NameCensus.

UK surname

Oddy

A surname possibly derived from the Old Norse name "Oddr" or as a topographical name for someone living on a ridge or promontory.

In the 1881 census there were 1,842 people recorded with the Oddy surname, ranking it #2,366 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,360, ranked #4,432, down from #2,366 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Calverley, Rochdale and Halifax. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Calderdale, Barnsley and Chelmsford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Oddy is 2,268 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 26.2%.

1881 census count

1,842

Ranked #2,366

Modern count

1,360

2016, ranked #4,432

Peak year

1911

2,268 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Oddy had 1,842 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,366 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,360 in 2016, ranked #4,432.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,268 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Oddy surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Oddy surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Oddy 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 1,240 #2,306
1861 historical 1,129 #2,484
1881 historical 1,842 #2,366
1891 historical 1,882 #2,445
1901 historical 2,111 #2,546
1911 historical 2,268 #2,230
1997 modern 1,510 #3,880
1998 modern 1,551 #3,936
1999 modern 1,550 #3,967
2000 modern 1,535 #3,984
2001 modern 1,482 #4,022
2002 modern 1,548 #3,968
2003 modern 1,507 #3,985
2004 modern 1,459 #4,090
2005 modern 1,433 #4,117
2006 modern 1,425 #4,135
2007 modern 1,416 #4,194
2008 modern 1,412 #4,230
2009 modern 1,423 #4,281
2010 modern 1,438 #4,320
2011 modern 1,413 #4,333
2012 modern 1,353 #4,418
2013 modern 1,368 #4,453
2014 modern 1,361 #4,495
2015 modern 1,357 #4,462
2016 modern 1,360 #4,432

Geography

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Where Oddys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Calverley, Rochdale, Halifax, Birstall and Bradford. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Calderdale, Barnsley, Chelmsford, Leeds and Waveney. 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 Calverley Yorkshire, West Riding
2 Rochdale Lancashire
3 Halifax Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Birstall Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Calderdale 026 Calderdale
2 Barnsley 020 Barnsley
3 Chelmsford 011 Chelmsford
4 Leeds 007 Leeds
5 Waveney 010 Waveney

Forenames

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First names often paired with Oddy

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Oddy

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

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Oddy is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Oddy 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

Oddy falls in decile 8 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.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Oddy is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Oddy

The surname Oddy is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Old English personal name "Oda" or "Odda," which itself comes from the Old Norse word "oddr," meaning "point" or "sharp end." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived near a pointed or sharp geographical feature.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Ode" and "Odi." This monumental survey, commissioned by William the Conqueror, recorded landholders and their holdings across much of England and parts of Wales.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various forms, including "Oddy," "Oddie," and "Odye." These variations likely stemmed from different regional pronunciations and spellings. During this time, the name was primarily concentrated in Yorkshire and Lancashire, with some instances also found in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire.

Notable individuals with the surname Oddy include William Oddy (1552-1619), an English clergyman and theologian who served as the Bishop of Llandaff. Another prominent figure was Sir John Oddy (1620-1692), a wealthy merchant and politician who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1676.

In the 18th century, John Oddy (1728-1807) was a notable English engraver and artist, best known for his portrait engravings and illustrations in books. Meanwhile, James Oddy (1770-1845) was a successful businessman and philanthropist from Yorkshire, who made significant contributions to the development of his local community.

Moving into the 19th century, Jonas Oddy (1818-1889) was a British engineer and inventor who played a crucial role in the development of the modern steam engine. His innovations contributed to the advancement of industrial technology during the Industrial Revolution.

Throughout its history, the surname Oddy has been associated with various place names and locations across England, particularly in the northern regions. Some examples include Oddy Wood in Yorkshire, Oddy Croft in Lancashire, and Oddy Farm in Derbyshire. These place names likely originated from individuals with the surname Oddy who lived or owned land in those areas.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Oddy families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Oddy 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 1,245 Oddys recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.00x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 1,245 7.00x
Lancashire 173 0.81x
Essex 154 4.34x
Middlesex 76 0.42x
Surrey 51 0.58x
Durham 35 0.66x
Cheshire 16 0.40x
Sussex 15 0.50x
Kent 13 0.21x
Northumberland 11 0.41x
Staffordshire 9 0.15x
Warwickshire 8 0.18x
Derbyshire 5 0.18x
Hertfordshire 5 0.40x
Lanarkshire 4 0.07x
Northamptonshire 4 0.24x
Buckinghamshire 2 0.18x
Cambridgeshire 2 0.18x
Gloucestershire 2 0.06x
Hampshire 2 0.05x
Norfolk 2 0.07x
Nottinghamshire 2 0.08x
Dorset 1 0.08x
Isle of Man 1 0.30x
Leicestershire 1 0.05x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.18x
Westmorland 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. Leeds in Yorkshire leads with 162 Oddys recorded in 1881 and an index of 16.12x.

