NameCensus.

UK surname

Munden

Derived from a place name meaning "at the mouth of the den" in Old English.

In the 1881 census there were 503 people recorded with the Munden surname, ranking it #6,747 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 973, ranked #5,933, up from #6,747 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Poole St James and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Fenland, Tonbridge and Malling and Worcester.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Munden is 1,077 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 93.4%.

1881 census count

503

Ranked #6,747

Modern count

973

2016, ranked #5,933

Peak year

1998

1,077 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Munden had 503 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,747 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 973 in 2016, ranked #5,933.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 871 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Munden surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Munden surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Munden 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 358 #6,604
1861 historical 222 #10,993
1881 historical 503 #6,747
1891 historical 555 #6,831
1901 historical 745 #5,975
1911 historical 871 #5,105
1997 modern 1,041 #5,316
1998 modern 1,077 #5,350
1999 modern 1,074 #5,384
2000 modern 1,062 #5,418
2001 modern 1,029 #5,464
2002 modern 1,046 #5,481
2003 modern 1,026 #5,485
2004 modern 1,009 #5,556
2005 modern 1,000 #5,549
2006 modern 965 #5,717
2007 modern 950 #5,852
2008 modern 948 #5,892
2009 modern 957 #5,968
2010 modern 994 #5,905
2011 modern 986 #5,885
2012 modern 974 #5,862
2013 modern 986 #5,886
2014 modern 1,007 #5,828
2015 modern 980 #5,907
2016 modern 973 #5,933

Geography

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Where Mundens are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Poole St James, London parishes, Alverstoke, Gosport, Rowner and Portsmouth, Portsea. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Fenland, Tonbridge and Malling and Worcester. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 Poole St James Dorset
3 London parishes London 3
4 Alverstoke, Gosport, Rowner Hampshire
5 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Fenland 005 Fenland
2 Fenland 007 Fenland
3 Tonbridge and Malling 006 Tonbridge and Malling
4 Worcester 010 Worcester
5 Fenland 011 Fenland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Munden

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Munden

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

Munden 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

Munden falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Munden

The surname Munden is of English origin, derived from the Old English words "mund" meaning "protection" and "dun" meaning "hill" or "fort". It is believed to have originated in the 12th century and was likely a locational name, referring to someone who lived near a protected hill or fort.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Northamptonshire in 1196, where a William de Munden is mentioned. The 'de' prefix indicates that he was from a place called Munden.

In the Hundred Rolls of 1273, there is a reference to a place called "Munedene" in Hertfordshire, which is thought to be an older spelling of the name and location that the surname derived from.

The Munden surname has also been linked to various place names in England, such as Munden in Hertfordshire, Mundenden in Buckinghamshire, and Munden Green in Berkshire.

Notable individuals with the surname Munden include:

1. Sir Richard Munden (c. 1480-1537), an English lawyer and politician who served as a Member of Parliament during the reign of Henry VIII.

2. Joseph Shephard Munden (1758-1832), an English actor renowned for his comic roles on the London stage.

3. Thomas Munden (1753-1821), an English cricketer who played for Hampshire and was considered one of the best batsmen of his era.

4. Sir William Munden (1825-1898), a British civil engineer and architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Royal Courts of Justice.

5. Ethel Munden (1887-1957), an English stage and film actress who appeared in numerous productions in the early 20th century.

The Munden surname has been found across various regions of England, particularly in counties like Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, and Berkshire, where it likely originated. While it is not a particularly common surname, it has a long and rich history that can be traced back to the Middle Ages.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Munden families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Munden 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. Dorset leads with 111 Mundens recorded in 1881 and an index of 34.33x.

County Total Index
Dorset 111 34.33x
Hampshire 94 9.31x
Middlesex 67 1.36x
Surrey 29 1.21x
Kent 28 1.67x
Somerset 26 3.28x
Lancashire 22 0.38x
Gloucestershire 21 2.17x
Hertfordshire 14 4.12x
Cambridgeshire 12 3.85x
Northamptonshire 12 2.59x
Staffordshire 12 0.72x
Essex 11 1.13x
Glamorgan 8 0.93x
Leicestershire 8 1.46x
Warwickshire 7 0.56x
Worcestershire 4 0.62x
Buckinghamshire 3 1.01x
Devon 3 0.29x
Norfolk 3 0.40x
Royal Navy 3 5.11x
Nottinghamshire 2 0.30x
Rutland 2 5.53x
Derbyshire 1 0.13x
Lanarkshire 1 0.06x
Northumberland 1 0.14x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Portsea in Hampshire leads with 29 Mundens recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.66x.

