NameCensus.

UK surname

Maddison

A variant of the surname Madison, derived from the place name Maddison in Lancashire, England.

In the 1881 census there were 2,931 people recorded with the Maddison surname, ranking it #1,526 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 5,093, ranked #1,331, up from #1,526 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Gateshead and Brancepeth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include County Durham and Northumberland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Maddison is 5,234 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 73.8%.

1881 census count

2,931

Ranked #1,526

Modern count

5,093

2016, ranked #1,331

Peak year

2010

5,234 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Maddison had 2,931 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,526 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 5,093 in 2016, ranked #1,331.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 4,404 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Maddison surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Maddison surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Maddison 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 1,669 #1,724
1861 historical 1,713 #1,677
1881 historical 2,931 #1,526
1891 historical 3,164 #1,493
1901 historical 3,858 #1,463
1911 historical 4,404 #1,171
1997 modern 5,017 #1,306
1998 modern 5,137 #1,320
1999 modern 5,184 #1,320
2000 modern 5,139 #1,319
2001 modern 5,034 #1,315
2002 modern 5,127 #1,320
2003 modern 4,955 #1,332
2004 modern 4,965 #1,323
2005 modern 4,933 #1,321
2006 modern 4,869 #1,340
2007 modern 4,931 #1,338
2008 modern 4,973 #1,338
2009 modern 5,105 #1,333
2010 modern 5,234 #1,328
2011 modern 5,216 #1,316
2012 modern 5,170 #1,299
2013 modern 5,230 #1,308
2014 modern 5,209 #1,319
2015 modern 5,121 #1,329
2016 modern 5,093 #1,331

Geography

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Where Maddisons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Gateshead, Brancepeth, Bishop Wearmouth and London parishes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to County Durham and Northumberland. 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 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
2 Gateshead Durham
3 Brancepeth Durham
4 Bishop Wearmouth Durham
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 County Durham 032 County Durham
2 Northumberland 024 Northumberland
3 County Durham 048 County Durham
4 County Durham 042 County Durham
5 County Durham 008 County Durham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Maddison

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Maddison

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

Young Families in Industrial Towns

Nationally, the Maddison surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Maddison 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 predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

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

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Maddison is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Maddison is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Maddison

The surname MADDISON is of English origin, deriving from the medieval personal name "Maddy" or "Mady", a pet form of the name Matthew. This name itself has Hebrew roots, meaning "gift of God". The earliest known records of the MADDISON surname date back to the 13th century in Northern England.

In the Hundred Rolls of 1273, one of the earliest census-type records, there is a mention of a John Madysone from Yorkshire. This early spelling variation highlights the transition from the personal name to the hereditary surname. Similarly, the Placita de Quo Warranto records of 1292 list a Richard Madysone from Lancashire.

The MADDISON name is closely associated with the village of Maddison in Northumberland, which likely took its name from an early landholder or resident with the surname. This connection to a specific place helped solidify the surname's spelling and establish its regional roots.

One of the earliest documented individuals with the MADDISON surname was Sir Ralph Maddison (c.1530-1603), a wealthy merchant and landowner from Newcastle upon Tyne. He served as the Mayor of Newcastle in 1590 and was a prominent figure in the city's affairs.

Another notable bearer of the MADDISON name was Samuel Maddison (1684-1759), an English clergyman and scholar who served as the Rector of Mauldsby in Lincolnshire. He was a respected author and published several works on theology and philosophy.

In the literary world, Thomas Maddison (1617-1683) was an English poet and translator from Yorkshire. He is best known for his translations of Latin works, including Virgil's Georgics and Juvenal's Satires.

Moving into the 19th century, John Maddison (1795-1867) was a prominent English architect who designed several notable buildings in Newcastle upon Tyne, including the Newcastle Literary and Philosophical Society's building.

Lastly, George Maddison (1856-1917) was a British trade unionist and politician who served as the President of the Durham Miners' Association and was a Member of Parliament for the Seaham division of Durham from 1906 until his death.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Maddison families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Maddison 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. Durham leads with 1,354 Maddisons recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.90x.

County Total Index
Durham 1,354 15.90x
Lincolnshire 432 9.44x
Northumberland 245 5.75x
Yorkshire 245 0.86x
Middlesex 153 0.53x
Lancashire 99 0.29x
Northamptonshire 65 2.41x
Derbyshire 42 0.94x
Suffolk 36 1.03x
Surrey 32 0.23x
Cheshire 21 0.33x
Sussex 16 0.33x
Norfolk 15 0.34x
Nottinghamshire 15 0.39x
Huntingdonshire 14 2.46x
Kent 14 0.14x
Warwickshire 14 0.19x
Leicestershire 13 0.41x
Essex 12 0.21x
Rutland 11 5.23x
Glamorgan 10 0.20x
Staffordshire 10 0.10x
Cornwall 7 0.22x
Herefordshire 7 0.60x
Shropshire 7 0.28x
Bedfordshire 6 0.40x
Midlothian 6 0.16x
Somerset 6 0.13x
Isle of Man 5 0.94x
Monmouthshire 5 0.24x
Berkshire 3 0.14x
Cumberland 3 0.12x
Gloucestershire 3 0.05x
Buckinghamshire 2 0.12x
Devon 2 0.03x
Royal Navy 2 0.59x
Lanarkshire 1 0.01x
Worcestershire 1 0.03x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Stanhope in Durham leads with 127 Maddisons recorded in 1881 and an index of 144.45x.

