NameCensus.

UK surname

Sund

An English surname derived from the Old Norse word "sund" meaning a strait or narrow channel of water.

In the 1881 census there were 9 people recorded with the Sund surname, ranking it #32,416 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 133, ranked #25,765, up from #32,416 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Newcastle All Saints, Kildwick and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Ealing, Wolverhampton and Derby.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Sund is 133 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 1377.8%.

1881 census count

9

Ranked #32,416

Modern count

133

2016, ranked #25,765

Peak year

1861

133 bearers

Map years

2

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Sund had 9 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #32,416 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 133 in 2016, ranked #25,765.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 133 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Sund surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Sund surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Sund 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 26 #28,667
1861 historical 133 #16,835
1881 historical 9 #32,416
1891 historical 91 #25,239
1901 historical 9 #33,154
1911 historical 41 #28,802
1997 modern 62 #31,412
1998 modern 63 #31,639
1999 modern 66 #31,509
2000 modern 66 #31,553
2001 modern 65 #31,501
2002 modern 72 #31,269
2003 modern 70 #31,486
2004 modern 69 #31,784
2005 modern 77 #31,156
2006 modern 89 #30,027
2007 modern 92 #29,929
2008 modern 87 #30,999
2009 modern 98 #29,906
2010 modern 103 #29,780
2011 modern 111 #28,294
2012 modern 120 #26,961
2013 modern 125 #26,695
2014 modern 123 #27,206
2015 modern 129 #26,226
2016 modern 133 #25,765

Geography

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Where Sunds are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Newcastle All Saints, Kildwick, Manchester, Spofforth and Perth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Ealing, Wolverhampton and Derby. 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 Newcastle All Saints Northumberland
2 Kildwick Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 Spofforth Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Perth Perth

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Ealing 037 Ealing
2 Wolverhampton 035 Wolverhampton
3 Derby 020 Derby
4 Wolverhampton 013 Wolverhampton
5 Wolverhampton 034 Wolverhampton

Forenames

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First names often paired with Sund

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Sund

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students

Nationally, the Sund surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Sund household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Married couples with dependent children are common in this Group, with many parents born in Africa or the EU. The representation of residents amongst different ethnic minority groups is high, particularly for individuals of Pakistani ethnic group. For many residents, English is not their main language, and affiliation to Christian religions is less common. Privately rented terrace properties predominate and levels of overcrowding are high. Part time work is common, with many employed in elementary occupations and sales and customer services. There are also many students living within these areas, and overall unemployment levels are high.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Young Asian Family Terraces

Within London, Sund is most associated with areas classed as Young Asian Family Terraces, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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 households with dependent children typically live in terraced housing and are of (non-Chinese) Asian extraction. Individuals with Bangladeshi origins are particularly in evidence. Employment is often in elementary occupations or as process, plant or machine operatives, and part-time work is common. Students are much in evidence.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Sund is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Sund falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Sund 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
Asian - Indian

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

Meaning and origin of Sund

The surname Sund is of Swedish origin, with its roots tracing back to the 13th century. It is derived from the Old Swedish word "sund," meaning a strait or a narrow body of water separating two larger bodies of land. Originally, the name was likely associated with individuals who lived near these geographical features or perhaps worked as fishermen or sailors in such areas.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Sund can be found in the Swedish census records of the late 16th century, where a family bearing this surname was documented in the coastal town of Kalmar. It is believed that this family may have been involved in maritime activities or resided near a local strait or inlet.

During the 17th century, the name Sund gained prominence in the region of Västergötland, where several families with this surname were recorded in parish registers. One notable individual from this era was Johan Sund (1592-1658), a clergyman and author who served as a vicar in the town of Falköping.

In the 18th century, the name Sund spread to other parts of Sweden, particularly in the Stockholm area. Andreas Sund (1718-1792), a merchant and shipowner from Stockholm, was a prominent figure of his time, contributing significantly to the city's maritime trade.

The 19th century saw the Sund surname appearing in various historical records and documents across Scandinavia. One notable individual was Carl Gustaf Sund (1801-1876), a Swedish-Norwegian military officer who served in the Napoleonic Wars and later became a respected author and historian.

In more recent times, the name Sund has been associated with several accomplished individuals, such as Lotta Sund (1890-1972), a Swedish actress and film director who worked during the early years of Swedish cinema. Another notable figure is Olof Sund (1912-1996), a Swedish politician and member of the Riksdag (Swedish parliament) who played a significant role in shaping the country's social policies.

It is worth noting that the surname Sund is also found in other Scandinavian countries, such as Norway and Denmark, likely due to migration and cultural exchange within the region. However, its origins can be traced back to the Swedish language and the geographical features that influenced its development.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Sund families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Sund 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. Perthshire leads with 7 Sunds recorded in 1881 and an index of 178.12x.

County Total Index
Perthshire 7 178.12x
Lancashire 1 0.96x
Northumberland 1 7.67x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Perth East Church in Perthshire leads with 7 Sunds recorded in 1881 and an index of 1891.89x.

Place Total Index
Perth East Church 7 1891.89x
Tynemouth 1 142.86x
Windle 1 169.49x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Alice 1
Lina 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Sund households.

FAQ

Sund surname: questions and answers

How common was the Sund surname in 1881?

In 1881, 9 people were recorded with the Sund surname. That placed it at #32,416 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Sund surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 133 in 2016. That gives Sund a modern rank of #25,765.

What does the Sund surname mean?

An English surname derived from the Old Norse word "sund" meaning a strait or narrow channel of water.

What does the Sund map show?

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