NameCensus.

UK surname

Oldridge

An English topographic surname derived from "old" and "ridge", referring to someone who lived near an old ridge or hill.

In the 1881 census there were 371 people recorded with the Oldridge surname, ranking it #8,417 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 592, ranked #8,814, down from #8,417 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Sherford, London parishes and Newton St Cyre. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Riding of Yorkshire, North Lincolnshire and Kingston upon Hull.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Oldridge is 608 in 2011. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 59.6%.

1881 census count

371

Ranked #8,417

Modern count

592

2016, ranked #8,814

Peak year

2011

608 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Oldridge had 371 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,417 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 592 in 2016, ranked #8,814.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 520 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Oldridge surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Oldridge surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Oldridge 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 281 #8,028
1861 historical 383 #6,680
1881 historical 371 #8,417
1891 historical 520 #7,194
1901 historical 510 #7,945
1911 historical 508 #7,747
1997 modern 576 #8,378
1998 modern 578 #8,588
1999 modern 584 #8,595
2000 modern 568 #8,717
2001 modern 566 #8,619
2002 modern 595 #8,510
2003 modern 576 #8,566
2004 modern 571 #8,629
2005 modern 552 #8,759
2006 modern 554 #8,768
2007 modern 554 #8,854
2008 modern 561 #8,822
2009 modern 595 #8,649
2010 modern 604 #8,749
2011 modern 608 #8,597
2012 modern 592 #8,696
2013 modern 608 #8,651
2014 modern 603 #8,769
2015 modern 595 #8,786
2016 modern 592 #8,814

Geography

Back to top

Where Oldridges are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Sherford, London parishes, Newton St Cyre, Snaith and Barton St Peter and St Mary. 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, North Lincolnshire and Kingston upon Hull. 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 Sherford Devon
2 London parishes London 3
3 Newton St Cyre Devon
4 Snaith Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Barton St Peter and St Mary Lincolnshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Riding of Yorkshire 041 East Riding of Yorkshire
2 East Riding of Yorkshire 040 East Riding of Yorkshire
3 North Lincolnshire 001 North Lincolnshire
4 East Riding of Yorkshire 037 East Riding of Yorkshire
5 Kingston upon Hull 001 Kingston upon Hull, City of

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Oldridge

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Oldridge

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Oldridge, 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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Young Families in Industrial Towns

Nationally, the Oldridge surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Oldridge household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Oldridge 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

Oldridge is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Oldridge falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Oldridge 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 Oldridge, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Oldridge

The surname Oldridge is of English origin, originating from the county of Gloucestershire in the West Country region of England. The name is believed to have derived from the Old English words "eald" meaning "old" and "hrycg" meaning "ridge" or "hill," suggesting that it was likely a topographic name referring to someone who lived near an old ridge or hill.

The earliest recorded instances of the name date back to the late 12th century. In 1196, a Walter de Olderigge is mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire. The name also appears in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1327 as Olderygg.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Sir John Oldridge, a knight who fought in the Hundred Years' War during the 14th century. He was recorded as being present at the Battle of Crécy in 1346 and the Siege of Calais in 1347.

Another notable individual with this surname was Richard Oldridge (c. 1510 – 1555), an English Protestant martyr who was burned at the stake during the Marian Persecutions under the reign of Queen Mary I for his religious beliefs.

In the 17th century, William Oldridge (1634 – 1708) was a prominent merchant and landowner in the town of Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire. He served as a churchwarden and was involved in local affairs.

During the 18th century, John Oldridge (1719 – 1793) was a notable figure in the field of horticulture. He was a nurseryman and botanist who introduced several new plant species to England, including the Chinese wisteria and the double-flowered cherry.

Another individual of note was Elizabeth Oldridge (1785 – 1868), a philanthropist and social reformer who campaigned for the improvement of working conditions in factories and the establishment of schools for the education of children from poor families.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Oldridge families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Oldridge 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. Devon leads with 91 Oldridges recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.98x.

County Total Index
Devon 91 10.98x
Yorkshire 74 1.88x
Lincolnshire 53 8.33x
Surrey 40 2.06x
Channel Islands 34 28.83x
Kent 31 2.28x
Cornwall 14 3.11x
Middlesex 13 0.33x
Lancashire 9 0.19x
Dorset 7 2.68x
Gloucestershire 7 0.90x
Somerset 6 0.94x
Glamorgan 5 0.72x
Norfolk 5 0.82x
Bedfordshire 4 1.94x
Cheshire 4 0.46x
Essex 2 0.25x
Royal Navy 2 4.22x
Hampshire 1 0.12x
Lanarkshire 1 0.08x
Northamptonshire 1 0.27x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.19x
Staffordshire 1 0.07x
Sussex 1 0.15x
Worcestershire 1 0.19x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Helier in Channel Islands leads with 22 Oldridges recorded in 1881 and an index of 57.31x.

