NameCensus.

UK surname

Udall

A surname of English origin derived from a place name meaning "at the valley" or "valley dweller".

In the 1881 census there were 553 people recorded with the Udall surname, ranking it #6,244 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 615, ranked #8,539, down from #6,244 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wolverhampton, Putney and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Taunton Deane, Herefordshire and South Derbyshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Udall is 728 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 11.2%.

1881 census count

553

Ranked #6,244

Modern count

615

2016, ranked #8,539

Peak year

1911

728 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Udall had 553 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,244 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 615 in 2016, ranked #8,539.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 728 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Udall surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Udall surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Udall 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 254 #8,683
1861 historical 255 #9,699
1881 historical 553 #6,244
1891 historical 628 #6,158
1901 historical 648 #6,656
1911 historical 728 #5,882
1997 modern 612 #8,033
1998 modern 647 #7,939
1999 modern 659 #7,866
2000 modern 654 #7,906
2001 modern 631 #7,959
2002 modern 637 #8,090
2003 modern 621 #8,112
2004 modern 642 #7,912
2005 modern 600 #8,274
2006 modern 613 #8,151
2007 modern 614 #8,218
2008 modern 611 #8,284
2009 modern 609 #8,494
2010 modern 622 #8,542
2011 modern 615 #8,519
2012 modern 609 #8,508
2013 modern 622 #8,501
2014 modern 632 #8,434
2015 modern 621 #8,492
2016 modern 615 #8,539

Geography

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Where Udalls are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wolverhampton, Putney, London parishes, Manchester and Sheffield. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Taunton Deane, Herefordshire, South Derbyshire and Cotswold. 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 Wolverhampton Staffordshire
2 Putney London (South Districts)
3 London parishes London 3
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Taunton Deane 003 Taunton Deane
2 Herefordshire 005 Herefordshire, County of
3 South Derbyshire 011 South Derbyshire
4 Cotswold 011 Cotswold
5 South Derbyshire 009 South Derbyshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Udall

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Udall

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Udall is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Udall is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Udall

The surname Udall has its origins in England, dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "ytri" and "dael," meaning "outer" and "valley" respectively, suggesting that the name may have referred to someone who lived in an outer valley or remote area.

The earliest known record of the name Udall can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Shropshire from 1273, where it appears as "Odal." This early spelling variation indicates the name's evolution over time. It is also recorded in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1327 as "Odehull."

In the Domesday Book of 1086, there are no direct references to the surname Udall, but there are mentions of place names that may have influenced the name's development, such as "Odell" in Bedfordshire and "Odal" in Cheshire.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Udall was John Udall, a Puritan minister who lived from 1560 to 1592. He was a prominent figure in the Marprelate Controversy, a theological dispute that challenged the authority of the Anglican Church.

Another notable bearer of the name was William Udall, an English dramatist and playwright who lived from around 1500 to 1556. He is best known for his plays "Ralph Roister Doister" and "Respublica."

In the 17th century, Nicholas Udall (1505-1556) was a renowned playwright and clergyman who served as the headmaster of Eton College. He is credited with introducing the first English comedy for the stage, "Ralph Roister Doister."

The surname Udall can also be linked to several place names in England, such as Udall in Shropshire and Udall's Croft in Yorkshire. These place names may have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname over time.

Another prominent figure with the surname Udall was John Udall (1809-1889), an English-born American businessman and politician who served as a member of the Utah Territorial Legislature and was involved in the early settlement of Utah.

These examples illustrate the rich history and evolution of the surname Udall, which has its roots in England's medieval era and has been borne by notable individuals across various fields over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Udall families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Udall 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. Staffordshire leads with 130 Udalls recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.05x.

