NameCensus.

UK surname

Sinden

An English surname denoting someone who lived on or near a sandy area or hill.

In the 1881 census there were 653 people recorded with the Sinden surname, ranking it #5,479 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 986, ranked #5,869, down from #5,479 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew, Guestling and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Hastings, Lewes and Shepway.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Sinden is 1,076 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 51.0%.

1881 census count

653

Ranked #5,479

Modern count

986

2016, ranked #5,869

Peak year

2002

1,076 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Sinden had 653 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,479 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 986 in 2016, ranked #5,869.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 899 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Sinden surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Sinden surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Sinden 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 448 #5,502
1861 historical 329 #7,748
1881 historical 653 #5,479
1891 historical 671 #5,809
1901 historical 822 #5,496
1911 historical 899 #4,956
1997 modern 1,028 #5,363
1998 modern 1,057 #5,416
1999 modern 1,064 #5,417
2000 modern 1,066 #5,400
2001 modern 1,036 #5,427
2002 modern 1,076 #5,366
2003 modern 1,024 #5,491
2004 modern 1,019 #5,511
2005 modern 1,008 #5,510
2006 modern 987 #5,618
2007 modern 1,005 #5,586
2008 modern 990 #5,694
2009 modern 989 #5,814
2010 modern 1,004 #5,860
2011 modern 1,001 #5,818
2012 modern 968 #5,882
2013 modern 990 #5,874
2014 modern 1,019 #5,774
2015 modern 995 #5,831
2016 modern 986 #5,869

Geography

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Where Sindens are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew, Guestling, London parishes, Brighton and Battle. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Hastings, Lewes, Shepway and Wiltshire. 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 Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew Sussex
2 Guestling Sussex
3 London parishes London 3
4 Brighton Sussex
5 Battle Sussex

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Hastings 010 Hastings
2 Lewes 004 Lewes
3 Hastings 006 Hastings
4 Shepway 011 Shepway
5 Wiltshire 012 Wiltshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Sinden

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Sinden

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Sinden 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

Sinden 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

Sinden falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Sinden

The surname SINDEN is of Anglo-Saxon origin, tracing its roots back to the medieval period in England. It is believed to have originated as a locational name, derived from one of several places named Sinden or Synden in Kent and Sussex. These place names, in turn, are thought to have evolved from the Old English words "sunden" or "synden," meaning "sunny" or "sunlit."

The earliest known record of the surname SINDEN dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Sindene" in reference to a manor in Kent. This entry suggests that the name was already well-established in the region by the late 11th century.

During the 13th and 14th centuries, various spellings of the name emerged in medieval records, such as "de Syndene," "Synden," and "Sinden." These variations reflect the influence of regional dialects and the evolving nature of spelling conventions in that era.

One of the earliest recorded bearers of the name was John de Syndene, who was mentioned in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex in 1327. Another notable figure was William Sinden, a merchant and landowner from Kent, who lived in the late 15th century.

In the 16th century, the surname SINDEN gained prominence through the exploits of Thomas Sinden, a renowned English navigator and explorer. Born around 1540 in Kent, he is credited with charting several uncharted territories in the Americas and the Pacific during his voyages with the British East India Company.

Another significant bearer of the name was Sir Edward Sinden (1615-1688), a distinguished military officer who served under Oliver Cromwell during the English Civil War. He later became a Member of Parliament and played a crucial role in the Restoration of the monarchy in 1660.

In the literary realm, the surname SINDEN is associated with the renowned English playwright and novelist, Thomas Sinden (1687-1743). His works, which explored themes of social commentary and satire, were highly influential during the Age of Enlightenment.

Over the centuries, the SINDEN surname has been carried by numerous individuals across various fields, including Sir Charles Sinden (1793-1867), a prominent architect responsible for designing several landmark buildings in London, and Emily Sinden (1845-1922), a pioneering educator and advocate for women's rights.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Sinden families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Sinden 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. Sussex leads with 409 Sindens recorded in 1881 and an index of 38.26x.

