NameCensus.

UK surname

Soden

Derived from a place name meaning "south valley" in Old English, likely referring to the bearer's residence.

In the 1881 census there were 492 people recorded with the Soden surname, ranking it #6,854 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 782, ranked #7,053, down from #6,854 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Itchington, Bishops, London parishes and Leamington Priors. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Herefordshire, South Oxfordshire and Chiltern.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Soden is 923 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 58.9%.

1881 census count

492

Ranked #6,854

Modern count

782

2016, ranked #7,053

Peak year

1998

923 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Soden had 492 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,854 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 782 in 2016, ranked #7,053.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 795 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Soden surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Soden surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Soden 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 379 #6,300
1861 historical 334 #7,631
1881 historical 492 #6,854
1891 historical 485 #7,607
1901 historical 708 #6,230
1911 historical 795 #5,497
1997 modern 871 #6,124
1998 modern 923 #6,033
1999 modern 908 #6,156
2000 modern 923 #6,066
2001 modern 896 #6,110
2002 modern 920 #6,100
2003 modern 881 #6,182
2004 modern 877 #6,215
2005 modern 858 #6,268
2006 modern 842 #6,366
2007 modern 826 #6,523
2008 modern 852 #6,410
2009 modern 862 #6,501
2010 modern 879 #6,519
2011 modern 858 #6,567
2012 modern 824 #6,687
2013 modern 824 #6,777
2014 modern 816 #6,870
2015 modern 807 #6,881
2016 modern 782 #7,053

Geography

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Where Sodens are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Itchington, Bishops, London parishes, Leamington Priors and Haddon, East. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Herefordshire, South Oxfordshire, Chiltern, Cornwall and Warwick. 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 Itchington, Bishops Warwickshire
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Leamington Priors Warwickshire
5 Haddon, East Northamptonshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Herefordshire 003 Herefordshire, County of
2 South Oxfordshire 012 South Oxfordshire
3 Chiltern 005 Chiltern
4 Cornwall 037 Cornwall
5 Warwick 005 Warwick

Forenames

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First names often paired with Soden

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Soden

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

Rural Amenity

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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, Soden 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

Soden 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

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

Meaning and origin of Soden

The surname SODEN is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English word "soden," which means "muddy" or "marshy." This suggests that the name may have been initially given to someone who lived near a marshy area or a swamp.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name SODEN can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive record of landowners and properties commissioned by William the Conqueror. In this document, the name appears as "Sodene," indicating its ancient roots.

During the Middle Ages, the SODEN surname was primarily concentrated in the counties of Worcestershire and Staffordshire in the West Midlands region of England. The name is also associated with the village of Soden in Staffordshire, which may have been the original place of origin for some bearers of the surname.

Notables with the SODEN surname include Sir John Soden (1530-1588), an English politician and Member of Parliament during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. Another prominent figure was Thomas Soden (1750-1822), a British naval officer who served in the American Revolutionary War and later became a Member of Parliament.

In the 17th century, the SODEN name gained recognition through John Soden (1611-1661), an English clergyman and author who served as the Rector of Ingworth in Norfolk. His writings, particularly his sermons, were widely published during his lifetime.

The 18th century saw the emergence of William Soden (1746-1801), a British architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden.

Another notable bearer of the SODEN surname was Sir Cedric Soden (1880-1957), a British diplomat and ambassador who served in various roles, including as the Governor of Malta from 1940 to 1942 during World War II.

While the SODEN surname has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly through migration and colonization. However, the name's origins can be traced back to the medieval period and the Old English word "soden," reflecting its connection to marshy or muddy areas in the English countryside.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Soden families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Soden 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. Warwickshire leads with 125 Sodens recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.39x.

County Total Index
Warwickshire 125 10.39x
Middlesex 59 1.24x
Northamptonshire 50 11.14x
Oxfordshire 40 13.58x
Surrey 38 1.63x
Staffordshire 26 1.61x
Buckinghamshire 18 6.24x
Kent 18 1.11x
Leicestershire 18 3.40x
Wiltshire 12 2.84x
Ayrshire 11 3.08x
Lanarkshire 11 0.71x
Northumberland 10 1.41x
Worcestershire 8 1.28x
Essex 7 0.74x
Glamorgan 5 0.60x
Suffolk 5 0.86x
Cambridgeshire 4 1.32x
Devon 4 0.40x
Nottinghamshire 4 0.62x
Sussex 4 0.50x
Berkshire 2 0.56x
Cheshire 2 0.19x
Lancashire 2 0.04x
Yorkshire 2 0.04x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.23x
Dunbartonshire 1 0.78x
Gloucestershire 1 0.11x
Royal Navy 1 1.76x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. East Haddon in Northamptonshire leads with 27 Sodens recorded in 1881 and an index of 2195.12x.

