NameCensus.

UK surname

Pudney

An English habitational surname indicating someone from a place called Pudney in Hertfordshire.

In the 1881 census there were 588 people recorded with the Pudney surname, ranking it #5,934 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 659, ranked #8,088, down from #5,934 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Coggeshall, Great, London parishes and Fordham. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Colchester, Braintree and South Cambridgeshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Pudney is 799 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 12.1%.

1881 census count

588

Ranked #5,934

Modern count

659

2016, ranked #8,088

Peak year

1911

799 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Pudney had 588 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,934 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 659 in 2016, ranked #8,088.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 799 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Pudney surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Pudney surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Pudney 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 404 #5,991
1861 historical 379 #6,739
1881 historical 588 #5,934
1891 historical 677 #5,767
1901 historical 760 #5,877
1911 historical 799 #5,476
1997 modern 677 #7,438
1998 modern 689 #7,572
1999 modern 713 #7,418
2000 modern 730 #7,259
2001 modern 695 #7,414
2002 modern 727 #7,285
2003 modern 704 #7,357
2004 modern 702 #7,380
2005 modern 682 #7,502
2006 modern 667 #7,651
2007 modern 666 #7,727
2008 modern 661 #7,805
2009 modern 676 #7,848
2010 modern 685 #7,907
2011 modern 677 #7,893
2012 modern 661 #7,966
2013 modern 675 #7,973
2014 modern 671 #8,046
2015 modern 658 #8,116
2016 modern 659 #8,088

Geography

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Where Pudneys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Coggeshall, Great, London parishes, Fordham and Great and Little Totham, Goldhanger, Heybridge, Tolleshunt Major, Tolleshunt Knights, Tolleshunt Dar. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Colchester, Braintree and South Cambridgeshire. 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 Coggeshall, Great Essex
2 London parishes London 3
3 Fordham Essex
4 Great and Little Totham, Goldhanger, Heybridge, Tolleshunt Major, Tolleshunt Knights, Tolleshunt Dar Essex
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Colchester 012 Colchester
2 Braintree 015 Braintree
3 Colchester 016 Colchester
4 South Cambridgeshire 010 South Cambridgeshire
5 Colchester 018 Colchester

Forenames

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First names often paired with Pudney

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Pudney

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Pudney is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Pudney is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Pudney

The surname Pudney is believed to have originated in England, specifically in the region of West Yorkshire. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "pud," which referred to a small enclosure or pound for livestock. The earliest recorded spelling of the name is found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1176, where it appears as "Puddingeye."

The name Pudney is also associated with various place names in Yorkshire, such as Pudney Furlong and Pudney Croft, which likely contributed to the development of the surname. These place names suggest that the Pudney family may have been landowners or farmers in the area.

In the Domesday Book of 1086, there are references to several settlements in Yorkshire that may have been related to the Pudney name, including "Pudehag" and "Pudehele." However, the direct connection between these place names and the Pudney surname is not entirely certain.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Pudney was William Pudney, who was born around 1470 in Yorkshire. Another notable figure was John Pudney (c. 1530-1588), a clergyman and writer who served as the Archdeacon of Middlesex.

In the 17th century, the name appears in various records, such as the marriage of Thomas Pudney and Elizabeth Booth in 1645 in Kirkburton, Yorkshire. The Pudney family also had connections to the village of Bingley in West Yorkshire, where several Pudneys lived in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Other notable individuals with the Pudney surname include:

1. Richard Pudney (1793-1865), a British architect and surveyor who designed several buildings in London. 2. John Pudney (1909-1977), a British poet and writer who served in World War II and wrote about his experiences. 3. Mary Pudney (1897-1969), a British actress and singer who appeared in several films and stage productions. 4. James Pudney (1835-1916), a British politician and industrialist who served as a Member of Parliament for Huddersfield. 5. Thomas Pudney (1768-1848), a British engineer and inventor known for his contributions to the development of steam engines.

While the Pudney surname has its roots in England, particularly in the Yorkshire region, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and diaspora.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Pudney families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Pudney 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. Essex leads with 297 Pudneys recorded in 1881 and an index of 26.19x.

County Total Index
Essex 297 26.19x
Surrey 95 3.39x
Middlesex 82 1.43x
Kent 63 3.21x
Durham 12 0.70x
Sussex 9 0.93x
Warwickshire 5 0.35x
Hampshire 4 0.34x
West Lothian 4 4.62x
Buckinghamshire 3 0.86x
Devon 2 0.17x
Hertfordshire 2 0.51x
Lanarkshire 2 0.11x
Leicestershire 2 0.31x
Berkshire 1 0.23x
Lancashire 1 0.01x
Lincolnshire 1 0.11x
Norfolk 1 0.11x
Oxfordshire 1 0.28x
Suffolk 1 0.14x
Yorkshire 1 0.02x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Halstead in Essex leads with 42 Pudneys recorded in 1881 and an index of 317.46x.

