NameCensus.

UK surname

Mudd

An English occupational surname referring to someone who gathered or sold mud or clay.

In the 1881 census there were 1,265 people recorded with the Mudd surname, ranking it #3,222 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,396, ranked #4,350, down from #3,222 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Arkengarth Dale and Hull Holy Trinity. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Richmondshire, Scarborough and Northumberland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mudd is 1,773 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 10.4%.

1881 census count

1,265

Ranked #3,222

Modern count

1,396

2016, ranked #4,350

Peak year

1911

1,773 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mudd had 1,265 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,222 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,396 in 2016, ranked #4,350.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,773 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Mudd surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mudd surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mudd 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 810 #3,313
1861 historical 842 #3,282
1881 historical 1,265 #3,222
1891 historical 1,444 #3,033
1901 historical 1,669 #3,087
1911 historical 1,773 #2,764
1997 modern 1,386 #4,172
1998 modern 1,455 #4,157
1999 modern 1,494 #4,106
2000 modern 1,482 #4,104
2001 modern 1,435 #4,133
2002 modern 1,470 #4,136
2003 modern 1,428 #4,154
2004 modern 1,455 #4,101
2005 modern 1,440 #4,094
2006 modern 1,418 #4,153
2007 modern 1,417 #4,191
2008 modern 1,410 #4,234
2009 modern 1,422 #4,282
2010 modern 1,481 #4,232
2011 modern 1,447 #4,256
2012 modern 1,416 #4,266
2013 modern 1,444 #4,268
2014 modern 1,446 #4,289
2015 modern 1,432 #4,279
2016 modern 1,396 #4,350

Geography

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Where Mudds are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Arkengarth Dale, Hull Holy Trinity, London parishes and Bradford. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Richmondshire, Scarborough, Northumberland, Mid Suffolk and Leeds. 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 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
2 Arkengarth Dale Yorkshire, North Riding
3 Hull Holy Trinity Yorkshire, East Riding
4 London parishes London 3
5 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Richmondshire 005 Richmondshire
2 Scarborough 013 Scarborough
3 Northumberland 006 Northumberland
4 Mid Suffolk 008 Mid Suffolk
5 Leeds 003 Leeds

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mudd

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mudd

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

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Young Asian Family Terraces

Within London, Mudd is most associated with areas classed as Young Asian Family Terraces, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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 households with dependent children typically live in terraced housing and are of (non-Chinese) Asian extraction. Individuals with Bangladeshi origins are particularly in evidence. Employment is often in elementary occupations or as process, plant or machine operatives, and part-time work is common. Students are much in evidence.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Mudd 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

Mudd 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 Mudd 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 Mudd, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Mudd

The surname MUDD is of English origin, derived from the Old English word "mudd" or "mud," which referred to a muddy or swampy area. It is believed to have first emerged in the 12th or 13th century as a topographic name, given to individuals who lived near or worked in marshy or muddy regions.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname MUDD can be found in various historical documents from the 13th and 14th centuries. For example, the name appears in the Hundred Rolls of Bedfordshire in 1279, where one Robert de la Mudde is mentioned. Additionally, the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327 list a John atte Mudde.

In the 15th century, the MUDD surname began appearing in various parish records across England. One notable individual from this period was William Mudd, who was born around 1450 in Hallingbury, Essex. He is recorded as a landowner and farmer in the area.

As the surname spread throughout England, it also evolved into different spellings, such as Mudde, Muddes, and Muddie. These variations often reflected regional dialects and pronunciation differences.

Over the centuries, several notable individuals have borne the MUDD surname. One of the most famous was Henry Mudd, a physician from Maryland who was implicated in the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln in 1865. Although his role in the conspiracy is still debated, he was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment.

Another prominent figure was Thomas Mudd, born in 1670 in Worcestershire, England. He was a prominent merchant and member of the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths in London.

In the literary world, Lewis Mudd (1670-1738) was an English playwright and poet who authored several works, including the tragedy "The Unhappy Pair" and the comedy "The Pretenders."

The MUDD surname has also been associated with various place names throughout England, such as Muddleswood in Staffordshire and Muddyford in Gloucestershire. These place names likely derived from the Old English word "mudd" and may have influenced the surname's origins or development.

