NameCensus.

UK surname

Riden

A surname derived from the German word "Reiterin," meaning a female rider or horsewoman.

In the 1881 census there were 93 people recorded with the Riden surname, ranking it #20,593 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 117, ranked #28,033, down from #20,593 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Erith, Witton, West and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Rhondda Cynon Taf, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Riden is 228 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 25.8%.

1881 census count

93

Ranked #20,593

Modern count

117

2016, ranked #28,033

Peak year

1861

228 bearers

Map years

6

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Riden had 93 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #20,593 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 117 in 2016, ranked #28,033.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 228 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Riden surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Riden surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Riden 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 39 #26,319
1861 historical 228 #10,703
1881 historical 93 #20,593
1891 historical 170 #16,816
1901 historical 127 #19,893
1911 historical 156 #17,421
1997 modern 114 #24,967
1998 modern 116 #25,332
1999 modern 119 #25,095
2000 modern 112 #25,978
2001 modern 110 #25,900
2002 modern 109 #26,552
2003 modern 104 #27,101
2004 modern 104 #27,338
2005 modern 105 #27,203
2006 modern 98 #28,621
2007 modern 100 #28,669
2008 modern 99 #29,181
2009 modern 104 #28,982
2010 modern 102 #29,930
2011 modern 103 #29,589
2012 modern 111 #28,332
2013 modern 117 #27,838
2014 modern 121 #27,503
2015 modern 122 #27,245
2016 modern 117 #28,033

Geography

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Where Ridens are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Erith, Witton, West, London parishes, Dartford and Cardiff St John 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 Rhondda Cynon Taf, South Gloucestershire, North Somerset and Plymouth. 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 Erith Kent
2 Witton, West Yorkshire, North Riding
3 London parishes London 3
4 Dartford Kent
5 Cardiff St John and St Mary Glamorganshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Rhondda Cynon Taf 005 Rhondda Cynon Taf
2 South Gloucestershire 007 South Gloucestershire
3 North Somerset 020 North Somerset
4 Plymouth 030 Plymouth
5 South Gloucestershire 006 South Gloucestershire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Riden

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Riden

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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Riden surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Riden household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Riden 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

Riden is most concentrated in decile 3 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Riden falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Riden is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Riden, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Riden

The surname Riden is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English word "ridan," which means "to ride." This suggests that the name may have been given to someone who worked as a rider or messenger.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Riden can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of land ownership commissioned by William the Conqueror. The entry mentions a person named Radulfus Riden, who held lands in Hertfordshire.

Throughout the Middle Ages, the name Riden appeared in various historical records and documents. In the 13th century, a Robert Riden was listed as a landowner in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire. A century later, a John Riden was mentioned in the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire, indicating that he was a taxpayer in the region.

The surname Riden has also been associated with various place names in England. For instance, there is a village called Riden in Worcestershire, which may have been named after an early bearer of the surname. Additionally, the name has been linked to the village of Ryden in Derbyshire, which was spelled as "Riden" in older records.

One notable individual with the surname Riden was Sir John Riden (1550-1628), a prominent English politician and landowner. He served as a Member of Parliament for Wiltshire and was knighted by King James I in 1603. Another significant figure was William Riden (1695-1768), a renowned clockmaker from London whose timepieces were highly sought after by collectors.

Other individuals who bore the surname Riden include Thomas Riden (1720-1793), a wealthy merchant from Bristol, and Elizabeth Riden (1775-1845), a philanthropist who founded a school for underprivileged children in her hometown of Shrewsbury.

In the 19th century, a family of Riden farmers were prominent in the village of Riden, Worcestershire. They were known for their expertise in breeding livestock and their contribution to the local agricultural community.

While the surname Riden is relatively uncommon today, its historical roots can be traced back to medieval England, where it was associated with occupations, place names, and notable individuals who played influential roles in various fields.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Riden families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Riden 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. Somerset leads with 33 Ridens recorded in 1881 and an index of 22.60x.

County Total Index
Somerset 33 22.60x
Hampshire 14 7.53x
Middlesex 8 0.88x
Essex 7 3.91x
Devon 6 3.18x
Kent 6 1.94x
Surrey 5 1.13x
Yorkshire 4 0.45x
Glamorgan 3 1.90x
Suffolk 3 2.72x
Sussex 2 1.31x
Gloucestershire 1 0.56x
Staffordshire 1 0.33x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Weston Super Mare in Somerset leads with 9 Ridens recorded in 1881 and an index of 243.90x.

Place Total Index
Weston Super Mare 9 243.90x
Bedminster 8 58.31x
Whippingham 8 567.38x
Bleadon 6 3157.89x
Exeter Heavitree 6 425.53x
Bridgewater 5 126.26x
Clevedon 5 328.95x
Dartford 5 158.23x
Newington 5 14.92x
Brightside Bierlow 4 22.69x
Farnborough 4 205.13x
West Ham 4 10.12x
Beccles 3 168.54x
Islington London 3 3.41x
West Thurrock 3 500.00x
Whitechapel London 3 33.56x
Brighton 2 6.48x
Cardiff St Mary 2 22.99x
Portsea 2 5.49x
Bristol St Stephen 1 217.39x
Chislehurst 1 60.24x
Cogan 1 434.78x
St Pancras London 1 1.37x
Stoke Upon Trent 1 3.08x
Willesden 1 11.70x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 8
Alice 4
Annie 4
Mary 3
Eliza 2
Ellen 2
Emily 2
Emma 2
Margaret 2
Martha 2
Rebecca 2
Agnes 1
Ann 1
Caroline 1
Catherine 1
Eleanor 1
Elizth.A. 1
Evangeline 1
Florence 1
Hannah 1
Jane 1
Jeanette 1
Kate 1
Maria 1
Rose 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Charles 4
George 4
Henry 4
Albert 3
Alfred 3
Frank 3
Frederick 3
John 3
Arthur 2
Fredk.J. 2
Richard 2
Edward 1
Edwin 1
Ernest 1
Fredk. 1
Harry 1
Herbt.J. 1
Horace 1
Joseph 1
Robert 1
Thomas 1
Tom 1
Walter 1
William 1

FAQ

Riden surname: questions and answers

How common was the Riden surname in 1881?

In 1881, 93 people were recorded with the Riden surname. That placed it at #20,593 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Riden surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 117 in 2016. That gives Riden a modern rank of #28,033.

What does the Riden surname mean?

A surname derived from the German word "Reiterin," meaning a female rider or horsewoman.

What does the Riden map show?

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