NameCensus.

UK surname

Malden

A locational surname referring to someone from the town of Malden in England.

In the 1881 census there were 232 people recorded with the Malden surname, ranking it #11,677 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 100, ranked #31,123, down from #11,677 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Biggleswade, London parishes and Tunbridge, Bidborough. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Hams, North Dorset and Queensferry West.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Malden is 232 in 1881. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 56.9%.

1881 census count

232

Ranked #11,677

Modern count

100

2016, ranked #31,123

Peak year

1881

232 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Malden had 232 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,677 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 100 in 2016, ranked #31,123.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 232 in 1881.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Malden surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Malden surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Malden 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 159 #12,400
1861 historical 217 #11,220
1881 historical 232 #11,677
1891 historical 215 #14,155
1901 historical 230 #13,851
1911 historical 222 #13,992
1997 modern 135 #22,499
1998 modern 124 #24,316
1999 modern 121 #24,855
2000 modern 129 #23,901
2001 modern 124 #24,114
2002 modern 124 #24,616
2003 modern 111 #26,091
2004 modern 107 #26,899
2005 modern 106 #27,044
2006 modern 104 #27,646
2007 modern 109 #27,253
2008 modern 102 #28,664
2009 modern 108 #28,311
2010 modern 107 #29,153
2011 modern 106 #29,157
2012 modern 101 #30,078
2013 modern 109 #29,209
2014 modern 101 #30,855
2015 modern 104 #30,269
2016 modern 100 #31,123

Geography

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Where Maldens are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Biggleswade, London parishes, Tunbridge, Bidborough and Soham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Hams, North Dorset, Queensferry West, Chirnside and Area and Hounslow. 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 Biggleswade Bedfordshire
2 London parishes London 1
3 Tunbridge, Bidborough Kent
4 London parishes London 3
5 Soham Cambridgeshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Hams 006 South Hams
2 North Dorset 003 North Dorset
3 Queensferry West City of Edinburgh
4 Chirnside and Area Scottish Borders
5 Hounslow 008 Hounslow

Forenames

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First names often paired with Malden

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Malden

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Malden surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Malden 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 includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles

Group

Established Homeowners with Children

Within London, Malden 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

Malden 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

Malden falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Malden 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 Malden, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Malden

The surname Malden has its origins in England, tracing back to the Anglo-Saxon era. It is derived from the Old English words "mæl" meaning "cross" and "dun" meaning "hill." The name likely referred to a person who lived near a hill with a cross or landmark on it.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Maldene." This suggests that the name was already established in parts of England by the late 11th century.

In the 13th century, the name was commonly spelled "Maldun" or "Maldone." Over time, variations such as "Malden" and "Maldon" emerged in different regions of England.

Notable individuals with the surname Malden include Sir Thomas Malden (c. 1350-1428), a Member of Parliament for Essex during the reign of King Henry IV. Another was Sir William Malden (1525-1587), a prominent landowner and sheriff of Essex during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

In the 17th century, John Malden (1593-1659) was an English clergyman and academic who served as President of St John's College, Oxford. Around the same time, Robert Malden (1625-1694) was a lawyer and author from Kent, known for his legal treatises.

Fast forward to the 19th century, Henry Malden (1800-1876) was an English clergyman and author who wrote extensively on the history and topography of Surrey. He served as a vicar in the village of Malden, which likely took its name from the same Old English roots as the surname.

Throughout its history, the surname Malden has been associated with various place names across England, such as Malden in Essex, Malden in Surrey, and Maldon in Essex, reflecting the geographical origins and spread of families bearing this name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Malden families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Malden 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. Middlesex leads with 58 Maldens recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.56x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 58 2.56x
Surrey 33 2.99x
Bedfordshire 22 18.78x
Cambridgeshire 19 13.26x
Suffolk 18 6.53x
Hampshire 14 3.02x
Kent 14 1.81x
Norfolk 9 2.59x
Essex 7 1.57x
Lancashire 7 0.26x
Wiltshire 7 3.50x
Hertfordshire 6 3.85x
Sussex 6 1.57x
Cumberland 3 1.54x
Berkshire 2 1.18x
Warwickshire 2 0.35x
Yorkshire 2 0.09x
Cheshire 1 0.20x
Dorset 1 0.67x
Somerset 1 0.27x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Croydon in Surrey leads with 14 Maldens recorded in 1881 and an index of 22.87x.

