonshire 5 0.49x
Cumberland 5 0.23x
Denbighshire 5 0.52x
Leicestershire 5 0.18x
Northamptonshire 5 0.21x
Peeblesshire 5 4.21x
Pembrokeshire 5 0.62x
Channel Islands 4 0.53x
Perthshire 4 0.35x
Buckinghamshire 3 0.20x
Norfolk 3 0.08x
West Lothian 2 0.53x
Bedfordshire 1 0.08x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.06x
East Lothian 1 0.30x
Isle of Man 1 0.21x
Lincolnshire 1 0.02x
Somerset 1 0.02x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Liverpool in Lancashire leads with 100 Maddens recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.49x.

Place Total Index
Liverpool 100 5.49x
Manchester 96 7.12x
Glasgow 93 6.41x
Leeds 79 5.59x
Govan 59 2.92x
Barony 47 2.27x
Birmingham 40 1.88x
Salford 38 4.31x
St Marylebone London 35 2.60x
Kirkdale 30 5.95x
Everton 29 3.04x
St George In East 24 13.97x
Nottingham St Mary 23 2.61x
Chorlton On Medlock 22 4.62x
St Andrew Holborn 22 25.69x
Blackburn 20 2.51x
Brighton 20 2.33x
Camberwell 19 1.18x
Islington London 19 0.78x
Newington 19 2.04x
Preston 19 2.37x
Toxteth Park 19 1.87x
Barking 18 12.34x
Kensington London 18 1.28x
St Pancras London 18 0.89x
Cardiff St Mary 17 7.02x
Garston 17 19.22x
Gateshead 17 3.02x
Trevethin 17 9.86x
Hackney London 15 1.06x
Hulme 15 2.40x
Lambeth 15 0.68x
Wardleworth 15 8.76x
West Ham 15 1.36x
Aberavon 14 34.59x
Bethnal Green London 14 1.28x
Southwark St George Martyr 14 2.75x
Stoke Upon Trent 14 1.55x
Bradford 13 2.15x
Bridlington 13 22.69x
Bromley London 13 2.34x
Royal Navy 13 5.05x
Stockton On Tees 13 3.59x
Bermondsey 12 1.60x
Birkdale 12 15.82x
Blantyre 12 14.11x
Eccleston In Prescot 12 7.98x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 12 0.88x
Gelligaer 12 11.95x
Shettleston 12 16.41x
St George Hanover 12 3.64x
Usworth 12 30.08x
Birkenhead 11 2.48x
Congleton 11 11.42x
Great Bolton 11 2.77x
Hyde 11 6.69x
Llandaff 11 7.52x
Bootle Cum Linacre 10 4.20x
Headingley Cum Burley 10 6.21x
Heworth 10 6.75x
Kingston On Thames 10 3.38x
Paisley High Church 10 6.42x
Poplar London 10 2.10x
Rutherglen 10 8.35x
St Anne Soho London 10 6.93x
St Woollos 10 4.91x
West Derby 10 1.14x
Aston 9 0.51x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 9 3.86x
Clerkenwell London 9 1.51x
Dysart 9 8.94x
Great Crosby 9 11.02x
Hammersmith London 9 1.45x
Litherland 9 14.36x
Paddington London 9 0.97x
Shifnal 9 15.19x
Shincliffe 9 107.27x
West Greenock 9 2.56x
Woking 9 12.13x
Wolstanton Oldcott 9 29.15x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 239
Margaret 79
Catherine 64
Ellen 59
Elizabeth 55
Bridget 50
Ann 49
Annie 34
Eliza 33
Sarah 27
Alice 18
Kate 17
Maria 16
Jane 15
Emma 14
Louisa 12
Hannah 11
Johanna 11
Rose 10
Julia 9
Agnes 8
Caroline 8
Charlotte 8
Anne 6
Emily 6
Isabella 6
Clara 5
Florence 5
Frances 5
Harriet 5
Lucy 5
Susan 5
Esther 4
Margt. 4
Martha 4
Susannah 4
Winifred 4
Ada 3
Catharine 3
Edith 3
Elizth. 3
Helen 3
Honor 3
Lydia 3
Maud 3
Selina 3
Teresa 3
Lily 2
M.A. 2
Margret 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 195
James 116
Thomas 108
William 79
Michael 56
Patrick 55
Edward 44
Joseph 35
George 26
Henry 25
Charles 24
Peter 15
Thos. 14
Andrew 13
Daniel 13
Martin 13
Timothy 13
Richard 12
Alfred 11
Francis 11
Frederick 10
Jeremiah 9
Arthur 8
Robert 8
Anthony 6
Bernard 6
Dennis 6
Ambrose 5
Cornelius 5
David 5
Denis 5
Lawrence 5
Stephen 5
Christopher 4
Ernest 4
Nicholas 4
Albert 3
Bryan 3
Frank 3
Hugh 3
Luke 3
Owen 3
Percy 3
Wm. 3
C.D. 2
Fredrick 2
Mark 2
Micheal 2
Pat 2
Wyndham 2

FAQ

Madden surname: questions and answers

How common was the Madden surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,586 people were recorded with the Madden surname. That placed it at #1,726 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Madden surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 7,108 in 2016. That gives Madden a modern rank of #941.

What does the Madden surname mean?

Derived from the Irish surname Ó Madáin, meaning "descendant of Madáin," a personal name of unknown meaning.

What does the Madden map show?

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