NameCensus.

UK surname

Olden

Derived from a place name or from the Old English "ealda," meaning "old," referring to an elderly person.

In the 1881 census there were 238 people recorded with the Olden surname, ranking it #11,476 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 438, ranked #11,028, up from #11,476 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Romsey Extra, Michelmersh and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Rhondda Cynon Taf, Test Valley and New Forest.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Olden is 478 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 84.0%.

1881 census count

238

Ranked #11,476

Modern count

438

2016, ranked #11,028

Peak year

2002

478 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Olden had 238 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,476 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 438 in 2016, ranked #11,028.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 413 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Olden surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Olden surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Olden 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 208 #10,107
1861 historical 201 #11,949
1881 historical 238 #11,476
1891 historical 346 #9,920
1901 historical 381 #9,799
1911 historical 413 #9,082
1997 modern 465 #9,817
1998 modern 464 #10,169
1999 modern 452 #10,422
2000 modern 474 #10,029
2001 modern 466 #9,984
2002 modern 478 #9,963
2003 modern 462 #10,045
2004 modern 462 #10,092
2005 modern 457 #10,100
2006 modern 452 #10,204
2007 modern 455 #10,239
2008 modern 452 #10,369
2009 modern 464 #10,407
2010 modern 465 #10,618
2011 modern 453 #10,732
2012 modern 440 #10,849
2013 modern 454 #10,762
2014 modern 455 #10,804
2015 modern 449 #10,836
2016 modern 438 #11,028

Geography

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Where Oldens are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Romsey Extra, Michelmersh, London parishes and Llanwonno. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Rhondda Cynon Taf, Test Valley and New Forest. 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 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 Romsey Extra, Michelmersh Hampshire
3 London parishes London 1
4 Llanwonno Glamorganshire
5 London parishes London 3

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Rhondda Cynon Taf 005 Rhondda Cynon Taf
2 Test Valley 013 Test Valley
3 New Forest 001 New Forest
4 Test Valley 009 Test Valley
5 Test Valley 010 Test Valley

Forenames

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First names often paired with Olden

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Olden

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

Olden is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Olden 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 Olden is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Olden

The surname Olden is of English origin, deriving from the Old English word "alden," which means "aged" or "old one." It is believed to have originated in the 12th or 13th century as a descriptive name, likely given to someone who was elderly or had a venerable appearance.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where it appears as "Aldene." This suggests that the surname was already in use during the medieval period. The Olden name is also found in various medieval records, such as the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire from the late 13th century.

In the 16th century, the surname appears in various spellings, including "Olden," "Oulden," and "Owlden." These variations reflect the inconsistencies in spelling that were common during that time period. One notable individual from this era was Thomas Olden, a prominent merchant from London who was born in 1520 and died in 1588.

The Olden surname has been associated with several place names in England, such as Olden in Cheshire and Olden Chapelry in Lancashire. These places may have influenced the development of the surname or been named after individuals bearing the Olden name.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals with the surname Olden. One example is Sir John Olden (1618-1682), an English politician and lawyer who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1666. Another notable figure was Thomas Olden (1737-1808), an American Revolutionary War soldier and politician from New Jersey.

Other individuals of note include William Olden (1786-1859), a prominent banker and politician from New Jersey, and Ralph Olden (1823-1900), an English cricketer who played for Middlesex County Cricket Club in the mid-19th century. Additionally, Henry Olden (1856-1920) was a British playwright and actor known for his works in the late Victorian and Edwardian eras.

The Olden surname has a rich history rooted in the English language and has been borne by individuals from various walks of life, including merchants, politicians, soldiers, and artists. Its origins as a descriptive name reflecting age or venerability have given it a unique character and significance within the realm of English surnames.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Olden families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Olden 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. Hampshire leads with 75 Oldens recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.63x.

County Total Index
Hampshire 75 15.63x
Lancashire 22 0.79x
Middlesex 19 0.81x
Sussex 18 4.56x
Glamorgan 16 3.93x
Wiltshire 14 6.76x
Devon 9 1.85x
Kent 8 1.00x
Worcestershire 8 2.62x
Norfolk 7 1.94x
Surrey 7 0.61x
Derbyshire 6 1.64x
Dorset 5 3.25x
Pembrokeshire 5 6.72x
Somerset 5 1.33x
Yorkshire 4 0.17x
Essex 3 0.65x
Northumberland 2 0.57x
Royal Navy 2 7.17x
Cheshire 1 0.19x
Durham 1 0.14x
Northamptonshire 1 0.45x
Shropshire 1 0.49x
Staffordshire 1 0.13x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Michelmersh in Hampshire leads with 21 Oldens recorded in 1881 and an index of 2258.06x.