Place Total Index
Halstead 42 317.46x
Fordham 25 1811.59x
Battersea 19 8.99x
Colne Engaine 19 1862.75x
Great Coggeshall 19 322.03x
Camberwell 18 4.90x
Bermondsey 15 8.77x
St Marylebone London 15 4.89x
Greenwich 14 15.31x
Tottenham 12 13.11x
Sittingbourne 11 71.06x
Tollesbury 11 387.32x
West Ham 11 4.39x
Burnham 10 238.66x
Lewisham 10 9.57x
Newington 10 4.71x
Steeple 10 961.54x
Charlton Next Woolwich 9 44.03x
Maldon St Marys 9 330.88x
Lambeth 8 1.60x
Maldon St Peter 8 138.41x
Brandon Byshottles 7 32.70x
Copford 7 538.46x
Grays Thurrock 7 66.41x
Ingrave 7 679.61x
Leyton 7 35.82x
Minster In Sheppey 7 21.55x
Bosham 6 242.92x
Bromley London 6 4.75x
East Mersea 6 1090.91x
Layer Marney 6 1071.43x
Rochester St Margaret 6 29.03x
Brightlingsea 5 77.16x
Earls Colne 5 159.74x
East Horndon 5 505.05x
Edgbaston 5 11.13x
Elwick 5 1111.11x
Islington London 5 0.90x
Shoreditch London 5 2.01x
St Pancras London 5 1.08x
Stow Maries 5 1190.48x
Thorpe 5 416.67x
Althorne 4 634.92x
Bardfield Saling 4 677.97x
Carriden 4 102.04x
Chelmsford 4 20.56x
Chiswick 4 12.74x
Epsom 4 29.33x
Great Burstead 4 96.85x
Kensington London 4 1.25x
Kingston On Thames 4 5.95x
Penge 4 10.90x
Thorpe Le Soken 4 421.05x
Aldham 3 357.14x
Ashford 3 66.08x
Ashford 3 15.72x
Barking 3 9.04x
Binsted 3 66.82x
Chelsea London 3 1.73x
Colchester St Mary At 3 74.63x
East Donyland 3 109.89x
Great Clacton 3 77.72x
Holy Trinity Less 3 241.94x
Poplar London 3 2.77x
Rotherhithe 3 4.23x
Southminster 3 120.48x
St Luke London 3 3.26x
Stanway 3 150.75x
Tilbury 3 681.82x
Wraysbury 3 230.77x
Beddington 2 18.47x
Colchester St Peter 2 44.05x
Corringham 2 232.56x
Frensham 2 48.66x
Hackney London 2 0.62x
Hastings All Sts 2 21.91x
Knighton 2 55.71x
Mile End 2 96.62x
Mile End Old Town 2 2.21x
West Bergholt 2 94.34x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 43
Elizabeth 21
Sarah 21
Alice 12
Eliza 12
Emma 12
Martha 10
Ada 9
Emily 8
Ellen 7
Hannah 7
Ann 6
Jane 6
Kate 6
Louisa 5
Agnes 4
Anna 4
Florence 4
Lucy 4
Susannah 4
Clara 3
Georgina 3
Maud 3
Minnie 3
Susan 3
Annie 2
Caroline 2
Catherine 2
Charlotte 2
Edith 2
Elizth. 2
Ethel 2
F.Janie 2
Harriett 2
Helen 2
Margaret 2
Maria 2
Matilda 2
Miriam 2
Rebecca 2
Celia 1
Eva 1
Fanny 1
Florance 1
Julia 1
Levida 1
Levinia 1
Liley 1
Lilly 1
Victoria 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 30
William 29
James 26
George 23
Henry 20
Charles 18
Thomas 12
Walter 12
Alfred 9
Frederick 8
Albert 7
Arthur 7
Joseph 7
Daniel 6
Samuel 6
Harry 5
Robert 5
Herbert 4
Abraham 3
Benjamin 3
Ernest 3
Frank 3
Fred 3
Geo. 3
Geo.W. 2
Jonathan 2
Percy 2
Philip 2
Bernard 1
Clement 1
David 1
Edwin 1
Elijah 1
Enest 1
Ephraim 1
F.G. 1
Frederich 1
Fredk.G. 1
Geoff 1
Hazeal 1
Henery 1
Isaac 1
J.L.G. 1
Jas. 1
Joshua 1
Mark 1
Obulin 1
Oliver 1
Sidney 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Pudney surname: questions and answers

How common was the Pudney surname in 1881?

In 1881, 588 people were recorded with the Pudney surname. That placed it at #5,934 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Pudney surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 659 in 2016. That gives Pudney a modern rank of #8,088.

What does the Pudney surname mean?

An English habitational surname indicating someone from a place called Pudney in Hertfordshire.

What does the Pudney map show?

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