While the MUDD surname is not among the most common in English-speaking countries, it has a rich history spanning centuries and has been borne by individuals from various walks of life, from farmers and merchants to physicians and writers.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mudd families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mudd 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. Yorkshire leads with 481 Mudds recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.93x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 481 3.93x
Suffolk 186 12.37x
Durham 145 3.95x
Middlesex 129 1.05x
Lancashire 82 0.56x
Lincolnshire 38 1.93x
Surrey 35 0.58x
Essex 33 1.35x
Kent 29 0.69x
Norfolk 25 1.32x
Cambridgeshire 12 1.54x
Cheshire 12 0.44x
Sussex 10 0.48x
Shropshire 9 0.84x
Hertfordshire 6 0.71x
Berkshire 5 0.54x
Leicestershire 5 0.37x
Warwickshire 3 0.10x
Worcestershire 3 0.19x
Derbyshire 2 0.10x
Flintshire 2 0.60x
Hampshire 2 0.08x
Northumberland 2 0.11x
Nottinghamshire 2 0.12x
Cornwall 1 0.07x
Cumberland 1 0.09x
Glamorgan 1 0.05x
Huntingdonshire 1 0.41x
Northamptonshire 1 0.09x
Royal Navy 1 0.68x
Staffordshire 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. Arkengarthdale in Yorkshire leads with 50 Mudds recorded in 1881 and an index of 1176.47x.

Place Total Index
Arkengarthdale 50 1176.47x
Holy Trinity 37 12.58x
Bradford 25 8.45x
Mile End Old Town 25 12.83x
Bishopwearmouth 24 7.62x
Bethnal Green London 22 4.10x
Great Grimsby 20 15.97x
Leeds 19 2.75x
Stranton 19 15.37x
Battisford 18 978.26x
Little Bolton 17 9.03x
Hammersmith London 15 4.93x
Leyton Low 15 30.30x
Yarm 14 222.93x
Ipswich St Mathew 13 30.86x
Lambeth 13 1.21x
Masham 13 287.61x
Darlington 12 8.47x
Great Ayton 12 160.21x
Camberwell 11 1.40x
Linthorpe 11 15.07x
Middlesbrough 11 6.91x
Ormesby 11 33.48x
Stockton On Tees 11 6.22x
Westoe 11 5.29x
Bedale 10 224.72x
Hackney London 10 1.45x
Melmerby In Leyburn 10 2173.91x
Bilton Cum Harrogate 9 21.52x
Bridgnorth St Leonard 9 74.44x
Burton Cum Walden 9 478.72x
Chedburgh 9 841.12x
Ecclesall Bierlow 9 3.62x
Kensington London 9 1.31x
Lewisham 9 4.01x
Manningham 9 5.97x
Newmarket St Mary 9 77.99x
Otley 9 30.31x
Thoralby 9 989.01x
Badley 8 2424.24x
Ipswich St Mary Stoke 8 57.35x
Kildwick 8 71.88x
Little Welnetham 8 1212.12x
Middleham 8 231.21x
Ripley 8 606.06x
Sculcoates 8 4.13x
Shotley 8 301.89x
St Luke London 8 4.04x
Worsley 8 8.86x
Everton 7 1.50x
Great Finborough 7 402.30x
Great Smeaton 7 864.20x
Huntingfield 7 463.58x
Ipswich St Margaret 7 13.73x
Ipswich St Peter 7 34.60x
Kelloe 7 176.77x
Kirkdale 7 2.84x
Liverpool 7 0.79x
Minster In Sheppey 7 10.04x
St Botolph Cambridge 7 348.26x
St Pancras London 7 0.70x
Thornthwaite Cum 7 673.08x
West Ham 7 1.30x
Bow London 6 3.82x
Breightmet 6 93.17x
Chelmondiston 6 164.38x
Chester St Oswald 6 12.17x
Danby Wiske 6 495.87x
Egglescliffe 6 216.61x
Esh 6 22.46x
Heigham 6 5.89x
Holbeach 6 27.31x
Little Stonham 6 458.02x
Paddington London 6 1.32x
Plawsworth 6 150.75x
Skelton In Guisbrough 6 18.14x
Tanfield 6 13.74x
Walton On Hill 6 7.56x
Whickham 6 17.76x
Newchurch 5 4.17x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 83
John 75
Thomas 46
James 40
George 38
Robert 31
Charles 28
Henry 27
Joseph 25
Edward 18
Walter 13
Albert 12
Richard 12
Arthur 11
Frederick 10
Alfred 9
Christopher 7
Harry 7
Fred 5
Leonard 5
Simon 5
Alexander 4
David 4
Frank 4
Abram 3
Anthony 3
Edwin 3
Herbert 3
Horace 3
Ralph 3
Robt. 3
Saml. 3
Samuel 3
Abraham 2
Barrington 2
Benjamin 2
Bertie 2
Chas. 2
Edgar 2
Edmund 2
J. 2
Jesse 2
Matthew 2
Sidney 2
Stephen 2
Tom 2
Vincent 2
Cecil 1
Ephraim 1
Woodward 1

FAQ

Mudd surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mudd surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,265 people were recorded with the Mudd surname. That placed it at #3,222 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mudd surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,396 in 2016. That gives Mudd a modern rank of #4,350.

What does the Mudd surname mean?

An English occupational surname referring to someone who gathered or sold mud or clay.

What does the Mudd map show?

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