NameCensus.

UK surname

Oakden

Habitational surname referring to someone living near an oak valley.

In the 1881 census there were 548 people recorded with the Oakden surname, ranking it #6,297 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 580, ranked #8,938, down from #6,297 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wolstanton, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Staffordshire Moorlands, East Staffordshire and South Lakeland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Oakden is 690 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 5.8%.

1881 census count

548

Ranked #6,297

Modern count

580

2016, ranked #8,938

Peak year

1911

690 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Oakden had 548 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,297 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 580 in 2016, ranked #8,938.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 690 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Oakden surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Oakden surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Oakden 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 418 #5,816
1861 historical 349 #7,318
1881 historical 548 #6,297
1891 historical 633 #6,110
1901 historical 645 #6,678
1911 historical 690 #6,151
1997 modern 526 #8,963
1998 modern 605 #8,343
1999 modern 608 #8,372
2000 modern 591 #8,507
2001 modern 586 #8,433
2002 modern 592 #8,537
2003 modern 592 #8,415
2004 modern 582 #8,530
2005 modern 583 #8,442
2006 modern 584 #8,450
2007 modern 584 #8,534
2008 modern 587 #8,562
2009 modern 587 #8,733
2010 modern 587 #8,936
2011 modern 595 #8,748
2012 modern 584 #8,773
2013 modern 598 #8,775
2014 modern 596 #8,843
2015 modern 592 #8,815
2016 modern 580 #8,938

Geography

Back to top

Where Oakdens are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wolstanton, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, London parishes, St Werburgh and Manchester. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Staffordshire Moorlands, East Staffordshire and South Lakeland. 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 Wolstanton Staffordshire
2 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 St Werburgh Derbyshire
5 Manchester Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Staffordshire Moorlands 010 Staffordshire Moorlands
2 Staffordshire Moorlands 005 Staffordshire Moorlands
3 East Staffordshire 002 East Staffordshire
4 South Lakeland 001 South Lakeland
5 East Staffordshire 001 East Staffordshire

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Oakden

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Oakden

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Oakden 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

Oakden 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

Oakden 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 Oakden is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Oakden, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Oakden

The surname Oakden is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is a locational surname, derived from the Old English words 'ac' meaning oak and 'denu' meaning valley or dell. This suggests that the name was initially given to someone who lived in or near an oak-filled valley.

The earliest recorded instance of the Oakden surname can be traced back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as 'de Accdene'. This entry likely refers to a place name, indicating that the surname originated from a specific location.

During the 13th century, the name evolved to various spellings, including 'Oakdene', 'Ockden', and 'Ockdene'. These variations reflect the regional dialects and scribal variations common in that era.

One notable bearer of the Oakden surname was John Oakden (c. 1490-1556), a prominent landowner and farmer from Gloucestershire, England. Records show that he acquired substantial property holdings in the region during his lifetime.

Another historical figure was William Oakden (1621-1689), a Puritan minister and author who served as the rector of St. Mary's Church in Warwick, England. He published several religious works, including "The Doctrine of the Church of England" and "A Treatise on Prayer".

In the 18th century, Thomas Oakden (1745-1820) was a renowned architect from Somerset, England. He designed several notable buildings, including the Shire Hall in Taunton and the Royal Clarence Hotel in Exeter.

The Oakden surname also spread to other parts of the British Isles, including Scotland and Ireland. One notable Scottish bearer was Robert Oakden (1793-1867), a successful merchant and philanthropist who made significant contributions to the city of Glasgow.

In the 19th century, Edward Oakden (1841-1912) was a prominent English artist and illustrator. He is best known for his illustrations in books such as "The Pickwick Papers" by Charles Dickens and "The Vicar of Wakefield" by Oliver Goldsmith.

While the Oakden surname is relatively uncommon, it has persisted throughout history, with bearers making notable contributions in various fields, from agriculture and architecture to religion and the arts.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Oakden families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Oakden 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. Staffordshire leads with 143 Oakdens recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.94x.

County Total Index
Staffordshire 143 7.94x
Derbyshire 102 12.21x
Lancashire 78 1.23x
Nottinghamshire 40 5.56x
Yorkshire 31 0.59x
Middlesex 28 0.52x
Cheshire 23 1.95x
Surrey 20 0.77x
Essex 14 1.33x
Warwickshire 11 0.82x
Gloucestershire 8 0.76x
Shropshire 8 1.74x
Bedfordshire 6 2.17x
Kent 6 0.33x
Worcestershire 5 0.72x
Glamorgan 4 0.43x
Hampshire 4 0.37x
Hertfordshire 3 0.82x
Isle of Man 3 3.03x
Leicestershire 3 0.51x
Midlothian 3 0.42x
Northamptonshire 3 0.60x
Durham 1 0.06x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kingswinford in Staffordshire leads with 17 Oakdens recorded in 1881 and an index of 25.99x.

