NameCensus.

UK surname

Piddington

A locational surname derived from the town of Piddington in Northamptonshire, England.

In the 1881 census there were 299 people recorded with the Piddington surname, ranking it #9,740 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 438, ranked #11,028, down from #9,740 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Winchendon, Upper, Ealing, Chiswick and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include West Devon, Dudley and Tameside.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Piddington is 493 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 46.5%.

1881 census count

299

Ranked #9,740

Modern count

438

2016, ranked #11,028

Peak year

2000

493 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Piddington had 299 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,740 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 492 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Piddington surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Piddington surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Piddington 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 277 #8,112
1861 historical 221 #11,031
1881 historical 299 #9,740
1891 historical 384 #9,166
1901 historical 376 #9,899
1911 historical 492 #7,913
1997 modern 486 #9,500
1998 modern 488 #9,780
1999 modern 481 #9,958
2000 modern 493 #9,736
2001 modern 477 #9,798
2002 modern 461 #10,228
2003 modern 444 #10,393
2004 modern 445 #10,418
2005 modern 437 #10,437
2006 modern 434 #10,543
2007 modern 447 #10,388
2008 modern 434 #10,756
2009 modern 451 #10,649
2010 modern 462 #10,682
2011 modern 451 #10,766
2012 modern 436 #10,940
2013 modern 456 #10,722
2014 modern 452 #10,857
2015 modern 446 #10,898
2016 modern 438 #11,028

Geography

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Where Piddingtons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Winchendon, Upper, Ealing, Chiswick, London parishes, Lambeth and All Saints Poplar. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to West Devon, Dudley, Tameside and Wandsworth. 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 Winchendon, Upper Buckinghamshire
2 Ealing, Chiswick Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
3 London parishes London 3
4 Lambeth London (South Districts)
5 All Saints Poplar London (East Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 West Devon 001 West Devon
2 Dudley 013 Dudley
3 Tameside 021 Tameside
4 Tameside 026 Tameside
5 Wandsworth 014 Wandsworth

Forenames

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First names often paired with Piddington

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Piddington

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Piddington surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Piddington household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Piddington is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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 concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Piddington is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Piddington falls in decile 5 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Piddington

The surname Piddington has its origins in England, dating back to the early medieval period. It is thought to be a locational name, derived from the place name Piddington, which refers to several villages and hamlets across the country, particularly in the counties of Northamptonshire and Oxfordshire.

The name Piddington itself is believed to be derived from the Old English words "pyding" or "pudding," referring to a small enclosure or paddock, and "tun," meaning a farm or settlement. This suggests that the name may have originally referred to a farm or settlement located within or near a small enclosed area or paddock.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Piddington can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Pidentone" in reference to the village of Piddington in Oxfordshire. This entry provides valuable insight into the name's origins and its presence in England during the Norman Conquest.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals bearing the surname Piddington. One such example is Sir Henry Piddington (1797-1858), a British colonial administrator and geographer who served as the second Superintendent of the Calcutta Marine Observatory and made significant contributions to the study of cyclones in the Indian Ocean.

Another prominent figure is Walter Piddington (1866-1928), a British architect and artist who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Royal Air Force Club and the Streatham Hill Theatre.

In the realm of literature, Alfred Piddington (1862-1957) was a British author and journalist who wrote extensively on occult and psychic phenomena, publishing works such as "The Next Step in Evolution" and "The Phenomena of Spiritualism."

The name Piddington also has associations with military history, with Sir Thomas Piddington (1619-1668) serving as a distinguished English soldier and member of Parliament during the English Civil War.

Lastly, Henry Piddington (1780-1848), a British engineer and inventor, is credited with the design and construction of the first successful steam-powered carriage, which he unveiled in 1801.

While these are just a few examples, the surname Piddington has a rich history and connections to various fields, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and accomplishments of those who have borne this name over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Piddington families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Piddington 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. Middlesex leads with 96 Piddingtons recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.29x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 96 3.29x
Buckinghamshire 74 41.96x
Surrey 29 2.04x
Oxfordshire 14 7.77x
Lancashire 10 0.29x
Essex 9 1.56x
Hertfordshire 9 4.48x
Worcestershire 9 2.36x
Berkshire 8 3.65x
Hampshire 8 1.34x
Warwickshire 8 1.09x
Devon 7 1.15x
Kent 6 0.60x
Northamptonshire 6 2.19x
Derbyshire 3 0.66x
Huntingdonshire 1 1.73x
Sussex 1 0.20x
Yorkshire 1 0.03x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Ealing in Middlesex leads with 18 Piddingtons recorded in 1881 and an index of 69.04x.

