NameCensus.

UK surname

Scudder

An occupational surname referring to a maker or seller of dishes or hollow wooden vessels.

In the 1881 census there were 293 people recorded with the Scudder surname, ranking it #9,884 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 538, ranked #9,457, up from #9,884 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Crayford, Erith and Meopham. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bexley, Lewes and Hammersmith and Fulham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Scudder is 557 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 83.6%.

1881 census count

293

Ranked #9,884

Modern count

538

2016, ranked #9,457

Peak year

2014

557 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Scudder had 293 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,884 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 538 in 2016, ranked #9,457.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 443 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Scudder surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Scudder surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Scudder 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 224 #9,534
1861 historical 164 #14,188
1881 historical 293 #9,884
1891 historical 327 #10,379
1901 historical 421 #9,141
1911 historical 443 #8,611
1997 modern 514 #9,129
1998 modern 545 #8,987
1999 modern 550 #8,984
2000 modern 545 #9,017
2001 modern 523 #9,146
2002 modern 525 #9,322
2003 modern 500 #9,481
2004 modern 507 #9,419
2005 modern 500 #9,443
2006 modern 490 #9,613
2007 modern 487 #9,753
2008 modern 496 #9,694
2009 modern 501 #9,843
2010 modern 525 #9,692
2011 modern 525 #9,609
2012 modern 529 #9,461
2013 modern 546 #9,392
2014 modern 557 #9,287
2015 modern 538 #9,489
2016 modern 538 #9,457

Geography

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Where Scudders are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Crayford, Erith, Meopham, Lewisham and London parishes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bexley, Lewes and Hammersmith and Fulham. 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 Crayford Kent
2 Erith Kent
3 Meopham Kent
4 Lewisham London (South Districts)
5 London parishes London 3

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bexley 008 Bexley
2 Lewes 013 Lewes
3 Lewes 012 Lewes
4 Bexley 019 Bexley
5 Hammersmith and Fulham 017 Hammersmith and Fulham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Scudder

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Scudder

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Scudder, 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 Scudder surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Scudder household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

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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, Scudder 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.

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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

Scudder 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

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

Meaning and origin of Scudder

The surname Scudder originated in England, tracing its roots back to the 11th century. It is derived from the Old English word "scudder," which means "squirrel." This suggests that the name may have originated as a nickname for someone with a squirrel-like appearance or behavior.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Scudder can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Scudere." This document, commissioned by William the Conqueror, was a comprehensive survey of landowners and their holdings in England.

The Scudder surname was particularly prevalent in the counties of Somerset, Devon, and Cornwall in the southwest of England. Some early variations of the spelling include Scuddere, Skuddere, and Skudder.

In the 13th century, records show a Walter Scudder living in Somerset. A century later, in 1379, a Richard Scudder is mentioned in the Poll Tax Returns of Yorkshire.

During the 16th century, the name Scudder gained prominence with the birth of Henry Scudder (1568-1659), an English clergyman and one of the earliest settlers of Massachusetts Bay Colony. He was a influential figure in the early days of the American colonies.

Another notable Scudder was Horace Elisha Scudder (1838-1902), an American editor, biographer, and literary critic. He served as the editor of the Atlantic Monthly and wrote extensively on literature and education.

In the 19th century, John Scudder (1793-1859), an American missionary and physician, made significant contributions to the medical field in India. He established several hospitals and medical schools in the country.

The name Scudder has also been associated with places like Scudder's Falls, a waterfall on the Delaware River in New Jersey, and Scudder's Pond, a glacial lake in Plymouth, Massachusetts.

Other notable individuals bearing the Scudder surname include Moses Scudder (1619-1699), an early settler of Long Island, New York, and Townsend Scudder (1865-1960), an American naturalist and expert on butterflies.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Scudder families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Scudder 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. Kent leads with 135 Scudders recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.84x.

County Total Index
Kent 135 13.84x
Middlesex 44 1.54x
Essex 40 7.09x
Surrey 24 1.72x
Devon 13 2.19x
Warwickshire 11 1.53x
Worcestershire 9 2.41x
Gloucestershire 8 1.43x
Nottinghamshire 4 1.04x
Lancashire 3 0.09x
Lincolnshire 1 0.22x
Somerset 1 0.22x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bexley in Kent leads with 21 Scudders recorded in 1881 and an index of 243.62x.

Place Total Index
Bexley 21 243.62x
Lewisham 15 28.85x
Erith 12 124.87x
Exeter Heavitree 12 270.27x
Meopham 12 991.74x
Bermondsey 11 12.93x
Fulham London 10 24.13x
Pershore St Andrew 9 436.89x
West Ham 9 7.23x
Aston 8 4.03x
Eltham 8 140.11x
Limehouse London 8 25.49x
Southfleet 8 888.89x
Chertsey 7 77.78x
Milton In Gravesend 6 41.04x
Sittingbourne 6 77.92x
Thundersley 6 1176.47x
Twining 6 714.29x
Walthamstow 6 29.54x
Chislehurst 5 95.60x
Cobham 5 555.56x
Crayford 5 117.37x
Deptford St Paul 5 6.65x
Lee 5 35.31x
Rochford 5 304.88x
Shoreditch London 5 4.04x
Leigh 4 204.08x
Prittlewell 4 51.15x
Snenton 4 26.42x
Bethnal Green London 3 2.42x
Clerkenwell London 3 4.45x
Coventry St Michael 3 12.96x
Darenth 3 200.00x
Dartford 3 30.09x
Greenwich 3 6.59x
Lambeth 3 1.20x
Mile End Old Town 3 6.65x
Northfleet 3 34.92x
Ratcliffe London 3 19.01x
Rusholme 3 33.15x
Snodland 3 108.70x
Camberwell 2 1.10x
Cliffe 2 90.91x
Islington London 2 0.72x
Mucking 2 800.00x
Orpington 2 66.89x
St George Hanover 2 5.36x
Wivenhoe 2 89.29x
Beckenham 1 7.84x
Berkeley 1 32.05x
Bow London 1 2.75x
Colchester St Botolph 1 20.83x
Finchley 1 9.12x
Great Grimsby 1 3.45x
Halstead 1 15.20x
Higham 1 75.76x
Highbridge 1 1111.11x
Kingston On Thames 1 2.99x
Nonington 1 128.21x
Poplar London 1 1.85x
St Anne Soho London 1 6.13x
St George Martyr 1 20.75x
Stoke Damerel 1 2.40x
Tewkesbury 1 20.00x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 18
John 12
George 11
Thomas 11
Henry 10
Frederick 8
Charles 7
Joseph 7
Arthur 4
Albert 3
Alfred 3
Francis 3
Frank 3
Richard 3
Walter 3
Edward 2
Frederic 2
James 2
Robert 2
Samuel 2
Stephen 2
Adam 1
Alf 1
Amy 1
Chas 1
Chas. 1
David 1
Ebenezer 1
Fred 1
Frederik 1
Gerard 1
Gerrard 1
Harry 1
Infant 1
Jas. 1
Jonathan 1
Josiah 1
Percy 1
Rodger 1
Th.George 1
Thos.Jas. 1

FAQ

Scudder surname: questions and answers

How common was the Scudder surname in 1881?

In 1881, 293 people were recorded with the Scudder surname. That placed it at #9,884 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Scudder surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 538 in 2016. That gives Scudder a modern rank of #9,457.

What does the Scudder surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to a maker or seller of dishes or hollow wooden vessels.

What does the Scudder map show?

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