UK surname
An English habitational name derived from a town in Kent, England, originally recorded as Paulinges.
In the 1881 census there were 47 people recorded with the Paulding surname, ranking it #27,019 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 70, ranked #33,700, down from #27,019 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Manchester and Merthyr Dovan, Highlight. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Paulding is 105 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 48.9%.
1881 census count
47
Ranked #27,019
Modern count
70
2016, ranked #33,700
Peak year
1911
105 bearers
Map years
1
1911 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Paulding surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Paulding surname density by area, 1911 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 24 | #29,038 |
| 1861 | historical | 60 | #26,313 |
| 1881 | historical | 47 | #27,019 |
| 1891 | historical | 47 | #30,566 |
| 1901 | historical | 87 | #24,386 |
| 1911 | historical | 105 | #22,064 |
| 1997 | modern | 96 | #27,490 |
| 1998 | modern | 94 | #28,435 |
| 1999 | modern | 93 | #28,711 |
| 2000 | modern | 89 | #29,173 |
| 2001 | modern | 90 | #28,793 |
| 2002 | modern | 95 | #28,666 |
| 2003 | modern | 86 | #29,752 |
| 2004 | modern | 89 | #29,623 |
| 2005 | modern | 88 | #29,831 |
| 2006 | modern | 83 | #30,808 |
| 2007 | modern | 83 | #31,183 |
| 2008 | modern | 86 | #31,114 |
| 2009 | modern | 84 | #31,842 |
| 2010 | modern | 81 | #32,582 |
| 2011 | modern | 80 | #32,652 |
| 2012 | modern | 73 | #33,431 |
| 2013 | modern | 75 | #33,409 |
| 2014 | modern | 74 | #33,531 |
| 2015 | modern | 68 | #33,854 |
| 2016 | modern | 70 | #33,700 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Manchester, Merthyr Dovan, Highlight, Cardiff St John and St Mary and St Matthew Bethnal Green. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 2 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 3 | Merthyr Dovan, Highlight | Glamorganshire |
| 4 | Cardiff St John and St Mary | Glamorganshire |
| 5 | St Matthew Bethnal Green | London (East Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Paulding surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Paulding, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Paulding surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Paulding household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Paulding is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Paulding is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Paulding, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Paulding is of English origin, deriving from the place name Paulding in Bedfordshire, England. This place name is a combination of the Old English personal name "Paul" and the word "inga" meaning "people of." The surname likely originated in the 11th or 12th century when it became common practice for people to adopt hereditary surnames based on their place of residence or origin.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Paulding can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Paulingis." This suggests that the name was already in use by the time of the Norman Conquest in 1066. The spelling variations in early records include Paulding, Paulden, Pauldin, and Paldyn.
In the 13th century, a family bearing the name Paulding held lands in Hertfordshire, England. Records from this period mention a John de Paulding, who was a landowner in the county. Another notable individual was William Paulding, who served as a member of the Parliament of England in 1295, representing the county of Hertfordshire.
During the 16th century, the Paulding family became established in Kent, England. One prominent member was Sir Giles Paulding (c. 1525-1585), who served as a Member of Parliament for the borough of Maidstone and held the position of High Sheriff of Kent in 1574.
In the 17th century, the Paulding family spread to the American colonies. One of the earliest recorded instances is that of Tobias Paulding, who arrived in New Amsterdam (present-day New York City) in 1638. His descendants later settled in Westchester County, New York, and played a significant role in the American Revolutionary War.
John Paulding (1758-1818) was a renowned figure from this family, best known for his involvement in the capture of British spy Major John André during the Revolutionary War. Along with two accomplices, Paulding apprehended André, who was carrying plans for the surrender of West Point by Benedict Arnold. This pivotal event helped thwart Arnold's treasonous plot and earned Paulding recognition as a hero of the war.
Another notable individual with the surname Paulding was James Kirke Paulding (1778-1860), an American writer, satirist, and one of the first novelists in the United States. He was a prominent figure in the literary circles of New York City and a close friend of Washington Irving.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Paulding surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lancashire leads with 14 Pauldings recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.57x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 14 | 2.57x |
| Middlesex | 10 | 2.18x |
| Somerset | 10 | 13.55x |
| Wiltshire | 5 | 12.33x |
| Dorset | 3 | 9.97x |
| Berkshire | 2 | 5.81x |
| Derbyshire | 2 | 2.79x |
| Oxfordshire | 1 | 3.53x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bethnal Green London in Middlesex leads with 9 Pauldings recorded in 1881 and an index of 45.20x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Bethnal Green London | 9 | 45.20x |
| Bridgewater | 8 | 400.00x |
| Hulme | 6 | 52.82x |
| Fisherton Anger | 5 | 666.67x |
| Little Bolton | 5 | 71.53x |
| Blandford Forum | 3 | 508.47x |
| Chesterfield | 2 | 74.35x |
| Great Bolton | 2 | 27.78x |
| Walcot | 2 | 50.89x |
| Warfield | 2 | 645.16x |
| Ashton Under Lyne | 1 | 8.41x |
| Oxford St Aldate | 1 | 333.33x |
| Stoke Newington London | 1 | 28.01x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Paulding surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Paulding surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Paulding households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 10 |
| Coach Smith | 3 |
| Clerk | 2 |
| Machinist | 2 |
| Annuitant | 1 |
| Cigar Maker | 1 |
| Coach Painter | 1 |
| Coach Smith Out Of Employ | 1 |
| Coach Trimmer | 1 |
| Coachpainter | 1 |
| Cotton Weaver | 1 |
| General Labourer | 1 |
| General Servant | 1 |
| Householder | 1 |
| Insurance Agent & C | 1 |
| Laborer | 1 |
| Retired Domestic Serv | 1 |
| Sailor | 1 |
| School | 1 |
| Shoe Maker | 1 |
| Tailor | 1 |
| Tea Dealer Home Missionary | 1 |
| Timber Porter Unemployed | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 47 people were recorded with the Paulding surname. That placed it at #27,019 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 70 in 2016. That gives Paulding a modern rank of #33,700.
An English habitational name derived from a town in Kent, England, originally recorded as Paulinges.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Paulding bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.