NameCensus.

UK surname

Standen

A locational surname derived from places named with the Old English word "standen," meaning a stony area.

In the 1881 census there were 1,686 people recorded with the Standen surname, ranking it #2,550 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,222, ranked #2,919, down from #2,550 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew, London parishes and Tunbridge, Bidborough. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Hastings, Fort William South and Maidstone.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Standen is 2,424 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 31.8%.

1881 census count

1,686

Ranked #2,550

Modern count

2,222

2016, ranked #2,919

Peak year

1911

2,424 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Standen had 1,686 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,550 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,222 in 2016, ranked #2,919.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,424 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Standen surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Standen surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Standen 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 1,096 #2,566
1861 historical 835 #3,303
1881 historical 1,686 #2,550
1891 historical 1,735 #2,622
1901 historical 2,112 #2,541
1911 historical 2,424 #2,114
1997 modern 2,289 #2,715
1998 modern 2,404 #2,695
1999 modern 2,387 #2,733
2000 modern 2,350 #2,758
2001 modern 2,283 #2,769
2002 modern 2,292 #2,824
2003 modern 2,247 #2,805
2004 modern 2,239 #2,826
2005 modern 2,161 #2,877
2006 modern 2,144 #2,893
2007 modern 2,156 #2,904
2008 modern 2,205 #2,875
2009 modern 2,240 #2,904
2010 modern 2,252 #2,950
2011 modern 2,244 #2,931
2012 modern 2,171 #2,948
2013 modern 2,224 #2,933
2014 modern 2,237 #2,936
2015 modern 2,225 #2,918
2016 modern 2,222 #2,919

Geography

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Where Standens are most common

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

The modern local-area list points to Hastings, Fort William South, Maidstone, Northumberland and Winchester. 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 London parishes London 1
3 Tunbridge, Bidborough Kent
4 London parishes London 3
5 Goudhurst Kent

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Hastings 011 Hastings
2 Fort William South Highland
3 Maidstone 006 Maidstone
4 Northumberland 033 Northumberland
5 Winchester 008 Winchester

Forenames

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First names often paired with Standen

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Standen

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

Standen 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

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

Meaning and origin of Standen

The surname Standen is of Anglo-Saxon origin and derives from the Old English words 'stan' meaning stone and 'dun' which refers to a hill or elevated ground. It is a locational name that originally denoted someone who lived near a prominent stone or rocky hill.

The earliest recorded spelling of the name dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as 'Standen' in the county of Sussex. This suggests the name had already been established in southern England by the late 11th century.

One of the first known bearers of the name was Robert de Standen, who was listed in the Pipe Rolls of Sussex in 1230. In 1275, Walter de Standen was mentioned in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire, indicating the surname had spread to other parts of the country.

The name has been associated with various place names across England, such as Standen in Bedfordshire, Standen in Hertfordshire, and Standen in Lancashire. These locations likely contributed to the widespread adoption of the surname.

Notable individuals with the surname Standen include Sir Anthony Standen (1539-1618), an English courtier and politician who served as a Member of Parliament during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. Another prominent bearer was William Standen (1666-1734), an English clergyman and academic who became the Master of Pembroke College, Cambridge.

In the 19th century, Sir Walter Standen (1811-1891) was a British judge and legal writer, while Henry Standen (1840-1907) was a successful industrialist and inventor credited with developing the first successful refrigeration system for ships.

During the 20th century, Humphrey Standen (1902-1987) was a British artist and illustrator known for his book cover designs and illustrations for works by authors such as J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Standen families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Standen 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 529 Standens recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.04x.

County Total Index
Sussex 529 19.04x
Kent 452 8.04x
Lancashire 239 1.22x
Surrey 150 1.87x
Middlesex 136 0.83x
Hampshire 31 0.92x
Berkshire 22 1.78x
Somerset 20 0.75x
Huntingdonshire 18 5.50x
Cambridgeshire 11 1.05x
Essex 11 0.34x
Worcestershire 10 0.46x
Norfolk 8 0.32x
Lincolnshire 7 0.27x
Yorkshire 7 0.04x
Cheshire 6 0.17x
Northumberland 6 0.24x
Glamorgan 5 0.17x
Northamptonshire 5 0.32x
Royal Navy 4 2.04x
Dorset 2 0.19x
Staffordshire 2 0.04x
Bedfordshire 1 0.12x
Brecknockshire 1 0.30x
Devon 1 0.03x
Hertfordshire 1 0.09x
Midlothian 1 0.05x
Oxfordshire 1 0.10x
Rutland 1 0.83x
Suffolk 1 0.05x

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 54 Standens recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.64x.