Place Total Index
Stanhope 127 144.45x
Gateshead 104 16.31x
Bishopwearmouth 95 13.00x
Pelton 61 150.58x
Brandon Byshottles 54 50.62x
Bishop Auckland 34 29.76x
Evenwood Barony 34 117.44x
Boston 32 23.05x
Thornley 32 103.86x
Sibsey 31 300.39x
Tudhoe 30 40.27x
Longbenton 29 16.08x
Middlesbrough 29 7.85x
Westoe 28 5.80x
Willington 28 56.91x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 27 7.32x
Houghton Le Spring 27 45.87x
Ouston 27 217.39x
Esh 26 41.96x
Elvet 24 39.04x
Darlington 23 7.00x
Crook Billy Row 22 20.18x
Haydock 22 37.59x
Monkwearmouth Shore 22 13.24x
St Giles 22 41.39x
Whickham 22 28.08x
Collierley 21 55.37x
Hagworthingham 21 442.11x
Kyo 21 52.40x
Sunderland Bridge 21 155.56x
Chesterfield 20 11.91x
Great Grimsby 20 6.89x
Shoreditch London 20 1.61x
Dawdon 19 18.14x
Hetton Le Hole 19 17.61x
Haswell 18 29.49x
Lambeth 18 0.72x
Peterborough 17 8.72x
Elswick 16 4.71x
St Peterat Gowts Lincoln 16 24.86x
North Seaton 15 83.99x
Southwick 15 18.60x
Chelsea London 14 1.62x
Hartlepool 14 11.57x
Islington London 14 0.50x
Spalding 14 15.42x
Crowland 13 45.28x
Dunholme 13 325.81x
Kensington London 13 0.82x
Linthorpe 13 7.68x
Skirbeck 13 50.68x
Tanfield 13 12.84x
Tynemouth 13 5.70x
Westgate 13 4.93x
Byker 12 5.70x
Framwellgate 12 23.79x
Irthlingborough 12 45.47x
Mile End Old Town 12 2.66x
West Auckland 12 38.55x
Wolsingham 12 15.46x
Birmingham 11 0.46x
Hedleyhope 11 74.63x
St Pancras London 11 0.48x
Sutton 11 9.66x
Winlaton 11 13.47x
Benwell 10 21.48x
Chilton 10 37.62x
Holton Le Clay 10 355.87x
Hyde 10 5.36x
Lamesley 10 21.82x
Liverpool 10 0.48x
Newton 10 3.82x
Penshaw 10 39.09x
Sunderland 10 6.65x
West Ham 10 0.80x
York St Mary 10 8.51x
Benfieldside 9 16.07x
Finedon 9 38.17x
Morpeth 9 17.97x
Stockley 9 83.41x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 231
Elizabeth 163
Jane 111
Sarah 85
Margaret 84
Ann 51
Isabella 46
Annie 41
Hannah 39
Ellen 36
Eliza 28
Emma 28
Alice 23
Frances 22
Martha 21
Harriet 18
Ada 16
Catherine 16
Eleanor 15
Emily 14
Anne 11
Charlotte 11
Edith 11
Rose 10
Florence 9
Maria 9
Rebecca 9
Louisa 8
Lucy 8
Barbara 7
Clara 7
Esther 7
Kate 7
Agnes 6
Dorothy 6
Ethel 6
Fanny 6
Margt. 6
Susan 6
Elizth. 5
Harriett 5
Isabel 5
Julia 5
Lizzie 5
Minnie 5
Ruth 5
Elisabeth 4
Ester 4
Gertrude 4
Matilda 4

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 260
William 153
Thomas 142
George 119
Joseph 88
Robert 70
James 60
Henry 52
Charles 48
Edward 30
Richard 23
Arthur 17
Frederick 17
Samuel 15
Alfred 14
Fred 13
Walter 13
Anthony 12
Mark 11
Matthew 11
Thos. 10
Harry 9
Francis 8
Michael 8
Ralph 8
Wm. 8
Andrew 6
David 6
Geo. 6
Jno. 6
Lionel 6
Ernest 5
Herbert 5
Isaac 5
Benjamin 4
Daniel 4
Fenwick 4
Fredk. 4
Jonathan 4
Joshua 4
Peter 4
Stephen 4
Tom 4
Albert 3
Alexander 3
Amos 3
Christopher 3
Frank 3
Martin 3
Sydney 3

FAQ

Maddison surname: questions and answers

How common was the Maddison surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,931 people were recorded with the Maddison surname. That placed it at #1,526 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Maddison surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 5,093 in 2016. That gives Maddison a modern rank of #1,331.

What does the Maddison surname mean?

A variant of the surname Madison, derived from the place name Maddison in Lancashire, England.

What does the Maddison map show?

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