Place Total Index
Kingswinford 17 25.99x
Wolstanton Chesterton 17 184.58x
Stoke Upon Trent 16 8.38x
Cauldon 13 2166.67x
Derby St Werburgh 13 26.95x
Castleton 11 17.40x
Radford 11 30.10x
Brightside Bierlow 10 9.64x
Gorton 10 16.80x
Hulland 10 2777.78x
Kingsley 10 297.62x
Lambeth 10 2.15x
Ecclesall Bierlow 9 8.37x
Edlaston 9 2368.42x
Farley 9 1046.51x
Hulme 9 6.81x
Yeaveley 9 2432.43x
Ardwick 8 14.01x
Birkenhead 8 8.52x
Burslem 8 15.51x
Charlton Kings 8 110.50x
Coundon 8 1568.63x
Marston Montgomery 8 1142.86x
St George Hanover 8 11.49x
Hucknall Torkard 7 38.38x
Newton Solney 7 813.95x
Walthamstow 7 18.46x
Wolstanton 7 12.80x
Bulwell 6 38.36x
Enfield 6 17.14x
Hulland Ward 6 845.07x
Kniveton 6 1200.00x
Manchester 6 2.11x
Monks Coppenhall 6 13.50x
Stone In Dartford 6 128.48x
Sutton Maddock 6 845.07x
Waltham Holy Cross 6 60.98x
Alstonefield 5 574.71x
Ashton Under Lyne 5 3.61x
Bethnal Green London 5 2.16x
Burton Upon Trent 5 11.87x
Caterham 5 43.52x
Crich 5 91.74x
Doveridge 5 393.70x
Dudley 5 5.90x
Fenny Bentley 5 1111.11x
Heaton Norris 5 13.87x
Moss Side 5 15.01x
Nuthall 5 185.19x
Snenton 5 17.69x
Sutton 5 925.93x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 4 8.12x
Horton 4 181.82x
Leek Lowe 4 16.69x
Repton 4 126.58x
Swansea Town 4 5.25x
Ditton 3 115.83x
Eastwood 3 46.66x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 3 1.04x
Freshwater 3 60.00x
Great Budworth 3 143.54x
Mayfield 3 133.33x
Musden Grange 3 7500.00x
Onchan 3 10.51x
Pendleton In Salford 3 3.98x
Peterborough 3 8.26x
Rodsley 3 1200.00x
Southwark St George Martyr 3 2.79x
St Pancras London 3 0.70x
Tutbury 3 68.34x
Wolston Marston 3 297.03x
Acton Trussell 2 200.00x
Boylestone 2 487.80x
Ecclesfield 2 5.16x
Heston 2 11.29x
Longford 2 263.16x
Macclesfield 2 3.82x
Nottingham St Mary 2 1.08x
Oldham 2 0.98x
Stafford St Mary 2 7.84x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 41
Elizabeth 27
Ann 21
Sarah 15
Annie 12
Hannah 10
Jane 9
Florence 8
Eliza 7
Louisa 7
Alice 6
Catherine 6
Amy 5
Caroline 5
Ellen 5
Harriet 5
Maria 5
Agnes 4
Emily 4
Emma 4
Fanny 4
Ada 3
Edith 3
Esther 3
Anne 2
Betsy 2
Charlotte 2
Eleanor 2
Elizth. 2
Frances 2
Gertrude 2
Harriett 2
Hellen 2
Isabella 2
L. 2
Lilian 2
Lucy 2
Margaret 2
Martha 2
Sophia 2
Susan 2
Amis 1
Arabella 1
Bertha 1
Eva 1
Evelyn 1
Flora 1
Juliet 1
Kate 1
Voiletia 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 38
John 31
Thomas 30
Joseph 20
George 15
Albert 8
Henry 8
Charles 7
Edward 7
Robert 7
Arthur 6
Philip 6
Harry 5
Ralph 5
Roger 5
Alfred 4
James 4
Daniel 3
Francis 3
Frederick 3
Simon 3
Wm. 3
Amos 2
Benjamin 2
Edwin 2
Frank 2
Fred 2
Richard 2
Samuel 2
Thos. 2
Wilfred 2
Ed. 1
Edgar 1
Eli 1
Elias 1
Ernest 1
Fk. 1
G. 1
Geo. 1
Herbert 1
J. 1
Josiah 1
Louis 1
Mary 1
Phillip 1
S. 1
Sl. 1
W. 1
Wallace 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Oakden surname: questions and answers

How common was the Oakden surname in 1881?

In 1881, 548 people were recorded with the Oakden surname. That placed it at #6,297 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Oakden surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 580 in 2016. That gives Oakden a modern rank of #8,938.

What does the Oakden surname mean?

Habitational surname referring to someone living near an oak valley.

What does the Oakden map show?

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