NameCensus.

UK surname

Nelder

An English surname deriving from the Middle English "helder" meaning someone from a sloping place or hillside.

In the 1881 census there were 108 people recorded with the Nelder surname, ranking it #18,888 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 294, ranked #14,953, up from #18,888 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Paignton, Plympton St Mary and Birmingham Town: Birmingham. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cheltenham and Thurrock.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Nelder is 334 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 172.2%.

1881 census count

108

Ranked #18,888

Modern count

294

2016, ranked #14,953

Peak year

2010

334 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Nelder had 108 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #18,888 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 294 in 2016, ranked #14,953.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 224 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Nelder surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Nelder surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Nelder 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 100 #17,164
1861 historical 95 #21,768
1881 historical 108 #18,888
1891 historical 172 #16,663
1901 historical 205 #14,884
1911 historical 224 #13,914
1997 modern 278 #14,210
1998 modern 311 #13,550
1999 modern 313 #13,587
2000 modern 328 #13,129
2001 modern 317 #13,228
2002 modern 328 #13,186
2003 modern 314 #13,419
2004 modern 331 #12,973
2005 modern 303 #13,757
2006 modern 306 #13,724
2007 modern 305 #13,891
2008 modern 312 #13,764
2009 modern 322 #13,741
2010 modern 334 #13,690
2011 modern 317 #14,059
2012 modern 303 #14,415
2013 modern 303 #14,651
2014 modern 309 #14,533
2015 modern 305 #14,579
2016 modern 294 #14,953

Geography

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Where Nelders are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Paignton, Plympton St Mary, Birmingham Town: Birmingham, Cheltenham and Dartington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cheltenham and Thurrock. 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 Paignton Devon
2 Plympton St Mary Devon
3 Birmingham Town: Birmingham Warwickshire
4 Cheltenham Gloucestershire
5 Dartington Devon

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cheltenham 006 Cheltenham
2 Cheltenham 003 Cheltenham
3 Thurrock 009 Thurrock
4 Thurrock 004 Thurrock
5 Thurrock 018 Thurrock

Forenames

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First names often paired with Nelder

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Nelder

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Nelder surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Nelder household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Nelder is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, 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 residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

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

Nelder is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Nelder falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Nelder

The surname Nelder is believed to have originated in England, with its earliest known usage dating back to the late 13th century. The name is thought to be derived from the Old English word "neldre," which means an adder or snake. This suggests that the name may have been initially used as a nickname or descriptive surname for someone who had a snake-like appearance or demeanor.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Nelder surname can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, where a person named Walter le Neldre is mentioned. The use of the prefix "le" before the surname indicates its early adoption as a hereditary family name.

In the 14th century, the Nelder name appeared in various records throughout the counties of Worcestershire, Gloucestershire, and Oxfordshire. The spelling variations during this time included Nelder, Neldere, and Neldir, reflecting the inconsistencies in written English before standardization.

The Nelder surname is also linked to certain place names in England, such as Nailsworth in Gloucestershire, which was formerly known as "Naylesworthe" or "Naylesword." It is possible that some Nelders derived their name from these locations.

One notable individual with the Nelder surname was John Nelder (c. 1530-1580), an English politician and Member of Parliament for Ludgershall in Wiltshire during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

Another prominent figure was Thomas Nelder (1674-1752), a successful merchant and investor from London, who made significant contributions to the development of the East India Company and the British colonial economy.

In the 18th century, the Nelder family gained recognition through the works of Samuel Nelder (1727-1803), an acclaimed English engraver and printmaker known for his landscape etchings and illustrations of architectural landmarks.

The 19th century saw the rise of William Nelder (1812-1891), a renowned English architect who designed several notable buildings, including the Church of St. Michael and All Angels in Gloucester and the Worcestershire County Asylum.

More recently, George Nelder (1935-2001) was a respected statistician and mathematician who made significant contributions to the field of experimental design and analysis of variance (ANOVA) techniques.

Throughout its history, the Nelder surname has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including politicians, merchants, artists, architects, and scholars, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and accomplishments associated with this name of English origin.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Nelder families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Nelder 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. Devon leads with 60 Nelders recorded in 1881 and an index of 26.86x.

County Total Index
Devon 60 26.86x
Middlesex 9 0.84x
Oxfordshire 8 12.07x
Gloucestershire 6 2.85x
Hampshire 6 2.73x
Cheshire 4 1.69x
Cornwall 4 3.29x
Somerset 4 2.32x
Herefordshire 2 4.55x
Royal Navy 2 15.64x
Yorkshire 2 0.19x
Kent 1 0.27x
Northamptonshire 1 0.99x
Surrey 1 0.19x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Plympton St Mary in Devon leads with 20 Nelders recorded in 1881 and an index of 1550.39x.

Place Total Index
Plympton St Mary 20 1550.39x
Plymouth St Andrew 11 63.92x
Wembury 7 3500.00x
Cheltenham 6 36.95x
Plympton Maurice 6 1428.57x
Brixton 4 1600.00x
Brushford 4 3333.33x
Dartington 4 1739.13x
Lezant 4 1481.48x
Paddington London 4 10.14x
Portsea 4 9.28x
Berry Pomeroy 3 810.81x
Kidlington 3 588.24x
Liscard 3 70.26x
Paignton 3 176.47x
St Marylebone London 3 5.24x
Upper Heyford 3 2142.86x
Breinton 2 1176.47x
Cornwood 2 465.12x
Royal Navy 2 18.30x
Sandford 2 1111.11x
Yarm 2 363.64x
Acton 1 15.90x
Carisbrooke 1 32.79x
Hampstead London 1 5.98x
Peterborough Minster Close 1 1000.00x
Portsmouth 1 19.76x
Richmond 1 13.64x
Smarden 1 238.10x
Tranmere 1 11.48x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 8
Ann 5
Elizabeth 5
Louisa 3
Sarah 3
Annie 2
Eliza 2
Emma 2
Ida 2
Amelia 1
Anna 1
Anne 1
Ellenor 1
Emily 1
Ethel 1
Florance 1
Florence 1
Georgeanna 1
Hannah 1
Harriet 1
Jane 1
Kate 1
Laura 1
Lilian 1
Lydia 1
Mabel 1
Maggie 1
Maria 1
Maud 1
Phillippa 1
Susan 1
Susanna 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Nelder surname: questions and answers

How common was the Nelder surname in 1881?

In 1881, 108 people were recorded with the Nelder surname. That placed it at #18,888 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Nelder surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 294 in 2016. That gives Nelder a modern rank of #14,953.

What does the Nelder surname mean?

An English surname deriving from the Middle English "helder" meaning someone from a sloping place or hillside.

What does the Nelder map show?

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