NameCensus.

UK surname

Peden

A Scottish occupational surname referring to a seller of cloth or clothing, derived from Middle English "pede" meaning "coat."

In the 1881 census there were 611 people recorded with the Peden surname, ranking it #5,748 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,082, ranked #5,400, up from #5,748 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Tranent, Govan Combination and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Caldercruix and Plains, Armadale and IZ09.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Peden is 1,161 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 77.1%.

1881 census count

611

Ranked #5,748

Modern count

1,082

2016, ranked #5,400

Peak year

2010

1,161 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Peden had 611 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,748 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,082 in 2016, ranked #5,400.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 947 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Peden surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Peden surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Peden 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 326 #7,136
1861 historical 395 #6,492
1881 historical 611 #5,748
1891 historical 771 #5,196
1901 historical 947 #4,944
1911 historical 176 #16,185
1997 modern 1,076 #5,176
1998 modern 1,081 #5,332
1999 modern 1,102 #5,278
2000 modern 1,100 #5,265
2001 modern 1,081 #5,246
2002 modern 1,085 #5,331
2003 modern 1,078 #5,269
2004 modern 1,094 #5,212
2005 modern 1,118 #5,070
2006 modern 1,108 #5,110
2007 modern 1,115 #5,125
2008 modern 1,113 #5,171
2009 modern 1,152 #5,127
2010 modern 1,161 #5,192
2011 modern 1,149 #5,182
2012 modern 1,113 #5,242
2013 modern 1,118 #5,302
2014 modern 1,113 #5,343
2015 modern 1,098 #5,359
2016 modern 1,082 #5,400

Geography

Back to top

Where Pedens are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Tranent, Govan Combination, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Paisley Abbey. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Caldercruix and Plains, Armadale, IZ09, Callander and Trossachs and Marchmont East and Sciennes. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Tranent Haddington
2 Govan Combination Lanark
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 Glasgow Lanark
5 Paisley Abbey Renfrew

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Caldercruix and Plains North Lanarkshire
2 Armadale West Lothian
3 IZ09 East Lothian
4 Callander and Trossachs Stirling
5 Marchmont East and Sciennes City of Edinburgh

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Peden

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Peden

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

Established but Challenged

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

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

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Peden 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

Peden is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Peden

The surname PEDEN is believed to have originated in Scotland, with its roots tracing back to the 16th century. It is a locational name derived from the lands of Peden, located in the parish of Tundergarth, Dumfriesshire. The name is likely derived from the Old English words "pædan" or "pædan," meaning "a small enclosed valley" or "a secluded place."

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name PEDEN can be found in the records of the Privy Council of Scotland in the late 16th century, where a certain Alexander Peden is mentioned. This Alexander Peden was a prominent Covenanter and Presbyterian minister who lived from 1626 to 1686 and was known for his preaching and religious fervor during the turbulent times of the Scottish Reformation.

In the 17th century, the name PEDEN also appears in the parish records of Tundergarth, where several families with this surname were recorded as residing in the area. This further strengthens the connection between the name and the lands of Peden in Dumfriesshire.

Another notable figure with the surname PEDEN was John Peden, a Scottish minister and religious leader who lived from 1624 to 1685. He was a prominent Covenanter and played a significant role in the religious struggles of the time, facing persecution and imprisonment for his beliefs.

In the 18th century, the PEDEN name continued to be found in various records, including the Old Parochial Registers of Scotland. One notable individual from this period was Alexander Peden, a Scottish poet and teacher who lived from 1737 to 1807 and was known for his work on Scottish poetry and literature.

The 19th century saw the PEDEN name spread beyond Scotland, with individuals bearing this surname appearing in various records and documents in England and other parts of the United Kingdom. One notable figure from this time was Robert Peden, a Scottish-born businessman and philanthropist who lived from 1819 to 1895 and made significant contributions to the development of Glasgow.