Place Total Index
St Helier 22 57.31x
Barton St Mary St Peter 16 1355.93x
Greenwich 13 20.52x
Saltash 13 372.49x
Crowle 12 310.08x
Belstone 11 5238.10x
Kingston On Thames 11 23.62x
Barton St Mary 10 313.48x
East Stonehouse 10 61.27x
St Peter Port 10 45.83x
York St Maurice 10 134.59x
Barton St Peter 9 308.22x
Brampford Speke 8 1212.12x
Crediton 8 101.91x
Dodbrooke 8 487.80x
Egham 8 67.17x
Hipperholme Cum 8 46.16x
Pennycross 8 1159.42x
Chickerell 7 625.00x
Deptford St Paul 7 6.68x
Lambeth 7 2.02x
Swinefleet 7 411.76x
Cheltenham 6 9.96x
Thornhill 6 52.13x
Woolwich 6 11.96x
Camberwell 5 1.97x
Church Fenton 5 704.23x
Cleethorpes 5 133.69x
Creech St Michael 5 312.50x
Dewsbury 5 12.36x
Plymouth St Andrew 5 7.83x
Roath 5 15.89x
Sherford 5 909.09x
St Marylebone London 5 2.35x
Swafield 5 2000.00x
Amcotts 4 740.74x
Bedford St Cuthbert 4 218.58x
Heap 4 15.97x
Mexborough 4 51.09x
Plymouth Charles The 4 10.96x
Richmond 4 14.72x
Birkenhead 3 4.28x
Buckland Monachorum 3 169.49x
Churchstow 3 600.00x
Lee 3 15.21x
Newton St Cyres 3 258.62x
Seaton 3 94.04x
South Ferriby 3 297.03x
Battersea 2 1.37x
Clifford Cum Boston 2 56.34x
Dartmouth Townstall 2 59.35x
Everton 2 1.33x
Exeter St Sidwell 2 10.54x
Great Grimsby 2 4.95x
Heighington 2 196.08x
Helperby 2 229.89x
Methley 2 36.04x
Royal Navy 2 4.93x
St Mary 2 75.76x
St Paul Covent Garden 2 50.25x
Stoke Damerel 2 3.45x
Thornton In Pocklington 2 909.09x
Upton Helions 2 1176.47x
West Ham 2 1.15x
Wootton 2 253.16x
Brighton 1 0.74x
Bristol St James In 1 8.71x
Chiswick 1 4.60x
Gillingham 1 3.57x
Harpford 1 270.27x
Hook 1 11.52x
Kensington London 1 0.45x
Newington 1 0.68x
Penge 1 3.93x
Sculcoates 1 1.60x
Selby 1 12.14x
St Anne 1 47.39x
St George Hanover Square 1 1.43x
St Saviour 1 15.34x
Wolverhampton 1 0.97x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 24
John 19
Thomas 17
George 13
Charles 11
James 11
Henry 9
Robert 8
Joseph 7
Frederick 5
Harry 5
Sidney 4
Albert 3
Edwin 3
Mark 3
Samuel 3
Walter 3
Wilfred 3
Anthony 2
Edward 2
Fredrick 2
Isaac 2
Jonathan 2
Nathaniel 2
Peter 2
Richard 2
Wm. 2
Abraham 1
Alfred 1
Alvin 1
Archd. 1
Arthur 1
Christopher 1
Edgar 1
Edw. 1
Eli 1
Emannuel 1
Francis 1
Herbert 1
J.H. 1
Laurence 1
Morris 1
Philip 1
Robt.T. 1
Sampson 1
Timothy 1
Wilfrid 1
Willie 1

FAQ

Oldridge surname: questions and answers

How common was the Oldridge surname in 1881?

In 1881, 371 people were recorded with the Oldridge surname. That placed it at #8,417 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Oldridge surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 592 in 2016. That gives Oldridge a modern rank of #8,814.

What does the Oldridge surname mean?

An English topographic surname derived from "old" and "ridge", referring to someone who lived near an old ridge or hill.

What does the Oldridge map show?

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