NameCensus.

UK surname

Morden

A locational surname referring to someone from a place called Morden.

In the 1881 census there were 210 people recorded with the Morden surname, ranking it #12,440 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 285, ranked #15,286, down from #12,440 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Edmonton, Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside and Stretham. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Suffolk Coastal, Test Valley and Woking.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Morden is 337 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 35.7%.

1881 census count

210

Ranked #12,440

Modern count

285

2016, ranked #15,286

Peak year

1861

337 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Morden had 210 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,440 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 285 in 2016, ranked #15,286.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 337 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Morden surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Morden surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Morden 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 131 #14,243
1861 historical 337 #7,564
1881 historical 210 #12,440
1891 historical 226 #13,668
1901 historical 209 #14,712
1911 historical 311 #11,150
1997 modern 306 #13,353
1998 modern 294 #14,060
1999 modern 303 #13,873
2000 modern 301 #13,873
2001 modern 292 #13,967
2002 modern 299 #14,017
2003 modern 272 #14,746
2004 modern 282 #14,451
2005 modern 284 #14,306
2006 modern 284 #14,396
2007 modern 291 #14,347
2008 modern 285 #14,647
2009 modern 292 #14,700
2010 modern 299 #14,769
2011 modern 295 #14,758
2012 modern 285 #15,050
2013 modern 293 #14,998
2014 modern 293 #15,095
2015 modern 295 #14,935
2016 modern 285 #15,286

Geography

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Where Mordens are most common

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

The modern local-area list points to Suffolk Coastal, Test Valley, Woking and Enfield. 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 Edmonton Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
2 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
3 Stretham Cambridgeshire
4 London parishes London 3
5 Bedwelty Monmouthshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Suffolk Coastal 007 Suffolk Coastal
2 Test Valley 008 Test Valley
3 Test Valley 002 Test Valley
4 Woking 005 Woking
5 Enfield 009 Enfield

Forenames

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First names often paired with Morden

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Morden

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Morden is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Morden is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Morden 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 Morden is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Morden

The surname Morden has its origins in England, with records dating back to the 11th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "mor" meaning marsh or moor, and "denu" meaning valley, literally translating to "marsh valley" or "moorland valley."

The name is thought to have originated in the village of Morden, located in the county of Surrey. The Domesday Book, a great survey of England completed in 1086, mentions the settlement as "Mordone" and "Mordune." This suggests that the surname was initially a locational name, given to families residing in or near the area of Morden.

One of the earliest recorded bearers of the surname was Roger de Mordene, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Buckinghamshire in 1197. Another early reference is found in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1273, which lists a John de Morden.

The surname has also been associated with various place names across England, such as Morden in Dorset, Morden in Hertfordshire, and Morden in Wiltshire. These locations likely contributed to the spread and variations of the surname over time.

Notable individuals with the surname Morden include:

1. Robert Morden (c. 1668-1703), an English cartographer and map publisher, renowned for his county maps and atlases. 2. John Morden (fl. 1701-1708), an English playwright and author, best known for his comedy "The Anatomist, or The Sham Doctor." 3. William Morden (1781-1858), an English cricketer who played for the Marylebone Cricket Club. 4. Dolly Morden (1859-1946), an Australian writer and journalist, known for her contributions to the Sydney Bulletin. 5. James Morden (1895-1971), a Canadian politician who served as a member of the House of Commons of Canada.

The surname Morden has a rich history rooted in the English countryside, reflecting the geographic origins of its bearers. It has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including cartographers, writers, athletes, and politicians, contributing to the diverse tapestry of the English language and culture.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Morden families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Morden 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 49 Mordens recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.38x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 49 2.38x
Surrey 35 3.49x
Cambridgeshire 30 23.01x
Kent 12 1.71x
Warwickshire 12 2.31x
Lancashire 11 0.45x
Essex 10 2.46x
Herefordshire 6 7.11x
Durham 5 0.82x
Northumberland 5 1.63x
Yorkshire 5 0.25x
Berkshire 4 2.59x
Derbyshire 4 1.24x
Dorset 3 2.22x
Norfolk 3 0.95x
Nottinghamshire 3 1.08x
Sussex 3 0.86x
Hampshire 2 0.47x
Midlothian 2 0.73x
Somerset 2 0.60x
Devon 1 0.23x
Gloucestershire 1 0.25x
Leicestershire 1 0.44x
Northamptonshire 1 0.52x
Shropshire 1 0.56x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Stretham in Cambridgeshire leads with 20 Mordens recorded in 1881 and an index of 2150.54x.

