NameCensus.

UK surname

Ryden

A surname originating from a Swedish placename.

In the 1881 census there were 103 people recorded with the Ryden surname, ranking it #19,410 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 149, ranked #23,844, down from #19,410 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Willesden, St Luke and Blackburn. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include IZ14, Blackburn with Darwen and Anderston.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ryden is 277 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 44.7%.

1881 census count

103

Ranked #19,410

Modern count

149

2016, ranked #23,844

Peak year

1911

277 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Ryden had 103 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #19,410 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 149 in 2016, ranked #23,844.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 277 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Student Living and Professional Footholds.

Ryden surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Ryden surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Ryden 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 60 #22,584
1861 historical 159 #14,553
1881 historical 103 #19,410
1891 historical 248 #12,849
1901 historical 132 #19,469
1911 historical 277 #12,067
1997 modern 177 #19,018
1998 modern 185 #18,973
1999 modern 168 #20,312
2000 modern 170 #20,120
2001 modern 153 #21,197
2002 modern 164 #20,687
2003 modern 153 #21,406
2004 modern 146 #22,202
2005 modern 147 #22,057
2006 modern 147 #22,221
2007 modern 146 #22,596
2008 modern 143 #23,160
2009 modern 149 #23,031
2010 modern 152 #23,282
2011 modern 154 #22,886
2012 modern 149 #23,372
2013 modern 151 #23,529
2014 modern 154 #23,439
2015 modern 152 #23,507
2016 modern 149 #23,844

Geography

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Where Rydens are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Willesden, St Luke, Blackburn, Bridgwater, Goathurst, Durleigh, Wembdon, Chilton Trinity and Stoke St Mary, Taunton St Mary Magdalen, Taunton St James, Wilton, Bishops Hull, Staplegrove, Kingst. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to IZ14, Blackburn with Darwen, Anderston and Kirklees. 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 Willesden Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
2 St Luke London (Central Districts)
3 Blackburn Lancashire
4 Bridgwater, Goathurst, Durleigh, Wembdon, Chilton Trinity Somerset
5 Stoke St Mary, Taunton St Mary Magdalen, Taunton St James, Wilton, Bishops Hull, Staplegrove, Kingst Somerset

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 IZ14 West Dunbartonshire
2 Blackburn with Darwen 002 Blackburn with Darwen
3 Anderston Glasgow City
4 Kirklees 054 Kirklees
5 Blackburn with Darwen 005 Blackburn with Darwen

Forenames

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First names often paired with Ryden

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Ryden

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Student Living and Professional Footholds

Nationally, the Ryden surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Student Living and Professional Footholds, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Ryden household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

The Group includes many students, some of whom reside in communal residences. Single-person households are the most prevalent and the modal age band is 25 to 44. There are few families with dependent children. A significant number of White residents were born in EU countries (although UK-born residents are more common than in the rest of the Group), and households reflect a diversity of ethnic groups. Residential turnover is exceptionally high and, communal properties aside, flats are the norm. Some properties, including those in the private rental sector, are over-crowded. Many residents are professionals and technicians educated to degree level, and the Group is particularly common near the campuses of established university towns and cities.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Ryden 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

Ryden 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

Ryden falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Ryden is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Ryden

The surname Ryden has its roots in Sweden, dating back to the 13th century. It is derived from the Old Swedish word "ryd," which means a clearing or a small farm. The name was originally used to identify people who lived on or worked at such clearings or small farms.

In the medieval period, the name appeared in various forms, such as Rydhir, Rydher, and Rydare. These variations were likely due to regional dialects and the evolution of the language over time. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Swedish Census Book of 1535, where a man named Olof Ryden is listed as a resident of Västergötland province.

The Ryden surname has a strong connection to the rural areas of central and southern Sweden, particularly the regions of Småland, Östergötland, and Västergötland. Several place names in these areas, such as Rydaholm and Rydboholm, are believed to have influenced the formation of the surname.

One notable bearer of the name was Erik Ryden, a Swedish soldier who fought in the Thirty Years' War (1618-1648). He was born in 1602 in Småland and gained recognition for his bravery and leadership on the battlefield.

Another individual of historical significance was Johanna Ryden, a prominent figure in the Swedish temperance movement of the 19th century. Born in 1832 in Östergötland, she dedicated her life to advocating for sobriety and social reform.

In the realm of academia, Carl Ryden (1879-1952) was a distinguished Swedish linguist and professor at Uppsala University. His contributions to the study of Old Norse and Germanic languages were widely recognized.

Magdalena Ryden (1890-1972), a Swedish artist and sculptor, gained acclaim for her expressive works depicting scenes from rural life and Nordic mythology. Her sculptures can be found in various public spaces across Sweden.

Lastly, Lars Ryden (1926-2018) was a Swedish businessman and philanthropist who made significant contributions to the fields of education and medical research. He founded the Ryden Foundation, which supports various charitable initiatives.

These are just a few examples of individuals who have carried the Ryden surname throughout history, each leaving their mark in different areas of Swedish society and culture.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Ryden families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Ryden 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 43 Rydens recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.57x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 43 3.57x
Somerset 26 15.92x
Kent 14 4.05x
Lanarkshire 6 1.83x
Middlesex 6 0.59x
Surrey 3 0.61x
Glamorgan 2 1.13x
Northumberland 1 0.66x
Royal Navy 1 8.27x
Sussex 1 0.58x
Warwickshire 1 0.39x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Taunton St James in Somerset leads with 15 Rydens recorded in 1881 and an index of 630.25x.

Place Total Index
Taunton St James 15 630.25x
Blackburn 14 43.72x
Bridgewater 10 225.73x
Faversham 8 242.42x
Ardwick 6 55.25x
Cambusnethan 6 82.30x
Lower Darwen 6 379.75x
Paddington London 6 16.09x
Chislet 5 1282.05x
Ribchester 5 1111.11x
Barrow In Furness 3 18.33x
Everton 3 7.82x
Cardiff St Mary 2 20.56x
Clapham 2 15.77x
Liverpool 2 2.74x
Birmingham 1 1.17x
Brighton 1 2.90x
Chislehurst 1 53.76x
Chorley 1 14.81x
Hulme 1 3.98x
Layton With Warbreck 1 22.62x
Rotherhithe 1 7.98x
Royal Navy 1 9.68x
Stannington 1 277.78x
Taunton St Mary 1 33.33x
West Derby 1 2.84x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 5
Elizabeth 4
Ellen 4
Rose 3
Ada 2
Alice 2
Ann 2
Lucy 2
Sarah 2
Teresa 2
Alma 1
Annie 1
Beatrice 1
Bridget 1
Catherine 1
Clara 1
Elizth 1
Florence 1
Frances 1
Hannah 1
Harriett 1
Hilda 1
Isabella 1
Jane 1
Kate 1
Leonora 1
Margaret 1
Marry 1
Martha 1
Nellie 1
Sushannah 1
Zipporah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 6
William 6
Henry 4
George 3
Arthur 2
Austin 2
Edward 2
Edwin 2
Eli 2
Robert 2
Thomas 2
Aurthor 1
Bernard 1
Charles 1
Earnest 1
Edmund 1
Francis 1
Frederick 1
Fredrick 1
Herbert 1
James 1
Jas.Thos. 1
Richard 1
Samuel 1
Wilfred 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Ryden surname: questions and answers

How common was the Ryden surname in 1881?

In 1881, 103 people were recorded with the Ryden surname. That placed it at #19,410 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Ryden surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 149 in 2016. That gives Ryden a modern rank of #23,844.

What does the Ryden surname mean?

A surname originating from a Swedish placename.

What does the Ryden map show?

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