Place Total Index
Portsea 29 14.66x
Allington 22 763.89x
Alverstoke 20 54.72x
Lambeth 17 3.96x
Shoreditch London 16 7.49x
Morden 14 1021.90x
Ilminster 13 234.66x
Bridport 12 180.18x
Islington London 12 2.51x
Longfleet 12 320.00x
March 12 114.83x
Poplar London 12 12.91x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 11 12.09x
Bradpole 10 377.36x
Gillingham 10 28.86x
Scotforth 9 236.84x
West Ham 9 4.19x
Crewkerne 8 95.01x
Fareham 8 65.95x
Lytchett Minster 8 559.44x
Minster In Sheppey 8 28.74x
Aston 7 2.05x
Clifton 7 14.33x
Fordingbridge 7 127.50x
Lymington 7 94.34x
Penlline 7 1372.55x
St Mary Kalendar 7 333.33x
Kimpton 6 377.36x
Salford 6 3.49x
Stoke Upon Trent 6 3.40x
Walgrave 6 588.24x
Cheetham 5 11.47x
Christchurch 5 22.84x
Earls Barton 5 126.58x
Kensington London 5 1.83x
Leicester All Sts 5 46.60x
Marshwood 5 892.86x
Plumstead 5 8.93x
Poole St James 5 41.15x
Bermondsey 4 2.73x
Bromley London 4 3.69x
Glastonbury 4 61.82x
Halesowen 4 70.80x
Little Gaddesden 4 634.92x
Melcombe Regis 4 29.85x
Newington 4 2.20x
Wolstanton 4 7.92x
Dorchester All Sts 3 194.81x
Edlesborough 3 110.70x
Hampstead London 3 3.91x
Leicester St Nicholas 3 97.09x
Puddletown 3 151.52x
Royal Navy 3 5.98x
Scole Cum Frenze 3 272.73x
St Andrew Holborn 3 17.96x
St Anne Soho London 3 10.66x
St Mary Extra 3 36.90x
Woolwich 3 4.83x
Aldershot 2 5.91x
Bristol St Paul In 2 7.77x
Broxbourne 2 29.72x
Ealing 2 4.54x
Handsworth 2 4.88x
Lyme Regis 2 51.68x
Millbrook 2 7.86x
Nottingham St Mary 2 1.16x
Parkstone 2 53.05x
Richmond 2 5.95x
Ringwood 2 30.96x
Sherborne 2 21.01x
St Pancras London 2 0.50x
Walditch 2 625.00x
Wheathampstead 2 51.02x
Bristol St James In 1 7.04x
Clapton 1 277.78x
Clerkenwell London 1 0.86x
Govan 1 0.25x
Liverpool 1 0.28x
Paddington London 1 0.55x
St Clement Danes 1 12.55x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 22
Elizabeth 20
Eliza 17
Sarah 15
Jane 11
Louisa 11
Ann 10
Ellen 9
Alice 8
Annie 8
Emily 8
Harriet 7
Catherine 6
Emma 6
Martha 5
Susan 5
Fanny 4
Hannah 4
Margaret 4
Ada 3
Caroline 3
Charlotte 3
Florence 3
Harriett 3
Anne 2
E. 2
Edith 2
Elizth. 2
Georgina 2
Kate 2
Lucy 2
Matilda 2
Meynella 2
Agnes 1
Amy 1
Beatrice 1
Bessie 1
Eleanor 1
Elmira 1
Emmeline 1
Eva 1
Fanney 1
Hester 1
Judith 1
Julia 1
L. 1
Leah 1
Lilian 1
Lillian 1
Lily 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 33
George 27
John 22
Henry 18
Charles 12
James 12
Thomas 10
Frederick 9
Alfred 8
Joseph 7
Walter 7
Edward 6
Ernest 6
Frank 5
Harry 5
Robert 5
Sydney 4
Wm. 4
Albert 3
Herbert 3
Isaac 3
Samuel 3
Stephen 3
Arthur 2
Edwin 2
Fred 2
Fredrick 2
Absolom 1
Alexander 1
Andrew 1
Claud 1
Daniel 1
Edwd. 1
Emanuel 1
Fredk.J. 1
Fredk.Wm. 1
Fredr. 1
Gwilym 1
H. 1
H.F. 1
Jas. 1
Jessie 1
Leucy 1
Percival 1
Percy 1
Robt. 1
Sidney 1
Willm. 1
Willm.J. 1
Yerbery 1

FAQ

Munden surname: questions and answers

How common was the Munden surname in 1881?

In 1881, 503 people were recorded with the Munden surname. That placed it at #6,747 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Munden surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 973 in 2016. That gives Munden a modern rank of #5,933.

What does the Munden surname mean?

Derived from a place name meaning "at the mouth of the den" in Old English.

What does the Munden map show?

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