NameCensus.

UK surname

Rudden

A surname derived from the Middle English word "rudden" meaning redness or ruddiness.

In the 1881 census there were 74 people recorded with the Rudden surname, ranking it #23,062 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 261, ranked #16,309, up from #23,062 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Edinburgh, Manchester and Liverpool. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Leith, Riddrie and Hogganfield and Craven.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Rudden is 270 in 2013. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 252.7%.

1881 census count

74

Ranked #23,062

Modern count

261

2016, ranked #16,309

Peak year

2013

270 bearers

Map years

4

1891 to 2016

Key insights

  • Rudden had 74 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #23,062 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 261 in 2016, ranked #16,309.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 101 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Rudden surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Rudden surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Rudden 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 25 #28,853
1861 historical 53 #27,253
1881 historical 74 #23,062
1891 historical 101 #23,870
1901 historical 82 #25,019
1911 historical 57 #27,099
1997 modern 223 #16,448
1998 modern 246 #15,864
1999 modern 246 #15,974
2000 modern 252 #15,659
2001 modern 241 #15,870
2002 modern 248 #15,896
2003 modern 240 #16,061
2004 modern 237 #16,283
2005 modern 237 #16,244
2006 modern 234 #16,493
2007 modern 238 #16,505
2008 modern 251 #16,026
2009 modern 254 #16,230
2010 modern 259 #16,386
2011 modern 268 #15,843
2012 modern 257 #16,212
2013 modern 270 #15,911
2014 modern 269 #16,059
2015 modern 270 #15,911
2016 modern 261 #16,309

Geography

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Where Ruddens are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Edinburgh, Manchester, Liverpool, Bradford and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Leith, Riddrie and Hogganfield, Craven, Trafford and Seafar. 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 Edinburgh Edinburgh
2 Manchester Lancashire
3 Liverpool Lancashire
4 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Leith City of Edinburgh
2 Riddrie and Hogganfield Glasgow City
3 Craven 006 Craven
4 Trafford 017 Trafford
5 Seafar North Lanarkshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Rudden

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Rudden

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

Legacy Communities

Group

Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities

Nationally, the Rudden surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Rudden household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Households in these areas often include divorced or separated parents and commonly include children and young adults. The age structure is heavily skewed towards the most advanced age groups. Individuals identifying as members of ethnic minorities are not present in large numbers. Flats predominate, with some terraced, semi-detached, and detached units. Multiple car ownership is low, and housing is predominantly in the private and social rented sectors. Employment is less skewed towards traditional routine industrial occupations. Levels of educational attainment are generally low. The Group occurs principally in the Central Lowlands of Scotland and other Scottish towns.

Wider pattern

These neighbourhoods characteristically comprise pockets of flats that are scattered across the UK, particularly in towns that retain or have legacies of heavy industry or are in more remote seaside locations. Employed residents of these neighbourhoods work mainly in low-skilled occupations. Residents typically have limited educational qualifications. Unemployment is above average. Some residents live in overcrowded housing within the social rented sector and experience long-term disability. All adult age groups are represented, although there is an overall age bias towards elderly people in general and the very old in particular. Individuals identifying as belonging to ethnic minorities or Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups are uncommon.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Rudden 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

Rudden 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

Rudden falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Rudden

The surname Rudden is of English origin, believed to have originated in the counties of Yorkshire and Lincolnshire during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English words 'rudd' and 'dun', which mean 'red' and 'hill' respectively, suggesting that the name may have originally referred to someone who lived on or near a red-colored hill.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the Rudden surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which lists a person named Rodvin de Rodendun, a variant spelling of the name that clearly shows its connection to a place name. This entry provides evidence of the name's presence in England during the Norman Conquest.

In the 13th century, the Rudden name appeared in various records from Yorkshire, such as the Feet of Fines for the year 1260, which mentions a Richard de Rudden. The surname also appears in the Subsidy Rolls of Lincolnshire in 1327, where a Robert Rudden is listed.

Notable individuals with the Rudden surname include Sir Benjamin Rudden (1572-1658), a prominent English lawyer and Member of Parliament, and Thomas Rudden (1684-1738), an Irish Catholic priest and philosopher who served as the rector of the Irish College in Paris.

Another important figure was William Rudden (1786-1868), an English clergyman and author who served as the vicar of Pontefract and wrote several works on theology and history. His contemporaries included John Rudden (1791-1863), an English architect responsible for designing several churches in Yorkshire.

In the 19th century, Patrick Rudden (1822-1891), an Irish journalist and politician, made a name for himself as a Member of Parliament and advocate for Irish Home Rule. He was born in County Cavan and played a significant role in the Irish nationalist movement of his time.

The Rudden surname has a rich history that can be traced back to medieval England, with roots in Old English words and place names. It has been borne by notable figures across various fields, from law and religion to architecture and politics, throughout the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Rudden families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Rudden 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. Lancashire leads with 45 Ruddens recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.26x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 45 5.26x
Yorkshire 15 2.10x
Midlothian 7 7.24x
Kent 4 1.62x
Cumberland 2 3.22x
Dorset 1 2.11x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Liverpool in Lancashire leads with 15 Ruddens recorded in 1881 and an index of 28.85x.

Place Total Index
Liverpool 15 28.85x
Heath Charnock 11 4782.61x
Hulme 9 50.34x
Manchester 9 23.37x
Manningham 8 90.81x
Bradford 7 40.44x
South Leith 7 64.34x
Cheriton 4 400.00x
Caldewgate 2 58.82x
Longfleet 1 181.82x
Salford 1 3.97x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 13
Margaret 3
Rose 3
Agnes 2
Ann 2
Ellen 2
Alice 1
Annie 1
Bridget 1
Catherine 1
Cathn. 1
Christiana 1
Elizabeth 1
Lillie 1
Margt. 1
Rebecca 1
Sarah 1
Susan 1
Thersa 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 7
John 7
Thomas 4
Owen 2
Arthur 1
Bernard 1
Charles 1
Edward 1
Jas. 1
Joseph 1
Michael 1
Peter 1
Thos. 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 Rudden households.

FAQ

Rudden surname: questions and answers

How common was the Rudden surname in 1881?

In 1881, 74 people were recorded with the Rudden surname. That placed it at #23,062 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Rudden surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 261 in 2016. That gives Rudden a modern rank of #16,309.

What does the Rudden surname mean?

A surname derived from the Middle English word "rudden" meaning redness or ruddiness.

What does the Rudden map show?

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