County Total Index
Sussex 409 38.26x
Kent 121 5.59x
Middlesex 41 0.65x
Surrey 29 0.94x
Hampshire 12 0.92x
Lancashire 10 0.13x
Essex 8 0.64x
Durham 7 0.37x
Bedfordshire 5 1.52x
Somerset 4 0.39x
Oxfordshire 1 0.26x
Royal Navy 1 1.32x
Worcestershire 1 0.12x
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. Brighton in Sussex leads with 49 Sindens recorded in 1881 and an index of 22.72x.

Place Total Index
Brighton 49 22.72x
Guestling 32 1839.08x
Hastings St Mary 31 116.54x
Brenchley 29 374.68x
Eastbourne 27 54.89x
Battle 25 346.74x
Hastings All Sts 22 218.47x
Hastings St Leonards 21 133.67x
Warbleton 19 595.61x
Waldron 18 618.56x
Hastings St Clement 17 168.99x
Hastings St Mary In The 17 74.53x
Croydon 16 9.33x
Great Chart 15 931.68x
Beckley 12 449.44x
Herstmonceaux 12 373.83x
Catsfield 10 653.59x
Fairlight 9 857.14x
Hollington 9 236.84x
Bow London 8 9.91x
Newchurch 8 1126.76x
West Ham 8 2.90x
Breamore 7 569.11x
Rye 7 68.90x
St Pancras London 7 1.37x
Stranton 7 11.02x
Charlton 6 41.75x
Horsted Keynes 6 240.96x
Maidstone 6 9.31x
Ore 6 75.38x
Pett 6 983.61x
Preston Next Faversham 6 117.88x
Ringmer 6 199.34x
Tonbridge 6 7.69x
Bedford St Peter 5 58.62x
Framfield 5 151.06x
Hackney London 5 1.41x
Kirkdale 5 3.95x
Lewisham 5 4.33x
Mountfield 5 370.37x
Bath St Peter St Paul 4 88.69x
Battersea 4 1.71x
Bexhill 4 75.05x
Boughton Aluph 4 325.20x
Bromley London 4 2.87x
Frindsbury 4 49.08x
Hove 4 8.53x
Kingsnorth 4 300.75x
Lydd 4 86.39x
St George Hanover 4 4.83x
St Marylebone London 4 1.18x
Toxteth Park 4 1.57x
West Hoathly 4 119.05x
Appledore 3 212.77x
Brookland 3 319.15x
Dallington 3 260.87x
Dartford 3 13.56x
Heathfield 3 69.28x
St George In East 3 6.96x
Ticehurst 3 45.87x
Titchfield 3 30.61x
Bermondsey 2 1.06x
Burwash 2 40.32x
Camberwell 2 0.49x
Chatham 2 3.36x
Chiddingly 2 103.63x
Dymchurch 2 166.67x
Hastings Holy Trinity 2 25.38x
Hooe 2 196.08x
Lewes St Ann 2 54.95x
Penge 2 4.94x
Portsea 2 0.79x
Snargate 2 625.00x
Southwark St George Martyr 2 1.57x
Yalding 2 36.63x
Biddenden 1 33.78x
Birchington 1 33.00x
Lambeth 1 0.18x
Royal Navy 1 1.55x
St Vedast Foster Lane 1 250.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 41
George 37
John 26
Henry 21
James 21
Thomas 21
Charles 15
Alfred 11
Harry 8
Albert 7
Frederick 7
Edward 6
Walter 6
Robert 5
Frank 4
Joseph 4
Richard 4
Abraham 3
Ernest 3
Isaac 3
Samuel 3
Arthur 2
Elijah 2
Gaius 2
Herbert 2
Jessee 2
Jonathan 2
Owen 2
Stephen 2
Wallis 2
Augustus 1
Edmond 1
Edmund 1
Edwin 1
Francis 1
Fred 1
Fredk. 1
Geo.F. 1
Geo.Fredk. 1
H.J. 1
Herny 1
Jesse 1
Levi 1
Lewis 1
Louis 1
Nelson 1
Ralph 1
Steven 1
Thos. 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Sinden surname: questions and answers

How common was the Sinden surname in 1881?

In 1881, 653 people were recorded with the Sinden surname. That placed it at #5,479 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Sinden surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 986 in 2016. That gives Sinden a modern rank of #5,869.

What does the Sinden surname mean?

An English surname denoting someone who lived on or near a sandy area or hill.

What does the Sinden map show?

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