NameCensus.

UK surname

Norden

A surname indicating a person from the north or a northern region, derived from German or Dutch.

In the 1881 census there were 239 people recorded with the Norden surname, ranking it #11,446 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 288, ranked #15,180, down from #11,446 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Edmonton, Walthamstow, Low Leyton and Coveney, Manea, Mepal, Downham, Witcham, Witchford, Wentworth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Cambridgeshire, Wychavon and Maldon.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Norden is 340 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 20.5%.

1881 census count

239

Ranked #11,446

Modern count

288

2016, ranked #15,180

Peak year

1901

340 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Norden had 239 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,446 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 288 in 2016, ranked #15,180.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 340 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Norden surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Norden surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Norden 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 113 #15,815
1861 historical 71 #24,765
1881 historical 239 #11,446
1891 historical 254 #12,598
1901 historical 340 #10,647
1911 historical 340 #10,490
1997 modern 293 #13,736
1998 modern 311 #13,550
1999 modern 321 #13,362
2000 modern 322 #13,307
2001 modern 305 #13,594
2002 modern 305 #13,865
2003 modern 299 #13,850
2004 modern 297 #13,971
2005 modern 285 #14,273
2006 modern 282 #14,459
2007 modern 283 #14,579
2008 modern 293 #14,364
2009 modern 296 #14,557
2010 modern 293 #14,974
2011 modern 288 #15,009
2012 modern 278 #15,333
2013 modern 287 #15,224
2014 modern 290 #15,203
2015 modern 288 #15,190
2016 modern 288 #15,180

Geography

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Where Nordens are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Edmonton, Walthamstow, Low Leyton, Coveney, Manea, Mepal, Downham, Witcham, Witchford, Wentworth, London parishes and Linton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Cambridgeshire, Wychavon, Maldon and Havering. 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 Walthamstow, Low Leyton Essex
3 Coveney, Manea, Mepal, Downham, Witcham, Witchford, Wentworth Cambridgeshire
4 London parishes London 3
5 Linton Cambridgeshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Cambridgeshire 016 South Cambridgeshire
2 Wychavon 009 Wychavon
3 South Cambridgeshire 011 South Cambridgeshire
4 Maldon 008 Maldon
5 Havering 007 Havering

Forenames

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First names often paired with Norden

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Norden

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Norden surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Norden 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 includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Norden is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Norden 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

Norden falls in decile 9 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.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Norden

The surname Norden originated in Germany, where it can be traced back to the 14th century. The name is derived from the Old German word "norden," meaning "north," and is likely an occupational name for someone who worked in northern regions or a topographic name for someone who lived in the northern part of a town or village.

The earliest recorded instance of the Norden surname appears in a document from the city of Nuremberg, dated 1375, which mentions a "Hans Norden." In the 15th century, the name is found in various records from the German states of Bavaria and Saxony, indicating its widespread use across different regions.

A notable historical figure with the Norden surname was Johann Norden (1548-1625), a German engraver and cartographer. He is best known for his detailed maps of England and Wales, which he produced after traveling through those regions in the early 17th century.

Another prominent individual with this surname was Frederik Ludvig Norden (1708-1742), a Danish explorer and artist. He is renowned for his travels to Egypt and Nubia, where he documented ancient monuments and produced a valuable collection of drawings and illustrations.

In the Netherlands, the name Norden is connected to the town of Norden, located in the province of Drenthe. This place name likely influenced the surname's usage in that region. One notable Dutch bearer of the name was Erasmus Norden (1609-1681), a lawyer and historian who wrote extensively about the history of the Netherlands.

The Norden surname also has a presence in Scandinavia, particularly in Sweden and Norway. In Sweden, records from the 16th century mention individuals with the surname Norden or variations like Nordin and Nordeen. One notable Swedish bearer was Carl Norden (1836-1915), a renowned entomologist and naturalist.

In Norway, the name Norden is often associated with the coastal regions and fishing communities. Olav Norden (1905-1994), a Norwegian author and playwright, is one notable individual who carried this surname.

These are just a few examples of historical figures who bore the surname Norden throughout various regions and time periods, highlighting its widespread usage and connections to different cultures and occupations.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Norden families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Norden 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 64 Nordens recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.70x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 64 2.70x
Cambridgeshire 50 33.30x
Essex 44 9.40x
Surrey 14 1.21x
Devon 10 2.03x
Kent 10 1.24x
Lancashire 8 0.28x
Nottinghamshire 8 2.50x
Hertfordshire 7 4.28x
Durham 6 0.85x
Yorkshire 6 0.26x
Lanarkshire 5 0.65x
Channel Islands 4 5.69x
Warwickshire 2 0.33x
Cheshire 1 0.19x
Lincolnshire 1 0.26x
Northumberland 1 0.28x
Suffolk 1 0.35x
Sussex 1 0.25x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bromley London in Middlesex leads with 11 Nordens recorded in 1881 and an index of 21.09x.

Place Total Index
Bromley London 11 21.09x
Bethnal Green London 10 9.71x
Plymouth St Andrew 10 26.31x
Babraham 9 4090.91x
Sawston 9 620.69x
St Andrewthe Less 9 52.48x
Harworth 8 1777.78x
Shoreditch London 8 7.79x
Walthanstow 8 1025.64x
Weston Colville 8 1860.47x
Mile End Old Town 7 18.71x
Bayford 6 2727.27x
Sedgefield 6 239.04x
Shopland 6 8571.43x
Southwark St John 6 82.76x
St Botolph Aldgate 6 185.19x
Altofts 5 193.05x
Barony 5 2.58x
Barton Upon Irwell 5 23.62x
Chesterton 5 107.99x
Prittlewell 5 77.16x
St George In East 5 31.02x
Walthamstow 5 29.69x
Hackney London 4 3.01x
Lexden 4 212.77x
St Helier 4 17.49x
St Luke London 4 10.52x
West Wratting 4 833.33x
Barton 3 1153.85x
Fulham London 3 8.73x
Great Wakering 3 285.71x
Little Wakering 3 1153.85x
Ramsgate 3 22.73x
Ridgwell 3 566.04x
Southchurch 3 697.67x
Deptford St Paul 2 3.21x
Kenilworth 2 59.35x
Kensington London 2 1.52x
Kirkdale 2 4.23x
Lambeth 2 0.97x
Maidstone 2 8.30x
Penge 2 13.21x
St Martin In Fields 2 14.09x
Wandsworth 2 8.76x
Acton 1 7.19x
Baumber 1 357.14x
Broxbourne 1 30.86x
Clayton Le Moors 1 18.32x
Frodsham 1 49.26x
Fulbourn 1 69.44x
Gomersal 1 9.12x
Great Yeldham 1 204.08x
Ham 1 192.31x
Hammersmith London 1 1.71x
Hove 1 5.70x
Kedington 1 131.58x
Kingsnorth 1 200.00x
Linton 1 69.93x
Plumstead 1 3.71x
Rochford 1 73.53x
Saffron Walden 1 20.24x
South Shoebury 1 53.19x
Southwark St Saviour 1 8.21x
Tynemouth 1 5.29x
Waterbeach 1 81.97x
Willesborough 1 46.08x

Top female names

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

FAQ

Norden surname: questions and answers

How common was the Norden surname in 1881?

In 1881, 239 people were recorded with the Norden surname. That placed it at #11,446 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Norden surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 288 in 2016. That gives Norden a modern rank of #15,180.

What does the Norden surname mean?

A surname indicating a person from the north or a northern region, derived from German or Dutch.

What does the Norden map show?

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