NameCensus.

UK surname

Marden

A locational surname derived from places in Sussex, Devon, Kent, or Wiltshire, England, signifying "boundary hill" or "dwelling on a hill."

In the 1881 census there were 645 people recorded with the Marden surname, ranking it #5,530 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 682, ranked #7,860, down from #5,530 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Churcham, Sandhurst, St Mary-de-Lode, St Catherine Longford, Barnwood, Wootton Ville, North Hamlet,, London parishes and East Grinstead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Waverley, East Hampshire and Ashford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Marden is 856 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 5.7%.

1881 census count

645

Ranked #5,530

Modern count

682

2016, ranked #7,860

Peak year

1891

856 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Marden had 645 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,530 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 682 in 2016, ranked #7,860.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 856 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Marden surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Marden surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Marden 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 524 #4,784
1861 historical 726 #3,748
1881 historical 645 #5,530
1891 historical 856 #4,786
1901 historical 786 #5,727
1911 historical 756 #5,711
1997 modern 701 #7,240
1998 modern 701 #7,468
1999 modern 707 #7,457
2000 modern 690 #7,573
2001 modern 668 #7,638
2002 modern 693 #7,574
2003 modern 677 #7,596
2004 modern 661 #7,739
2005 modern 639 #7,879
2006 modern 647 #7,829
2007 modern 652 #7,845
2008 modern 677 #7,676
2009 modern 677 #7,841
2010 modern 680 #7,956
2011 modern 674 #7,927
2012 modern 685 #7,732
2013 modern 704 #7,690
2014 modern 691 #7,860
2015 modern 685 #7,854
2016 modern 682 #7,860

Geography

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Where Mardens are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Churcham, Sandhurst, St Mary-de-Lode, St Catherine Longford, Barnwood, Wootton Ville, North Hamlet,, London parishes, East Grinstead and St Pancras. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Waverley, East Hampshire, Ashford and Westminster. 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 Churcham, Sandhurst, St Mary-de-Lode, St Catherine Longford, Barnwood, Wootton Ville, North Hamlet, Gloucestershire
2 London parishes London 1
3 East Grinstead Sussex
4 London parishes London 3
5 St Pancras London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Waverley 016 Waverley
2 East Hampshire 011 East Hampshire
3 Ashford 002 Ashford
4 Waverley 017 Waverley
5 Westminster 023 Westminster

Forenames

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First names often paired with Marden

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Marden

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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Marden surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Marden household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Marden is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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 concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Marden 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

Marden falls in decile 6 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Marden

The surname Marden is of English origin, originating from the counties of Kent and Sussex. It is derived from the Old English words "mere" meaning "lake" or "pool" and "denu" meaning "valley." The name likely referred to someone who lived in a valley near a lake or pool.

The earliest recorded mention of the name Marden dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Meredene" in reference to settlements in Kent and Sussex. These settlements, now known as Marden, likely gave rise to the surname.

In the 13th century, the name was recorded as "de Meredene," indicating it was a place name at the time. Over time, the spelling evolved to its modern form of Marden.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Marden was Sir John Marden, a knight who lived in Kent in the 14th century. He is mentioned in several historical records of the time.

Another notable figure was Thomas Marden, a wealthy merchant from Sussex who lived in the late 15th century. He was involved in the wool trade and left a substantial inheritance to his family.

In the 16th century, there was a John Marden who was a member of the Worshipful Company of Mercers in London. He is recorded in the company's archives from the mid-1500s.

The 17th century saw the birth of Robert Marden (1608-1683), a prominent Puritan minister in Massachusetts Bay Colony. He was one of the founders of the town of Woburn and served as its first minister.

In the 18th century, William Marden (1726-1796) was a successful businessman and landowner in Kent. He owned several estates and was known for his philanthropic efforts in the local community.

As the name spread from its origins in Kent and Sussex, it became more widespread throughout England and later to other parts of the English-speaking world through migration and colonization.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Marden families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Marden 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 109 Mardens recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.72x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 109 1.72x
Surrey 103 3.33x
Kent 57 2.63x
Sussex 47 4.39x
Gloucestershire 45 3.61x
Devon 43 3.25x
Essex 41 3.27x
Lancashire 39 0.52x
Somerset 26 2.54x
Hampshire 24 1.84x
Cornwall 14 1.95x
Derbyshire 12 1.21x
Leicestershire 12 1.70x
Worcestershire 8 0.96x
Cheshire 7 0.50x
Northamptonshire 7 1.17x
Nottinghamshire 7 0.82x
Lincolnshire 6 0.59x
Shropshire 6 1.09x
Warwickshire 6 0.37x
Caernarfonshire 5 1.95x
Oxfordshire 4 1.02x
Durham 3 0.16x
Hertfordshire 3 0.69x
Northumberland 3 0.32x
Royal Navy 3 3.96x
Staffordshire 2 0.09x
Buteshire 1 2.60x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.25x
Dorset 1 0.24x
Huntingdonshire 1 0.79x
Yorkshire 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. Islington London in Middlesex leads with 30 Mardens recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.87x.