Throughout its history, the PEDEN surname has maintained a strong connection to its Scottish roots and the lands from which it originated. While the name may have spread to other regions over time, it remains a testament to the rich cultural and historical heritage of Scotland.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Peden families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Peden 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. Lanarkshire leads with 127 Pedens recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.65x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 127 6.65x
Ayrshire 97 21.96x
Midlothian 82 10.37x
East Lothian 78 99.78x
Renfrewshire 49 10.71x
West Lothian 20 22.50x
Lancashire 19 0.27x
Roxburghshire 19 17.77x
Derbyshire 18 1.95x
Angus 15 2.74x
Selkirkshire 13 24.35x
Fife 12 3.44x
Kent 11 0.55x
Cumberland 7 1.38x
Middlesex 5 0.08x
Peeblesshire 5 18.01x
Stirlingshire 5 2.30x
Sutherland 4 8.81x
Yorkshire 4 0.07x
Berwickshire 3 4.20x
Surrey 3 0.10x
Wigtownshire 3 3.83x
Durham 2 0.11x
Northumberland 1 0.11x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.53x
Sussex 1 0.10x
Warwickshire 1 0.07x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Tranent in East Lothian leads with 55 Pedens recorded in 1881 and an index of 520.83x.

Place Total Index
Tranent 55 520.83x
Govan 49 10.38x
Glasgow 36 10.62x
Barony 29 6.00x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 24 7.55x
Auckinleck 23 168.25x
Paisley High Church 22 60.42x
Galston 20 165.56x
Inveresk 16 74.77x
Cockpen 12 129.87x
Kilmarnock 12 22.83x
Liverpool 12 2.82x
Prestonpans 12 229.01x
Maybole 11 81.78x
Melrose 11 81.85x
Duffield 10 137.36x
Folkestone 10 25.60x
Garvald 10 649.35x
East Greenock 9 20.84x
Ayr 8 38.37x
Castle Gresley 8 503.14x
Dalmeny 8 235.29x
Kirkliston 8 154.44x
Liff Benvie 8 9.64x
Paisley Middle Church 8 30.04x
Dundee 7 3.43x
Loudoun 7 65.91x
West Greenock 7 8.53x
Workington 7 24.06x
Ochiltree 6 197.37x
Edinburgh New 5 81.43x
Jedburgh 5 47.71x
Minto 5 574.71x
Peebles 5 60.98x
Penicuik 5 46.55x
Bathgate 4 20.74x
Colinton 4 45.35x
Dornoch 4 78.28x
Hamilton 4 7.51x
Hammersmith London 4 2.75x
Hawick 4 16.72x
Kirkcaldy 4 23.08x
Kirknewton 4 176.21x
Lasswade 4 22.12x
St Andrews 4 25.16x
St Leonards 4 256.41x
Battersea 3 1.38x
Blantyre 3 15.10x
Bothwell 3 5.80x
Cadder 3 21.28x
Cavers 3 112.36x
Dalton In Furness 3 11.10x
Manchester 3 0.95x
Polmont 3 37.31x
Sheffield 3 1.61x
South Leith 3 3.37x
Stranraer 3 41.84x
Westruther 3 220.59x
Gateshead 2 1.52x
Glencorse 2 65.79x
Kilbarchan 2 14.40x
Larbert 2 15.37x
Old Cumnock 2 20.35x
Selkirk 2 13.30x
Sorn 2 23.04x
Stewarton 2 22.88x
Stow 2 49.26x
Wilton 2 17.05x
Berwick North 1 18.28x
Beverley Parks 1 144.93x
Cathcart 1 4.04x
Dalrymple 1 36.10x
Duddingston 1 6.30x
Girvan 1 9.02x
Hastings Holy Trinity 1 13.64x
Irvine 1 8.15x
Largs 1 9.61x
Milford Haven 1 65.79x
Newcastle On Tyne St 1 2.20x
St George Hanover 1 1.30x

Top female names

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

Name Count
James 6
John 5
William 5
Joseph 3
Alexander 2
Andrew 2
Bryce 2
George 2
Richard 2
Robert 2
David 1
Edward 1
Ernest 1
Frederick 1
Hugh 1
Michael 1
Thomas 1
Willey 1

Top occupations

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 Peden households.

FAQ

Peden surname: questions and answers

How common was the Peden surname in 1881?

In 1881, 611 people were recorded with the Peden surname. That placed it at #5,748 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Peden surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,082 in 2016. That gives Peden a modern rank of #5,400.

What does the Peden surname mean?

A Scottish occupational surname referring to a seller of cloth or clothing, derived from Middle English "pede" meaning "coat."

What does the Peden map show?

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