Place Total Index
Ealing 18 69.04x
Cuddington 17 3541.67x
Weston Turville 17 2073.17x
Lambeth 15 5.90x
Shoreditch London 14 11.07x
Upper Winchendon 14 7368.42x
Bromley London 10 15.58x
Aston Rowant 9 1384.62x
Kings Norton 9 26.35x
Tring 9 167.60x
Birmingham 8 3.26x
Brill 8 620.16x
Salcombe Regis 7 1228.07x
St Pancras London 7 2.98x
Southampton St Mary 6 15.96x
Speen 6 167.60x
Blackburn 5 5.43x
Geddington 5 568.18x
Hackney London 5 3.06x
Islington London 5 1.77x
St George Bloomsbury 5 29.89x
St George Martyr 5 101.63x
Stone 5 364.96x
Tottenham 5 10.76x
Camberwell 4 2.15x
Chearsley 4 1739.13x
Chelsea London 4 4.55x
Gorton 4 12.30x
Amersham 3 120.00x
Cuddington 3 545.45x
Haddenham 3 206.90x
Hornsey 3 8.13x
Ripley 3 53.19x
Southwark St John 3 33.63x
West Ham 3 2.36x
Westminster St John 3 8.45x
Adwell 2 4000.00x
Bermondsey 2 2.30x
Bethnal Green London 2 1.58x
Colchester Holy Trinity 2 156.25x
Harwich St Nicholas 2 44.94x
Hurley 2 175.44x
Minster In Sheppey 2 12.13x
Newington 2 1.86x
Northfleet 2 22.81x
St Marylebone London 2 1.28x
Aldershot 1 4.99x
Alverstoke 1 4.62x
Aylesbury 1 12.80x
Chatham 1 3.65x
Chilton 1 322.58x
Chinnor 1 80.00x
Colchester St Martin 1 95.24x
Daventry 1 25.77x
Dinton 1 144.93x
Eastbourne 1 4.42x
Feltham 1 34.36x
Fulham London 1 2.36x
Hampstead London 1 2.20x
Hemingford Grey 1 112.36x
Kensington London 1 0.62x
Kidlington 1 71.94x
Leeds 1 0.61x
Lewisham 1 1.88x
Liverpool 1 0.48x
Paddington London 1 0.93x
Poplar London 1 1.82x
Ruislip 1 68.97x
Shalford 1 136.99x
St Giles In Fields 1 9.94x
Stokenchurch 1 62.11x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 22
Sarah 13
Eliza 8
Elizabeth 7
Ellen 6
Emma 6
Caroline 5
Emily 5
Ada 4
Ann 4
Annie 4
Harriet 4
Harriett 4
Jane 4
Fanny 3
Rebecca 3
Charlotte 2
E. 2
Edith 2
Florence 2
Isabella 2
Lucy 2
Matilda 2
Rose 2
Susan 2
Susannah 2
Arabella 1
Blanche 1
Cardelia 1
Catherine 1
Clara 1
Deborah 1
Esther 1
Frances 1
H.J. 1
Helen 1
Henrietta 1
Infant 1
Julia 1
L.E. 1
Lizzy 1
Louisa 1
Lucey 1
Maria 1
Phoebe 1
Polly 1
Priscilla 1
Rosa 1
Ruth 1
Thurza 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 25
John 13
James 9
George 8
Alfred 7
Albert 6
Arthur 6
Henry 6
Joseph 6
Charles 5
Thomas 5
Richard 4
Jesse 3
Walter 3
Amos 2
Chas. 2
Edward 2
Frederick 2
Harry 2
Peter 2
Robert 2
Samuel 2
W.A. 2
Alexander 1
Benjamin 1
Caleb 1
David 1
Dennis 1
Edwin 1
Elias 1
Ephraim 1
Ernest 1
Ezra 1
Francis 1
Frank 1
Fredk. 1
Herbert 1
Isaac 1
Levi 1
Martin 1
Ralph 1
Richd. 1
Wiliam 1
Willm. 1
Zephraim 1

FAQ

Piddington surname: questions and answers

How common was the Piddington surname in 1881?

In 1881, 299 people were recorded with the Piddington surname. That placed it at #9,740 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Piddington surname today?

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

What does the Piddington surname mean?

A locational surname derived from the town of Piddington in Northamptonshire, England.

What does the Piddington map show?

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