Place Total Index
Michelmersh 21 2258.06x
Millbrook 18 149.01x
Brighton 10 12.56x
West Derby 9 11.07x
Lockerley 8 1666.67x
Subdeanery 8 267.56x
Warley Wigorn 8 824.74x
Aberdare 7 25.02x
Calne 7 164.32x
Llanwonno 7 47.78x
Tiverton 7 83.43x
Croydon 6 9.48x
Matlock 6 121.95x
Bedminster 5 14.12x
Christchurch 5 48.08x
Kensington London 5 3.84x
Thurton 5 3125.00x
Ashton Under Lyne 4 6.59x
Cliffe 4 222.22x
Freshwater 4 182.65x
Warblington 4 210.53x
Winterbourne Earls 4 2105.26x
Woolwich 4 13.55x
Bury 3 9.45x
Colchester St James 3 160.43x
Hammersmith London 3 5.20x
Newton Toney 3 1111.11x
Pembroke St Mary 3 31.32x
Sherfield English 3 1304.35x
Stalbridge 3 205.48x
Acton 2 14.58x
Bridport 2 63.29x
Chelsea London 2 2.84x
Clifton In York 2 41.24x
Eglwysilan 2 28.29x
Kingston 2 298.51x
Little Bolton 2 5.60x
Lyndhurst 2 152.67x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 2 9.62x
Newton St Faith 2 740.74x
Oldham 2 2.23x
Royal Navy 2 8.39x
St George Hanover 2 6.54x
Willesden 2 9.06x
Barton Upon Irwell 1 4.78x
Bromfield 1 222.22x
Daventry 1 32.15x
Dunkeswell 1 322.58x
Eccleston In Prescot 1 7.17x
Goodworth Clatford 1 250.00x
Halifax 1 2.94x
Hampstead London 1 2.74x
Headbourne Worthy 1 526.32x
Herbrandston 1 344.83x
Holy Trinity 1 1.79x
Hound 1 30.67x
Leftwich 1 43.67x
Mile End Old Town 1 2.71x
Milford 1 71.43x
Milford Haven 1 166.67x
Romsey Extra 1 35.09x
Romsey Infra 1 61.35x
Rowley Regis 1 4.54x
Southampton Holy Rood 1 208.33x
Stoke Damerel 1 2.93x
Stoke Newington London 1 5.49x
Sutton 1 12.12x
Timsbury 1 588.24x
Wingate 1 20.96x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 16
Elizabeth 11
Annie 7
Emily 5
Jane 5
Louisa 5
Sarah 5
Ellen 4
Martha 4
Amelia 3
Ann 3
Anne 3
Eliza 3
Emma 3
Charlotte 2
Harriett 2
Lucy 2
Margaret 2
Pleasant 2
Abigail 1
Ada 1
Agnes 1
Alice 1
Alma 1
Amy 1
Beatrice 1
Bessie 1
Blanch 1
Candace 1
Caroline 1
Catharine 1
Clara 1
Fanny 1
Frances 1
Harriet 1
Ida 1
Isabella 1
Kate 1
Laura 1
Maria 1
Mauddling 1
May 1
Polly 1
Pricilla 1
Selina 1
Susannah 1
Winifred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 20
George 12
James 12
John 12
Henry 9
Thomas 7
Charles 6
Frederick 4
Harry 4
Albert 3
Alfred 3
Edwin 3
Benjamin 2
Enos 2
Frank 2
Richard 2
Walter 2
Charly 1
Earnest 1
Edward 1
Elias 1
Ephraim 1
Ernest 1
Harford 1
Israel 1
Issaac 1
Jno.Hy. 1
Joseph 1
Loathan 1
Oxley 1
Robert 1
Samuel 1
Sidney 1
Stephen 1
Tom 1
Will 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Olden surname: questions and answers

How common was the Olden surname in 1881?

In 1881, 238 people were recorded with the Olden surname. That placed it at #11,476 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Olden surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 438 in 2016. That gives Olden a modern rank of #11,028.

What does the Olden surname mean?

Derived from a place name or from the Old English "ealda," meaning "old," referring to an elderly person.

What does the Olden map show?

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