NameCensus.

UK surname

Molden

Derived from a place name meaning "hill near a spring" in Old English.

In the 1881 census there were 80 people recorded with the Molden surname, ranking it #22,225 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 222, ranked #18,277, up from #22,225 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Abingdon St Helen, Abingdon St Nicholas, Swindon, Lyddington and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Knowsley, Oldham and Oxford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Molden is 243 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 177.5%.

1881 census count

80

Ranked #22,225

Modern count

222

2016, ranked #18,277

Peak year

1998

243 bearers

Map years

6

1891 to 2016

Key insights

  • Molden had 80 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #22,225 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 222 in 2016, ranked #18,277.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 162 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Molden surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Molden surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Molden 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 53 #23,739
1861 historical 95 #21,768
1881 historical 80 #22,225
1891 historical 113 #22,162
1901 historical 109 #21,712
1911 historical 162 #17,003
1997 modern 229 #16,168
1998 modern 243 #15,993
1999 modern 237 #16,360
2000 modern 229 #16,695
2001 modern 218 #17,017
2002 modern 229 #16,771
2003 modern 224 #16,859
2004 modern 214 #17,435
2005 modern 198 #18,279
2006 modern 191 #18,825
2007 modern 192 #18,975
2008 modern 194 #19,011
2009 modern 199 #19,090
2010 modern 204 #19,200
2011 modern 205 #18,965
2012 modern 210 #18,604
2013 modern 226 #17,969
2014 modern 225 #18,142
2015 modern 225 #18,050
2016 modern 222 #18,277

Geography

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Where Moldens are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Abingdon St Helen, Abingdon St Nicholas, Swindon, Lyddington, London parishes, Alnwick and Lydiard Tregoz. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Knowsley, Oldham and Oxford. 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 Abingdon St Helen, Abingdon St Nicholas Berkshire
2 Swindon, Lyddington Wiltshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Alnwick Northumberland
5 Lydiard Tregoz Wiltshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Knowsley 006 Knowsley
2 Oldham 006 Oldham
3 Oxford 015 Oxford
4 Oldham 019 Oldham
5 Oldham 032 Oldham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Molden

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Molden

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Molden, 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 Molden surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Molden 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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Molden 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

Molden 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

Molden 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 Molden is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Molden

The surname Molden is of English origin, with roots dating back to the early medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "molde" and "dun," which together translate to "hill or mound of earth." This suggests that the name may have originally referred to someone who lived on or near a prominent hill or mound.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in various English records from the 13th century onwards. For example, a William de Molden is mentioned in the Curia Regis Rolls of Northamptonshire in 1214, indicating that the name was already present during the reign of King John.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in several historical documents, such as the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire, where a John Molden is listed in 1327. This suggests that the name had spread to different regions of England by this time.

One notable early bearer of the name was Sir John Molden, a prominent merchant and alderman in the City of London during the late 15th century. He served as the Lord Mayor of London in 1490 and played a significant role in the city's affairs during the reign of King Henry VII.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the name Molden appeared in various parish records and legal documents across England. For instance, the Hearth Tax Returns of Oxfordshire in 1665 list several individuals with the surname, indicating its continued presence in the region.

Another notable figure with the surname Molden was William Molden, a successful businessman and landowner from Warwickshire, who lived from 1620 to 1692. He was known for his philanthropic efforts and contributed significantly to the development of his local community.

In the 18th century, the name Molden was found in various parts of England, with pockets of concentration in counties like Lincolnshire, Yorkshire, and Staffordshire. One prominent individual from this period was John Molden (1745-1818), a renowned architect and surveyor who designed several notable buildings in London and the surrounding areas.

As the centuries progressed, the surname Molden continued to be carried by individuals from diverse backgrounds and professions. From clergymen and scholars to artists and military personnel, the name has been a part of English history for over seven centuries, reflecting the rich tapestry of the nation's cultural heritage.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Molden families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Molden 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 17 Moldens recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.23x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 17 2.23x
Wiltshire 12 17.84x
Northumberland 10 8.84x
Berkshire 7 12.26x
Kent 7 2.70x
Sussex 7 5.46x
Yorkshire 7 0.93x
Lancashire 6 0.66x
Huntingdonshire 3 19.87x
Durham 1 0.44x
Leicestershire 1 1.19x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Purton in Wiltshire leads with 9 Moldens recorded in 1881 and an index of 1500.00x.

Place Total Index
Purton 9 1500.00x
Bedlington 8 211.64x
Abingdon St Nicholas 6 3750.00x
Brighton 6 23.18x
Everton 6 20.86x
Hackney London 6 14.07x
St Pancras London 5 8.17x
Plumstead 4 46.24x
Clerkenwell London 3 16.70x
East Hardwick 3 5000.00x
Hunslet 3 25.53x
Ramsey 3 247.93x
Kensington London 2 4.73x
Liddiard Tregooze 2 1176.47x
Tonbridge 2 21.37x
Clewer 1 42.74x
Jesmond 1 62.89x
Leeds 1 2.35x
Liddiard Millicent 1 434.78x
Margate St John Baptist 1 21.05x
Mayfield 1 131.58x
Melton Mowbray 1 65.79x
Paddington London 1 3.58x
Westgate 1 14.27x
Westoe 1 7.79x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 6
Annie 4
Eliza 3
Hannah 3
Mary 3
Sarah 3
Alice 2
Isabella 2
Ann 1
E... 1
Elizth. 1
Emily 1
Ester 1
Flora 1
Florence 1
Harriett 1
Jane 1
Jessie 1
Julia 1
Katherine 1
Louisa 1
Margaret 1
Minnie 1
Nellie 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 8
William 6
John 5
Edwin 3
Charles 2
Henry 2
Joseph 2
Albert 1
Alfred 1
Arthur 1
Eli 1
Ernest 1
Jonathan 1
Sidney 1
Wm.B. 1

FAQ

Molden surname: questions and answers

How common was the Molden surname in 1881?

In 1881, 80 people were recorded with the Molden surname. That placed it at #22,225 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Molden surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 222 in 2016. That gives Molden a modern rank of #18,277.

What does the Molden surname mean?

Derived from a place name meaning "hill near a spring" in Old English.

What does the Molden map show?

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