Place Total Index
Brighton 54 9.64x
Rye 49 185.61x
Great Harwood 45 127.33x
Maidstone 45 26.87x
Peasmarsh 40 847.46x
Tonbridge 40 19.73x
Goudhurst 39 250.64x
Cockerham 32 641.28x
Hastings St Mary 29 41.95x
Preston 27 5.16x
Camberwell 26 2.47x
Hastings All Sts 26 99.35x
St Pancras London 26 1.96x
Fittleworth 25 636.13x
Lewisham 23 7.67x
Blackburn 22 4.23x
Henfield 20 187.44x
Ticehurst 19 111.76x
Hastings St Mary In The 18 30.37x
Wittersham 18 359.28x
Islington London 17 1.06x
Brenchley 16 79.52x
Lambeth 16 1.11x
Maresfield 16 136.64x
Sevenoaks 15 32.91x
Battersea 14 2.31x
Carshalton 14 45.57x
Deptford St Paul 14 3.23x
Pluckley 14 268.71x
Salehurst 14 116.38x
Guestling 13 287.61x
Hastings St Leonards 13 31.84x
Chelsea London 12 2.42x
St Ives 12 70.75x
Ewell 11 64.90x
Hastings St Clement 11 42.08x
Willesborough 11 72.80x
Cranbrook 10 42.00x
Dartford 10 17.40x
Egerton 10 203.67x
Hackney London 10 1.08x
Ore 10 48.36x
Salford 10 1.74x
West Ham 10 1.39x
Woodmancote 10 510.20x
Bassingbourn 9 58.71x
Bedminster 9 3.61x
Bethnal Green London 9 1.26x
Brasted 9 123.46x
Lancaster 9 7.74x
Paddington London 9 1.49x
Portsea 9 1.36x
Reading St Mary 9 9.09x
St Marylebone London 9 1.02x
Wadhurst 9 49.34x
Wimbledon 9 9.98x
Yalding 9 63.38x
Croydon 8 1.80x
Erith 8 14.45x
Greenwich 8 3.05x
Little Bolton 8 3.18x
Otham 8 379.15x
Rotherfield 8 32.71x
South Stoneham 8 10.92x
Thwaite In Aylsham 8 1025.64x
Wandsworth 8 5.04x
Wisborough Green 8 85.74x
Wiswell 8 191.85x
Accrington 7 3.94x
Bermondsey 7 1.43x
Clitheroe 7 12.17x
Frensham 7 59.37x
Hailsham 7 41.64x
Horsemonden 7 85.26x
Keston 7 167.46x
Littlehampton 7 31.56x
New Sealford 7 129.15x
Pembury 7 87.83x
Pett 7 443.04x
Sittingbourne 7 15.77x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 80
Elizabeth 76
Sarah 41
Ellen 36
Alice 34
Ann 28
Annie 28
Eliza 28
Emily 28
Emma 25
Jane 22
Fanny 19
Anne 14
Charlotte 14
Edith 13
Frances 13
Hannah 13
Harriett 13
Kate 13
Louisa 13
Margaret 13
Caroline 12
Ada 11
Harriet 11
Martha 11
Florence 10
Lucy 8
Amy 7
Ethel 6
Jessie 6
Rose 6
Sophia 6
Elizth. 5
Esther 5
Grace 5
Isabella 5
Matilda 5
Mercy 5
Naomi 5
Susan 5
Amelia 4
Clara 4
Flora 4
Francis 4
Julia 4
Mabel 4
Minnie 4
Rosa 4
Catherine 3
Lilian 3

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 100
George 68
Thomas 67
James 66
John 54
Charles 53
Henry 34
Edward 22
Alfred 21
Frederick 21
Albert 20
Richard 18
Walter 15
Arthur 14
Stephen 14
Ernest 13
Frank 11
Harry 11
Herbert 11
Samuel 11
Robert 10
Joseph 9
Horace 7
Edwin 6
Francis 5
Benjamin 4
David 4
Isaac 4
Percy 4
Willie 4
Alexander 3
Andrew 3
Bridge 3
Louis 3
Sidney 3
Aaron 2
Clement 2
E. 2
Edmund 2
Fred 2
Geo. 2
Hugh 2
Jesse 2
Laurence 2
Lawrence 2
Leonard 2
Lewis 2
Mark 2
Spencer 2
Wm. 2

FAQ

Standen surname: questions and answers

How common was the Standen surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,686 people were recorded with the Standen surname. That placed it at #2,550 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Standen surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,222 in 2016. That gives Standen a modern rank of #2,919.

What does the Standen surname mean?

A locational surname derived from places named with the Old English word "standen," meaning a stony area.

What does the Standen map show?

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