Place Total Index
Islington London 30 4.87x
Lingfield 27 447.76x
St Pancras London 24 4.70x
Battersea 21 8.99x
Exeter St Sidwell 16 52.86x
Gloucester Barton St Mary 16 70.21x
West Ham 15 5.42x
East Grinstead 14 92.35x
Yeovil 14 67.40x
Barking 13 35.44x
Cheltenham 13 13.53x
Frensham 13 286.34x
Burstow 12 458.02x
Leicester St Margaret 12 6.99x
Sellinge 12 851.06x
Writtle 12 234.38x
Rimpton 10 1754.39x
Up Marden 10 1369.86x
Shoreditch London 9 3.27x
Rame 8 432.43x
Upton St Leonards 8 253.16x
Canterbury Holy Cross 7 334.93x
Liverpool 7 1.53x
Plymouth St Andrew 7 6.87x
Staveley 7 39.66x
Aldershot 6 13.76x
Alverstoke 6 12.74x
Bridgnorth St Leonard 6 96.46x
Brighton 6 2.78x
Kensington London 6 1.70x
Northwood 6 32.36x
St George Martyr 6 56.07x
St Gluvias Penryn 6 104.17x
Withyam 6 131.00x
Worth 6 77.22x
Ashton Under Lyne 5 3.04x
Aston 5 1.13x
Deptford St Paul 5 2.99x
Lambeth 5 0.90x
Llanllechid 5 27.70x
Macclesfield 5 8.02x
Smeeth 5 370.37x
St George Bloomsbury 5 13.73x
St Marylebone London 5 1.47x
Tormoham 5 8.94x
Ashborne 4 59.17x
Brixham 4 26.11x
Burnley 4 6.30x
Chinnor 4 147.60x
Clapham 4 5.04x
Croydon 4 2.33x
Fulham London 4 4.34x
Great Bolton 4 4.01x
Hornsey 4 4.98x
Snenton 4 11.89x
Welton 4 377.36x
Berkhampstead 3 30.49x
Blackburn 3 1.50x
Broad Clist 3 65.79x
Elvet 3 21.99x
Godalming 3 15.40x
Lower Booths 3 22.22x
Portsea 3 1.18x
Royal Navy 3 4.64x
Shorne 3 156.25x
Silverton 3 109.09x
Southwark St George Martyr 3 2.35x
Stamford All Sts 3 52.82x
Wateringbury 3 106.01x
Westbury On Trym 3 7.11x
Folkestone 2 4.76x
Hagley 2 74.63x
Halliwell 2 7.29x
Harborne 2 2.91x
Middleton In Oldham 2 8.85x
St Giles Cripplegate 2 23.72x
St Martin In Fields 2 5.26x
Sutterton 2 99.01x
Woodmansterne 2 298.51x
Worcester All Sts 2 41.58x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 36
John 35
George 29
Henry 26
Charles 16
Thomas 16
James 13
Richard 9
Joseph 8
Edward 7
Alfred 6
Arthur 6
Albert 5
Stephen 5
Edgar 4
Edwin 4
Frederick 4
Samuel 4
Walter 4
Robert 3
Wm. 3
Allen 2
Daniel 2
David 2
Enoch 2
Ernest 2
Frank 2
Fredrick 2
Harry 2
Reuben 2
Thos. 2
Alexandria 1
Alick 1
Bernard 1
Berty 1
Christopher 1
Clement 1
F.George 1
Frances 1
Francis 1
Franklin 1
Frederic 1
Fredk. 1
Jno.J. 1
Lancelot 1
Leonard 1
Mathew 1
Montagu 1
Owen 1
Wm.Jas.Thos. 1

FAQ

Marden surname: questions and answers

How common was the Marden surname in 1881?

In 1881, 645 people were recorded with the Marden surname. That placed it at #5,530 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Marden surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 682 in 2016. That gives Marden a modern rank of #7,860.

What does the Marden surname mean?

A locational surname derived from places in Sussex, Devon, Kent, or Wiltshire, England, signifying "boundary hill" or "dwelling on a hill."

What does the Marden map show?

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