Place Total Index
Leeds 162 16.12x
Idle 78 94.52x
Bradford 75 17.41x
Northowram 59 47.28x
Armley 53 67.52x
North Bierley 46 47.88x
Hunslet 40 14.41x
Tong 38 110.53x
Guiseley 36 157.96x
Horton In Bradford 35 12.59x
Gomersal 34 40.93x
Shipley 33 35.73x
Farnley In Bramley 31 139.51x
Castleton 30 14.10x
Bowling 28 15.89x
Huddersfield 28 10.80x
Spotland 27 11.40x
Writtle 25 172.53x
Lambeth 24 1.53x
Wortley In Bramley 24 17.03x
Batley 23 13.60x
Roxwell 23 460.00x
Halifax 22 8.42x
Holbeck 21 17.81x
Manningham 20 9.12x
Baildon 18 53.72x
Islington London 18 1.03x
Witton Le Wear 18 118.81x
Mirfield 17 17.40x
Chapel Allerton 16 60.08x
Heckmondwike 16 27.95x
Drighlington 15 57.87x
Willingale Spain 15 1181.10x
Tottenham 14 4.89x
Hunsworth 13 139.19x
Bilton Cum Harrogate 12 19.72x
Brighton 12 1.96x
Pudsey 12 12.62x
Cleckheaton 11 16.78x
Croydon 11 2.26x
Eccleshill 11 25.40x
Stanley Cum Wrenthorpe 11 13.30x
Wardleworth 11 9.03x
Almondbury 10 11.62x
Bury 10 4.11x
Liverpool 10 0.77x
Spofforth 10 409.84x
Wallsend 10 11.80x
Bramley In Bramley 9 13.21x
Ovenden 9 11.36x
Shelf 9 52.94x
Shellow Bowells 9 1323.53x
Blackburn 8 1.41x
Broomfield 8 143.63x
Calverley Cum Farsley 8 15.83x
Chelmsford 8 13.15x
Gildersome 8 37.40x
Great Leighs 8 173.16x
Morton In Keighley 8 57.22x
West Ham 8 1.02x
Yeadon 8 19.91x
Broughton In Salford 7 3.59x
Caverswall 7 22.22x
Dewsbury 7 3.84x
Hipperholme Cum 7 8.95x
Markington Cum 7 245.61x
Rettendon 7 158.01x
Southwark St George Martyr 7 1.94x
Spitalfields London 7 5.18x
Aston 6 0.48x
Deptford St Paul 6 1.27x
Failsworth 6 12.31x
Haworth 6 14.18x
Old Artillery Ground 6 38.81x
Potter Newton 6 19.11x
Rotherham 6 5.98x
Saddleworth 6 4.37x
Salford 6 0.96x
Stockport 6 2.94x
Willingale Doe 6 230.77x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 132
Sarah 95
Ann 53
Elizabeth 48
Annie 41
Emma 40
Hannah 35
Martha 34
Eliza 30
Ellen 26
Emily 26
Alice 25
Jane 24
Edith 17
Lucy 14
Clara 13
Harriet 13
Maria 13
Louisa 12
Ada 11
Florence 11
Margaret 11
Esther 9
Fanny 8
Charlotte 7
Agnes 6
Amelia 6
Caroline 6
Frances 6
Isabella 6
Rose 6
Amy 5
Minnie 5
Rachel 5
Sophia 5
Susan 5
Eleanor 4
Kate 4
Nancy 4
Ethel 3
Grace 3
Julia 3
Laura 3
Lavinia 3
Lilly 3
Lizzie 3
Margret 3
Rebecca 3
Ruth 3
Selina 3

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 101
William 87
James 57
Joseph 48
George 45
Thomas 36
Samuel 35
Charles 29
Benjamin 22
Henry 22
Alfred 19
Arthur 18
Robert 18
Walter 17
Herbert 16
Edwin 13
Frederick 13
Harry 13
Richard 13
Edward 12
Fred 12
Sam 10
Albert 7
David 6
Joshua 6
Christopher 5
Ernest 5
Geo. 5
Ralph 5
Tom 5
Frank 4
Jonathan 4
Josh. 4
Stephen 4
Thos. 4
Abraham 3
Ben 3
Miles 3
Wm. 3
Benjn. 2
Chas. 2
Ezra 2
Jas. 2
Jno. 2
Lawrence 2
Mary 2
Nathaniel 2
Saml. 2
Simeon 2
Sydney 2

FAQ

Oddy surname: questions and answers

How common was the Oddy surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,842 people were recorded with the Oddy surname. That placed it at #2,366 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Oddy surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,360 in 2016. That gives Oddy a modern rank of #4,432.

What does the Oddy surname mean?

A surname possibly derived from the Old Norse name "Oddr" or as a topographical name for someone living on a ridge or promontory.

What does the Oddy map show?

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