NameCensus.

UK surname

Maiden

An occupational surname referring to a person who works with wood, such as a carpenter or cabinet maker.

In the 1881 census there were 824 people recorded with the Maiden surname, ranking it #4,559 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,598, ranked #3,884, up from #4,559 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Dawley, Magna, Bury and Broseley. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wolverhampton, Telford and Wrekin and Stroud.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Maiden is 1,619 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 93.9%.

1881 census count

824

Ranked #4,559

Modern count

1,598

2016, ranked #3,884

Peak year

1999

1,619 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Maiden had 824 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,559 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,598 in 2016, ranked #3,884.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,088 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Maiden surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Maiden surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Maiden 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 580 #4,396
1861 historical 537 #4,889
1881 historical 824 #4,559
1891 historical 882 #4,672
1901 historical 1,041 #4,597
1911 historical 1,088 #4,264
1997 modern 1,492 #3,926
1998 modern 1,607 #3,827
1999 modern 1,619 #3,827
2000 modern 1,610 #3,831
2001 modern 1,557 #3,877
2002 modern 1,595 #3,865
2003 modern 1,538 #3,910
2004 modern 1,539 #3,907
2005 modern 1,497 #3,970
2006 modern 1,495 #3,977
2007 modern 1,518 #3,956
2008 modern 1,521 #3,963
2009 modern 1,540 #4,022
2010 modern 1,569 #4,028
2011 modern 1,618 #3,878
2012 modern 1,578 #3,900
2013 modern 1,606 #3,899
2014 modern 1,605 #3,929
2015 modern 1,591 #3,921
2016 modern 1,598 #3,884

Geography

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Where Maidens are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Dawley, Magna, Bury, Broseley, London parishes and Kidderminster. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wolverhampton, Telford and Wrekin and Stroud. 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 Dawley, Magna Shropshire
2 Bury Lancashire
3 Broseley Shropshire
4 London parishes London 3
5 Kidderminster Worcestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wolverhampton 018 Wolverhampton
2 Telford and Wrekin 010 Telford and Wrekin
3 Wolverhampton 004 Wolverhampton
4 Telford and Wrekin 008 Telford and Wrekin
5 Stroud 012 Stroud

Forenames

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First names often paired with Maiden

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Maiden

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

Maiden is most concentrated in decile 3 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Maiden 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 Maiden is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Maiden

The surname Maiden is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English word "mæiden," meaning "maiden" or "unmarried woman." This name was likely given as a descriptive surname to someone who remained unmarried or who was a servant or attendant to a noblewoman.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Maiden can be found in various historical records from the 13th century onwards. One notable example is the mention of a William le Mayden in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1279. This early spelling variation highlights the evolution of the name over time.

In the 14th century, the surname Maiden appeared in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire, where a John Mayden was listed as a taxpayer in 1379. This record suggests that the name was well-established in the northern regions of England during this period.

The Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of England compiled in 1086, does not contain any direct references to the surname Maiden. However, it does mention several place names that may have influenced the development of the surname, such as Maidstone in Kent and Maidwell in Northamptonshire.

Notable individuals with the surname Maiden throughout history include:

1. Roger Maiden (c. 1455 - c. 1518), an English printer who worked in London during the early years of the printing press in England. 2. Sir Samuel Maiden (1587 - 1668), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Warwickshire from 1640 to 1648. 3. Benjamin Maiden (1647 - 1718), an English clergyman and academic who served as the Provost of Worcester College, Oxford. 4. John Maiden (1782 - 1857), a British naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars and later became a Rear Admiral. 5. Joseph Maiden (1859 - 1925), an English-born Australian botanist and curator of the National Herbarium of New South Wales.

While the surname Maiden has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world due to migration and exploration. Over time, various spellings and variations of the name have emerged, such as Mayden, Maden, and Madin, reflecting regional dialects and linguistic influences.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Maiden families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Maiden 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 193 Maidens recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.03x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 193 2.03x
Shropshire 142 20.47x
Staffordshire 98 3.62x
Worcestershire 81 7.73x
Yorkshire 60 0.75x
Angus 46 6.18x
Cheshire 26 1.47x
Middlesex 25 0.31x
Hampshire 22 1.34x
Warwickshire 18 0.89x
Nottinghamshire 17 1.57x
Fife 14 2.95x
Surrey 12 0.31x
Norfolk 11 0.89x
Essex 8 0.50x
Lanarkshire 8 0.31x
Durham 7 0.29x
Berkshire 5 0.83x
Kent 5 0.18x
Northamptonshire 4 0.53x
Derbyshire 3 0.24x
Glamorgan 3 0.21x
Gloucestershire 3 0.19x
Lincolnshire 3 0.23x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.20x
Carmarthenshire 1 0.30x
Devon 1 0.06x
Dorset 1 0.19x
Montgomeryshire 1 0.54x
Oxfordshire 1 0.20x
Royal Navy 1 1.05x
Somerset 1 0.08x
Wiltshire 1 0.14x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Dawley in Shropshire leads with 71 Maidens recorded in 1881 and an index of 281.30x.