Place Total Index
Stretham 20 2150.54x
Croydon 15 26.94x
Bethnal Green London 10 11.18x
Birmingham 9 5.20x
Shoreditch London 9 10.09x
Clerkenwell London 8 16.47x
Newington 8 10.52x
Lee 7 68.63x
Liverpool 7 4.72x
Hereford St Owen 6 215.05x
Bermondsey 5 8.16x
Colchester St Leonard 5 381.68x
Haddenham 5 406.50x
Rotherhithe 5 19.66x
St Pancras London 5 3.02x
Alfreton 4 40.86x
Barnsley 4 19.01x
Bishopwearmouth 4 7.61x
Reading St Giles 4 26.39x
Feltwell Feltwell Anchor 3 517.24x
Leamington 3 87.21x
Sherborne 3 75.38x
St Luke London 3 9.09x
St Marylebone London 3 2.73x
West Ham 3 3.34x
Acton 2 16.57x
Bathwick 2 54.50x
Breightmet 2 186.92x
Byker 2 13.21x
Deal 2 33.39x
Ely Holy Trinity St Mary 2 35.21x
Hove 2 13.13x
Islington London 2 1.00x
Ratcliffe London 2 17.59x
Southampton St Mary 2 7.54x
Wilburton 2 540.54x
Worksop 2 24.30x
Alnwick 1 19.01x
Bellister 1 1000.00x
Burnley 1 4.86x
Chatteris 1 30.03x
Cheltenham 1 3.21x
Dawdon 1 13.28x
Dawlish 1 31.25x
Deptford St Paul 1 1.85x
Ealing 1 5.44x
Earls Colne 1 89.29x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 1 0.90x
Edinburgh St Georges 1 17.48x
Edmonton 1 6.03x
Greenwich 1 3.05x
Leicester St Martin 1 65.36x
Ludlow St Lawrence 1 28.25x
Manchester 1 0.91x
North Sunderland 1 142.86x
Oundle 1 46.30x
Paddington London 1 1.32x
Penge 1 7.60x
Poplar London 1 2.57x
St Gilesin Fields 1 83.33x
Streatham 1 6.55x
Subdeanery 1 38.02x
Sutton In Ashfield 1 16.61x
Swanscombe 1 31.75x
Wakefield 1 6.39x
Wanstead 1 14.06x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 12
Sarah 11
Ann 7
Annie 6
Elizabeth 6
Jane 4
Louisa 4
Martha 4
Eliza 3
Emma 3
Esther 3
Hannah 3
Kate 3
Rebecca 3
Alice 2
Clara 2
Ellen 2
Florence 2
Frances 2
Harriett 2
Jessie 2
Margaret 2
Ada 1
Agnes 1
Anne 1
Catherine 1
Charlotte 1
Edith 1
Elizth. 1
Emily 1
Fanny 1
Flora 1
Isabella 1
Kezia 1
Lydia 1
Maria 1
Marrian 1
Maud 1
May 1
Priscilla 1
Rosa 1
Rosina 1
Ruth 1
Susannah 1
Theodosia 1
Threisa 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 18
James 11
George 6
Henry 6
John 6
Edward 5
Thomas 5
Joseph 4
Albert 3
Alfred 3
Samuel 3
Charles 2
Frederick 2
Walter 2
Adam 1
Alexander 1
Benjamin 1
Cuthbert 1
Daniel 1
David 1
Dennis 1
Ernest 1
Frances 1
Frederic 1
Harry 1
Larman 1
Levitt 1
Michael 1
Patrick 1
Percy 1
Richard 1
Robert 1
Sampson 1
Sidney 1
W.H. 1

FAQ

Morden surname: questions and answers

How common was the Morden surname in 1881?

In 1881, 210 people were recorded with the Morden surname. That placed it at #12,440 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Morden surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 285 in 2016. That gives Morden a modern rank of #15,286.

What does the Morden surname mean?

A locational surname referring to someone from a place called Morden.

What does the Morden map show?

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