Place Total Index
East Haddon 27 2195.12x
Birmingham 24 5.99x
Leamington Priors 19 64.19x
Bishops Itchington 16 1379.31x
Edgbaston 12 32.17x
Kensington London 12 4.52x
Preshute 12 463.32x
Kilmarnock 11 25.89x
Kingston On Thames 11 19.70x
Aston 10 3.02x
Kirkwhelpington 10 2702.70x
Leicester St Margaret 10 7.75x
Oxford St Thomas 10 72.73x
Coventry St Michael 8 20.70x
Gillingham 8 23.85x
Buckingham 7 119.25x
Burton Upon Trent 7 18.58x
Edgware 7 526.32x
Harborne 7 13.57x
Northampton St Sepulchre 7 30.67x
Ravensthorpe 7 864.20x
Southwark St George Martyr 7 7.29x
Steeple Barton 7 466.67x
Belgrave 6 50.25x
Govan 6 1.57x
Middle Claydon 6 1621.62x
Penge 6 19.69x
Tamworth 6 69.69x
Walsall Foreign 6 7.21x
Woolvercot 6 500.00x
Brinklow 5 390.63x
Deptford St Paul 5 3.98x
Hackney London 5 1.87x
Harbury 5 256.41x
Kidlington 5 219.30x
Market Weston 5 1041.67x
Newington 5 2.84x
Radclive 5 1515.15x
Stonehouse 5 95.60x
Tysoe 5 306.75x
Wandsworth 5 10.89x
Watlington 5 165.56x
West Ham 5 2.41x
Westminster St James 5 10.20x
Chelsea London 4 2.78x
Compton Wyniates 4 8000.00x
Coventry Holy Trinity 4 11.14x
Daventry 4 62.99x
Hillingdon 4 26.30x
Kings Norton 4 7.16x
Snenton 4 15.84x
Whitchurch 4 89.09x
Clapham 3 5.03x
Hampstead London 3 4.04x
Kineton 3 174.42x
Margate St John Baptist 3 10.07x
Mile End New Town 3 46.08x
Neithrop 3 30.30x
Plymouth St Andrew 3 3.92x
Warkworth 3 74.26x
Warwick St Nicholas 3 34.01x
Whittlesey St Mary St 3 28.44x
Bethnal Green London 2 0.97x
Bromley London 2 1.91x
Hinckley 2 15.95x
Horsham 2 12.80x
Napton On Hill 2 137.93x
Southam 2 68.49x
St Marylebone London 2 0.79x
St Paul Covent Garden 2 41.93x
Stoke Newington London 2 5.38x
Atherstone 1 16.29x
Brighton 1 0.62x
Carnaby 1 344.83x
Dagenham 1 17.86x
Fifield 1 250.00x
Hastings St Mary 1 5.00x
Leyton Low 1 5.22x
Putney 1 4.60x
Weston 1 270.27x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 30
George 22
John 22
Henry 16
Thomas 13
James 11
Charles 10
Alfred 9
Albert 7
Joseph 7
Frederick 6
Francis 5
Walter 5
Ernest 4
Samuel 4
Benjamin 3
Herbert 3
Hubert 3
Richard 3
Edwin 2
Fred 2
Fredrick 2
Leonard 2
Robert 2
Adolphus 1
Alf. 1
Arthur 1
Augustus 1
Chas. 1
Daniel 1
David 1
Earnest 1
Edward 1
Facer 1
Frank 1
Frederic 1
Harry 1
Jno. 1
Louis 1
Oliver 1
Owen 1
Reginald 1
Sydney 1
T.S. 1
Theodore 1
Thos. 1
Tom 1
Will 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Soden surname: questions and answers

How common was the Soden surname in 1881?

In 1881, 492 people were recorded with the Soden surname. That placed it at #6,854 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Soden surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 782 in 2016. That gives Soden a modern rank of #7,053.

What does the Soden surname mean?

Derived from a place name meaning "south valley" in Old English, likely referring to the bearer's residence.

What does the Soden map show?

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