NameCensus.

UK surname

Odd

A surname historically used for someone who was eccentric or singular.

In the 1881 census there were 127 people recorded with the Odd surname, ranking it #17,166 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 191, ranked #20,194, down from #17,166 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Halstead, London parishes and Dartford. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Gravesham, Tendring and East Hertfordshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Odd is 216 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 50.4%.

1881 census count

127

Ranked #17,166

Modern count

191

2016, ranked #20,194

Peak year

1999

216 bearers

Map years

5

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Odd had 127 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #17,166 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 191 in 2016, ranked #20,194.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 195 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Odd surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Odd surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Odd 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 82 #19,317
1881 historical 127 #17,166
1901 historical 195 #15,380
1997 modern 210 #17,104
1998 modern 214 #17,366
1999 modern 216 #17,364
2000 modern 209 #17,723
2001 modern 208 #17,513
2002 modern 204 #18,062
2003 modern 200 #18,139
2004 modern 206 #17,883
2005 modern 196 #18,404
2006 modern 197 #18,465
2007 modern 192 #18,975
2008 modern 199 #18,699
2009 modern 198 #19,145
2010 modern 205 #19,140
2011 modern 207 #18,841
2012 modern 194 #19,606
2013 modern 194 #19,932
2014 modern 184 #20,809
2015 modern 192 #20,138
2016 modern 191 #20,194

Geography

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Where Odds are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Halstead, London parishes, Dartford, Eynesford and Sevenoaks. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Gravesham, Tendring and East Hertfordshire. 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 Halstead Kent
2 London parishes London 3
3 Dartford Kent
4 Eynesford Kent
5 Sevenoaks Kent

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Gravesham 005 Gravesham
2 Tendring 017 Tendring
3 East Hertfordshire 017 East Hertfordshire
4 Gravesham 008 Gravesham
5 Gravesham 010 Gravesham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Odd

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Odd

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Odd, 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 Odd surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Odd 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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Odd 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

Odd is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Odd

The surname Odd is of English origin, derived from the Old Norse personal name Oddr, which means "sharp point" or "promontory." The name likely originated in the 9th or 10th century among the Anglo-Saxon and Norse populations of England.

The earliest recorded instance of the surname Odd can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Ode" and "Ode filius." This suggests that the name was already in use by the time of the Norman Conquest in 1066.

During the Middle Ages, the name was often spelled in various ways, including Odde, Oddy, and Odi. It was also closely associated with certain place names, such as Oddendale in Cumbria and Oddington in Gloucestershire, which may have contributed to the spread and adoption of the surname.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Odd was Walter Odd, who lived in Somerset, England, in the 13th century. In the 14th century, a man named John Odde was mentioned in records from Oxfordshire.

In the 16th century, the name appears in the form "Odde" in the parish registers of Gloucestershire. A notable figure from this time was William Odde, a merchant and alderman in the city of Bristol, who lived from around 1520 to 1587.

During the 17th century, the spelling "Odd" became more prevalent. Sir John Odd (1600-1668) was a prominent English lawyer and Member of Parliament who served as the Solicitor General for England and Wales.

In the 18th century, the surname was particularly associated with the county of Gloucestershire, where several families bearing the name were landowners and farmers. One notable individual was Thomas Odd (1701-1781), a wealthy landowner and benefactor from Oddingley, Worcestershire.

Throughout the 19th century, the surname Odd remained relatively uncommon but can be found in various parts of England and Wales. One notable figure was George Odd (1830-1906), a British architect and surveyor who designed several notable buildings in London.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Odd families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Odd 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. Kent leads with 67 Odds recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.85x.

County Total Index
Kent 67 15.85x
Surrey 43 7.12x
Middlesex 12 0.97x
Brecknockshire 1 4.04x
Lancashire 1 0.07x
Norfolk 1 0.53x
Sussex 1 0.48x
Yorkshire 1 0.08x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Croydon in Surrey leads with 13 Odds recorded in 1881 and an index of 38.81x.

Place Total Index
Croydon 13 38.81x
Dartford 10 231.48x
Beddington 9 386.27x
Deptford St Nicholas 9 268.66x
Bexley 8 213.90x
Tonbridge 8 52.49x
East Peckham 7 795.45x
Otford 7 1186.44x
Carshalton 5 216.45x
Eltham 5 201.61x
Southwark St George Martyr 5 20.06x
Warlingham 5 1020.41x
Camberwell 4 5.06x
Islington London 4 3.33x
Mile End New Town 4 236.69x
Eynsford 3 416.67x
Woolwich 3 19.22x
Hornsey 2 12.77x
Addington 1 357.14x
Brighton 1 2.37x
Chislehurst 1 44.05x
Dilham 1 555.56x
Halstead 1 500.00x
Hammersmith London 1 3.28x
Knockholt 1 294.12x
Knowsley 1 188.68x
Llansaint Fread 1 1111.11x
Newington 1 2.19x
Northowram 1 11.61x
Sevenoaks 1 29.15x
St George Hanover 1 6.18x
St Mary Cray 1 123.46x
Sundridge 1 142.86x
Sutton At Hone 1 113.64x

Top female names

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

FAQ

Odd surname: questions and answers

How common was the Odd surname in 1881?

In 1881, 127 people were recorded with the Odd surname. That placed it at #17,166 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Odd surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 191 in 2016. That gives Odd a modern rank of #20,194.

What does the Odd surname mean?

A surname historically used for someone who was eccentric or singular.

What does the Odd map show?

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