Place Total Index
Dawley 71 281.30x
Bury 44 40.43x
Broseley 29 235.20x
Dundee 27 9.72x
Kidderminster Borough 23 37.48x
Oldham 19 6.18x
Wolverhampton 17 8.16x
Heaton Norris 16 29.51x
Tottington Lower End 16 35.34x
Ashton Under Lyne 15 7.20x
Hartlebury 15 240.38x
Cannock 14 29.60x
Stoke Upon Trent 13 4.52x
Burslem 12 15.46x
Kings Norton 12 12.76x
Madeley 12 47.19x
Pendlebury 11 54.70x
Portsea 11 3.41x
Whorlton 11 585.11x
Abbotshall 10 56.31x
Stockton 10 675.68x
Bressingham 9 642.86x
Kensington London 9 2.02x
Norland 9 164.84x
Nottingham St Mary 9 3.22x
Everton 8 2.63x
Heap 8 15.83x
Walsall Foreign 8 5.72x
West Ham 8 2.29x
Astley Abbotts 7 409.36x
Aston 7 1.26x
Birmingham 7 1.04x
Islington London 7 0.90x
Lambeth 7 1.00x
Manchester 7 1.63x
Newton 7 254.55x
Sedgley 7 6.95x
Southampton St Mary 7 6.76x
Barry 6 67.19x
Belbroughton 6 110.29x
Claines 6 20.86x
Govan 6 0.93x
Hagley 6 176.99x
Horton In Bradford 6 4.83x
Tottington Higher End 6 55.35x
Wath On Dearne 6 37.81x
Birkenhead 5 3.54x
Dudley 5 3.92x
Holy Trinity 5 2.61x
Lower Bebington 5 47.48x
Rochdale 5 71.94x
Rushall 5 31.35x
Stockton On Tees 5 4.34x
Wolstanton Knutton 5 30.21x
Bilston 4 7.62x
Doncaster 4 6.88x
Elton 4 12.15x
Hulme 4 2.01x
Hyde 4 7.65x
Kingswinford 4 4.07x
Marcham 4 185.19x
Montrose 4 8.88x
Newton 4 5.45x
Ogley Hay 4 71.05x
Peterborough 4 7.32x
Royton 4 13.73x
Saddleworth 4 6.52x
Salford 4 1.43x
Shifnal 4 21.24x
Stoke Newington London 4 6.40x
Upper Mitton 4 170.21x
Battersea 3 1.02x
Birtle Cum Bamford 3 48.23x
Bowling 3 3.81x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 3 2.02x
Edgbaston 3 4.78x
Kirriemuir 3 16.35x
Southampton St Michael 3 55.35x
St George Hanover 3 2.86x
Stirchley 3 422.54x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 60
Sarah 35
Elizabeth 29
Alice 21
Ann 19
Jane 17
Eliza 13
Ellen 13
Hannah 11
Harriet 9
Emily 8
Emma 8
Annie 7
Louisa 7
Fanny 6
Florence 6
Martha 6
Caroline 5
Lucy 5
Lydia 5
Margaret 5
Amy 4
Eleanor 4
Ada 3
Amelia 3
Catherine 3
Maria 3
Sophia 3
Anne 2
Edith 2
Frances 2
Kate 2
Mabel 2
Rosehannah 2
Susan 2
Susannah 2
Sybil 2
Clara 1
Eda 1
Elizth.Ellen 1
Enid 1
Esther 1
Ethel 1
Georgina 1
Jessie 1
Laura 1
Lilley 1
Lizzie 1
Maggie 1
Zillah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 48
Thomas 39
William 39
James 29
Joseph 26
George 25
Edward 17
Henry 15
Charles 9
Robert 9
Albert 7
Alfred 6
Harry 6
Arthur 5
Ernest 5
Herbert 5
Noah 5
Samuel 5
Chas. 4
Eli 4
Francis 4
Frederick 4
Walter 4
David 3
Frank 3
Levi 3
Alexander 2
Allen 2
Benjamin 2
Luke 2
Samson 2
Thos. 2
Wm. 2
Daniel 1
Ebenezer 1
Emanuel 1
Enoch 1
Enos 1
Frederic 1
G. 1
Harrison 1
Jas.Wm. 1
Jeremiah 1
Job 1
Joe 1
Joshua 1
Josiah 1
Lionel 1
Mathew 1
Monai 1

FAQ

Maiden surname: questions and answers

How common was the Maiden surname in 1881?

In 1881, 824 people were recorded with the Maiden surname. That placed it at #4,559 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Maiden surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,598 in 2016. That gives Maiden a modern rank of #3,884.

What does the Maiden surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to a person who works with wood, such as a carpenter or cabinet maker.

What does the Maiden map show?

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