Place Total Index
Croydon 14 22.87x
Soham 12 389.61x
Mile End Old Town 9 25.20x
St Lawrence 8 4210.53x
Biggleswade 7 182.29x
Bromley London 7 14.06x
Broughton In Salford 7 28.51x
Sheldwich 7 1428.57x
Brading 6 97.40x
Brighton 6 7.80x
Ipswich St Mary Stoke 6 234.38x
Ipswich St Mathew 6 77.72x
Old Warden 6 1578.95x
Cardington 5 526.32x
Clapham 5 17.67x
Paddington London 5 6.01x
St Pancras London 5 2.75x
Steeple Ashton 5 925.93x
Capel 4 384.62x
East Dereham 4 90.91x
Hackney London 4 3.15x
Islington London 4 1.82x
Norwich St Augustine 4 285.71x
Radwell 4 5000.00x
Tottenham 4 11.10x
Willingham 4 327.87x
Bromley 3 25.49x
Caldewgate 3 28.12x
Clerkenwell London 3 5.62x
East Ham 3 36.19x
Hampstead London 3 8.51x
Ipswich St Clement 3 42.80x
Lambeth 3 1.52x
Poplar London 3 7.02x
Shepperton 3 300.00x
St George In East 3 19.49x
Asheldham 2 1818.18x
Bedford St Paul 2 24.88x
Edgbaston 2 11.31x
Husborne Crawley 2 540.54x
Kettleburgh 2 909.09x
Leeds 2 1.58x
Margate St John Baptist 2 14.14x
Salisbury St Edmund 2 62.31x
All Saints Cambridge 1 99.01x
Beccles 1 22.52x
Bollin Fee 1 45.05x
Camberwell 1 0.69x
Canterbury Christchurch 1 555.56x
Caxton 1 227.27x
Chertsey 1 14.04x
Chipping Barnet 1 36.63x
Clewer 1 14.37x
Dedham 1 74.07x
Great Amwell 1 64.10x
Hornsey 1 3.49x
Kinson 1 34.48x
Limehouse London 1 4.03x
Mortlake 1 20.37x
Newington 1 1.20x
Norwich St Paul 1 48.08x
Old Windsor 1 50.76x
Papworth Everard 1 1000.00x
Pitminster 1 93.46x
Reigate Foreign 1 8.38x
St Anne Soho London 1 7.74x
St Marylebone London 1 0.83x
Streatham 1 5.96x
Wandsworth 1 4.59x
Westminster St 1 11.99x
Woodford 1 19.76x
Woolwich 1 3.51x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 12
Elizabeth 9
Emma 8
Sarah 6
Ann 5
Emily 5
Fanny 5
Alice 4
Eliza 4
Anne 3
Annie 3
Ellen 3
Harriet 3
Jane 3
Agnes 2
Amy 2
Betsy 2
Caroline 2
Catherine 2
Edith 2
Eleanor 2
Florence 2
Frances 2
Georgina 2
Harriett 2
Louisa 2
Margaret 2
Rose 2
Amelia 1
Bertha 1
Charlotte 1
Chlotte 1
Clara 1
Dora 1
Gertrude 1
Isabella 1
Jemima 1
Jessie 1
Laura 1
Lavinia 1
Lilian 1
Lillian 1
Louise 1
Lucy 1
M.A. 1
Mabel 1
Magdlene 1
Martha 1
Maud 1
Ruth 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Henry 10
John 10
George 9
William 9
Arthur 7
Charles 7
James 4
Thomas 4
Robert 3
Ernest 2
Frederick 2
Joseph 2
Joshua 2
Martin 2
Alfred 1
Belcher 1
Bernard 1
Bingham 1
Clifford 1
Douglas 1
Ebenezer 1
Edgar 1
Edward 1
Francis 1
Frank 1
Fred. 1
Georgie 1
Gilbert 1
Harry 1
Horace 1
Hubert 1
Marshall 1
Myers 1
Percy 1
Rienard 1
Robt. 1
Ruben 1
Samuel 1
Thos. 1
Tommy 1
Walter 1
Wilm.H. 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Malden surname: questions and answers

How common was the Malden surname in 1881?

In 1881, 232 people were recorded with the Malden surname. That placed it at #11,677 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Malden surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 100 in 2016. That gives Malden a modern rank of #31,123.

What does the Malden surname mean?

A locational surname referring to someone from the town of Malden in England.

What does the Malden map show?

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