NameCensus.

UK surname

Trudgeon

A surname likely derived from the Old French word "trucheman" meaning interpreter or translator.

In the 1881 census there were 188 people recorded with the Trudgeon surname, ranking it #13,379 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 274, ranked #15,759, down from #13,379 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Redruth, St Austell and St Stephen in Brannel. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Trudgeon is 291 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 45.7%.

1881 census count

188

Ranked #13,379

Modern count

274

2016, ranked #15,759

Peak year

1999

291 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Trudgeon had 188 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,379 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 274 in 2016, ranked #15,759.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 250 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Trudgeon surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Trudgeon surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Trudgeon 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 70 #21,020
1861 historical 42 #28,691
1881 historical 188 #13,379
1891 historical 174 #16,520
1901 historical 250 #13,136
1911 historical 247 #13,016
1997 modern 283 #14,037
1998 modern 288 #14,249
1999 modern 291 #14,234
2000 modern 287 #14,345
2001 modern 283 #14,247
2002 modern 288 #14,373
2003 modern 283 #14,368
2004 modern 276 #14,684
2005 modern 273 #14,708
2006 modern 282 #14,459
2007 modern 279 #14,732
2008 modern 282 #14,748
2009 modern 291 #14,742
2010 modern 284 #15,312
2011 modern 273 #15,606
2012 modern 269 #15,706
2013 modern 276 #15,683
2014 modern 275 #15,831
2015 modern 278 #15,586
2016 modern 274 #15,759

Geography

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Where Trudgeons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Redruth, St Austell, St Stephen in Brannel, Veryan and Plymouth St Andrew (incl. Eddystone Lighthouse in 1841). These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall. 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 Redruth Cornwall
2 St Austell Cornwall
3 St Stephen in Brannel Cornwall
4 Veryan Cornwall
5 Plymouth St Andrew (incl. Eddystone Lighthouse in 1841) Devon

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 024 Cornwall
2 Cornwall 030 Cornwall
3 Cornwall 039 Cornwall
4 Cornwall 038 Cornwall
5 Cornwall 048 Cornwall

Forenames

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First names often paired with Trudgeon

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Trudgeon

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Trudgeon 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

Trudgeon is most concentrated in decile 5 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Trudgeon falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Trudgeon

The surname Trudgeon is of English origin, with its roots traced back to the medieval period. It is believed to have originated from the Old English word "trod," which means a path or a track, combined with the suffix "-geon," indicating an occupation or a person associated with a specific activity.

Trudgeon is thought to have been an occupational surname, given to individuals who worked as path or road makers, maintaining and clearing pathways through forests or other natural landscapes. This occupation was particularly important in an era when travel was primarily done on foot or horseback, and well-maintained routes were essential for trade and communication.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Trudgeon can be found in various historical documents from the 13th and 14th centuries. One notable mention is in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1275, where a Richard Trudgeon is listed as a taxpayer.

During the reign of Edward III (1312-1377), a John Trudgeon is mentioned in the Patent Rolls of 1349, indicating his involvement in some official capacity. This record provides evidence of the surname's existence and its association with individuals of that era.

In the 15th century, the surname Trudgeon appeared in the Hearth Tax Rolls of Gloucestershire in 1475, suggesting a connection to that particular region of England. This document recorded households and their occupants for tax purposes, providing valuable insight into the distribution and prevalence of surnames during that time.

One notable individual bearing the surname Trudgeon was Sir Walter Trudgeon (c.1460-1522), a prominent English landowner and Member of Parliament for Devon in the early 16th century. He served under King Henry VIII and played a role in the administration of the county.

Another distinguished figure was Nicholas Trudgeon (1576-1638), an English clergyman and scholar who served as the Rector of Houghton-le-Spring in County Durham. He was known for his contributions to theological writings and his role in the Church of England during the early 17th century.

In the 18th century, the surname Trudgeon appeared in the parish records of Cheshire, where a John Trudgeon (1701-1778) was recorded as a landowner and farmer. This indicates the spread and establishment of the surname in different regions of England over time.

The surname Trudgeon can also be found in historical records from other parts of the British Isles, such as Scotland and Wales, although its origins and concentration were predominantly in England.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Trudgeon families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Trudgeon 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. Cornwall leads with 155 Trudgeons recorded in 1881 and an index of 74.66x.

County Total Index
Cornwall 155 74.66x
Devon 19 4.98x
Yorkshire 8 0.44x
Monmouthshire 3 2.26x
Kent 2 0.32x
Durham 1 0.18x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Veryan in Cornwall leads with 39 Trudgeons recorded in 1881 and an index of 4875.00x.

Place Total Index
Veryan 39 4875.00x
St Stephen In Brannel 27 1428.57x
St Austell 26 366.20x
Tavistock 12 275.86x
Kenwyn 10 184.16x
St Dennis 10 1282.05x
Brotton 8 337.55x
Roche 8 761.90x
Ludgvan 7 424.24x
Gulval 6 447.76x
Madron 6 357.14x
South Brent 5 609.76x
St Just In Penwith 5 124.07x
Newport 3 47.47x
Camborne 2 23.39x
Charlton Next Woolwich 2 30.67x
Madron Penzance 2 26.49x
St Blazey 2 109.89x
Ilsington 1 149.25x
Mawgan In Pyder 1 227.27x
Middlestone 1 91.74x
Plymouth Charles The 1 5.95x
Redruth 1 17.04x
St Ewe 1 158.73x
St Stephens By Saltash 1 112.36x
Talland 1 204.08x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 17
Mary 9
Ann 5
Eliza 4
Grace 4
Jane 4
Edith 3
Annie 2
Bessie 2
Catherine 2
Eliz. 2
Emma 2
Julia 2
Louisa 2
Phillippa 2
Sarah 2
Allen 1
Anne 1
Asenath 1
Dina 1
Ellen 1
Ester 1
Ethel 1
Fanny 1
Feronia 1
Hannah 1
Honor 1
Jemima 1
Josephina 1
Kate 1
Levina 1
Lilley 1
Lily 1
Lucy 1
M.A. 1
M.A.F. 1
Margaret 1
Maria 1
Martha 1
Matilda 1
Nelly 1
Rosa 1
Ruth 1
Sabina 1
Selina 1
Sophia 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 20
William 16
James 7
Joseph 6
Richard 6
Thomas 6
Samuel 5
Robert 3
Albert 2
Arthur 2
Charles 2
Wm. 2
Alb. 1
Art 1
Chas. 1
Earnest 1
Edwin 1
Eli.H. 1
Elias 1
Fred 1
George 1
Hary 1
Hekfer 1
Henry 1
Jacob 1
Josep 1
Orlando 1
Toad 1
Tom 1

FAQ

Trudgeon surname: questions and answers

How common was the Trudgeon surname in 1881?

In 1881, 188 people were recorded with the Trudgeon surname. That placed it at #13,379 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Trudgeon surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 274 in 2016. That gives Trudgeon a modern rank of #15,759.

What does the Trudgeon surname mean?

A surname likely derived from the Old French word "trucheman" meaning interpreter or translator.

What does the Trudgeon map show?

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