NameCensus.

UK surname

Northen

An English surname derived from the word "north," denoting someone from the northern region or a northerly location.

In the 1881 census there were 46 people recorded with the Northen surname, ranking it #27,188 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 134, ranked #25,636, up from #27,188 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Halifax, Cottingham, East Carlton and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Riding of Yorkshire, Cotswold and Rutland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Northen is 141 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 191.3%.

1881 census count

46

Ranked #27,188

Modern count

134

2016, ranked #25,636

Peak year

2002

141 bearers

Map years

5

1901 to 2016

Key insights

  • Northen had 46 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #27,188 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 134 in 2016, ranked #25,636.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 117 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Northen surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Northen surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Northen 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 44 #25,328
1861 historical 63 #25,901
1881 historical 46 #27,188
1891 historical 61 #29,103
1901 historical 104 #22,310
1911 historical 117 #20,757
1997 modern 118 #24,423
1998 modern 129 #23,722
1999 modern 131 #23,709
2000 modern 125 #24,351
2001 modern 129 #23,557
2002 modern 141 #22,794
2003 modern 131 #23,553
2004 modern 121 #24,939
2005 modern 118 #25,301
2006 modern 120 #25,269
2007 modern 120 #25,606
2008 modern 119 #26,067
2009 modern 120 #26,496
2010 modern 126 #26,312
2011 modern 126 #26,060
2012 modern 132 #25,289
2013 modern 136 #25,252
2014 modern 138 #25,218
2015 modern 131 #25,979
2016 modern 134 #25,636

Geography

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Where Northens are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Halifax, Cottingham, East Carlton, London parishes, Goxhill and Liddington, Seaton (Thorpe). These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Riding of Yorkshire, Cotswold, Rutland and East Lindsey. 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 Halifax Yorkshire, West Riding
2 Cottingham, East Carlton Northamptonshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Goxhill Lincolnshire
5 Liddington, Seaton (Thorpe) Rutland

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Riding of Yorkshire 019 East Riding of Yorkshire
2 East Riding of Yorkshire 017 East Riding of Yorkshire
3 Cotswold 009 Cotswold
4 Rutland 005 Rutland
5 East Lindsey 001 East Lindsey

Forenames

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First names often paired with Northen

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Northen

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Northen is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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 concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Northen 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

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

Meaning and origin of Northen

The surname Northen originates from England and dates back to the late 12th century. It is derived from the Old English word "norþ," meaning "north," and the suffix "-en," indicating a place of origin or residence. The name likely referred to someone who lived in or came from a northern region or settlement.

In early historical records, the name appeared with various spellings, such as Northen, Northyn, and Northin. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire from 1195, where a person named Robert Northen is mentioned.

The surname Northen may also have been influenced by or derived from place names in northern England, such as Northenden in Cheshire or Northen in Lancashire. These place names themselves likely originated from the Old English words "norþ" and "enden," meaning "northern end" or "northern boundary."

Notable individuals with the surname Northen throughout history include:

1. William Northen (c. 1535-1597), an English composer and organist who served at the Chapel Royal during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

2. John Northen (1619-1676), an English Puritan minister and author who wrote several religious works, including "A Treatise on Grace" (1671).

3. Roger Northen (1688-1753), a British merchant and politician who served as Mayor of Liverpool in 1738.

4. Thomas Northen (1766-1837), an English architect known for his work on the Shire Hall in Nottingham and other buildings in the Midlands.

5. William Jonathan Northen (1835-1913), an American politician who served as the 54th Governor of Georgia from 1893 to 1897.

While the surname Northen has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, including North America and Australia, through migration and emigration over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Northen families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Northen 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 14 Northens recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.15x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 14 3.15x
Northamptonshire 11 26.06x
Lincolnshire 10 13.94x
Kent 3 1.96x
Staffordshire 3 1.98x
Lancashire 2 0.38x
Middlesex 2 0.45x
Derbyshire 1 1.42x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. East Halton in Lincolnshire leads with 7 Northens recorded in 1881 and an index of 7000.00x.

Place Total Index
East Halton 7 7000.00x
Leeds 7 27.88x
East Carlton 6 60000.00x
Wellingborough 5 235.85x
Cleckheaton 4 243.90x
Burton Upon Trent 3 84.75x
Margate St John Baptist 3 107.14x
Hulme 2 17.99x
Long Bennington 2 1428.57x
Northowram 2 64.10x
Eckington 1 58.48x
Horton In Bradford 1 14.41x
Kensington London 1 4.01x
Kirton 1 344.83x
Whitechapel London 1 22.62x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 4
Sarah 4
Elizabeth 3
Ann 2
Emily 2
Frances 2
Louisa 2
Maria 2
Alice 1
Annie 1
Catherine 1
Daisy 1
Florence 1
Harriett 1
Julia 1
Lilly 1
Rose 1
Susy 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 4
William 4
Charls 1
Edward 1
George 1
Joseph 1
Mark 1
Thomas 1
Willm. 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Northen households.

FAQ

Northen surname: questions and answers

How common was the Northen surname in 1881?

In 1881, 46 people were recorded with the Northen surname. That placed it at #27,188 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Northen surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 134 in 2016. That gives Northen a modern rank of #25,636.

What does the Northen surname mean?

An English surname derived from the word "north," denoting someone from the northern region or a northerly location.

What does the Northen map show?

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