County Total Index
Staffordshire 130 7.05x
Lancashire 81 1.25x
Surrey 48 1.80x
Dorset 44 12.27x
Middlesex 40 0.73x
Derbyshire 34 3.98x
Yorkshire 30 0.55x
Wiltshire 22 4.55x
Hampshire 17 1.52x
Warwickshire 15 1.09x
Nottinghamshire 11 1.49x
Westmorland 11 9.16x
Worcestershire 10 1.40x
Leicestershire 9 1.49x
Cheshire 8 0.66x
Cumberland 7 1.49x
Kent 7 0.38x
Sussex 6 0.65x
Devon 5 0.44x
Durham 5 0.31x
Aberdeenshire 4 0.79x
Isle of Man 4 3.94x
Somerset 3 0.34x
Essex 2 0.19x
Royal Navy 2 3.07x
Channel Islands 1 0.62x
Hertfordshire 1 0.27x
Lincolnshire 1 0.11x
Roxburghshire 1 1.01x
Shropshire 1 0.21x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Stoke Upon Trent in Staffordshire leads with 36 Udalls recorded in 1881 and an index of 18.41x.

Place Total Index
Stoke Upon Trent 36 18.41x
Putney 35 140.56x
West Bromwich 31 29.37x
Bilston 15 41.97x
Gorton 13 21.34x
Caverswall 10 104.28x
Wardleworth 10 27.00x
Burton Extra 9 85.15x
Stinsford 9 1428.57x
Warminster 9 84.99x
Caton 8 394.09x
Kings Norton 8 12.51x
Rusholme 8 46.27x
Yeaveley 8 2105.26x
Brightside Bierlow 7 6.59x
Chideock 7 555.56x
Corsley 7 366.49x
Halstock 7 843.37x
Horton In Bradford 7 8.28x
Manchester 7 2.40x
Snelston 7 1166.67x
Southampton All Sts 7 36.44x
Barnes 6 53.29x
Beeston 6 70.92x
Bethnal Green London 6 2.53x
Calwich 6 2608.70x
Castleton 6 9.27x
Cranbrook 6 76.05x
Ellastone 6 1153.85x
Ellenborough Ewanrigg 6 184.05x
Hackney London 6 1.96x
Kensington London 6 1.98x
Monks Coppenhall 6 13.19x
Norbury 6 800.00x
Bloxworth 5 1020.41x
Bromley London 5 4.16x
Idmiston 5 462.96x
Matlock 5 43.55x
Moss Side 5 14.66x
Shoreditch London 5 2.11x
South Stoneham 5 20.58x
Symondsbury 5 219.30x
Warwick St Mary 5 41.81x
Whitherley 5 515.46x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 4 4.23x
Bothenhampton 4 400.00x
Eccleshill 4 30.37x
Farnworth 4 10.30x
Great Bolton 4 4.66x
Hastings St Mary 4 17.45x
Islington London 4 0.76x
Leicester St Margaret 4 2.71x
Little Bolton 4 4.80x
Tutbury 4 88.89x
Westoe 4 4.34x
Aston 3 0.79x
Birmingham 3 0.65x
Chilwell 3 153.06x
Chorlton On Medlock 3 2.91x
Claylane 3 25.23x
Nether Graveship 3 260.87x
Newton 3 6.00x
Onchan 3 10.27x
Sedburgh 3 132.74x
St Marylebone London 3 1.03x
Stockleigh English 3 2500.00x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 2 3.97x
Bradpole 2 68.03x
Burton Upon Trent 2 4.64x
Dorchester Holy Trinity 2 68.97x
Hawes 2 56.50x
Heaton Norris 2 5.42x
Hilderstone 2 270.27x
Leamington Priors 2 5.90x
Newton Abbot St Mary 2 20.96x
St Pancras London 2 0.45x
Wandsworth 2 3.80x
Wigginton 2 128.21x
Wirksworth 2 25.71x
Yeardsley Cum Whaley 2 84.03x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 32
John 29
George 24
Charles 22
James 18
Thomas 17
Frederick 12
Joseph 10
Arthur 8
Edward 7
Robert 7
Albert 5
Frank 5
Henry 5
Herbert 5
Ernest 4
Harry 4
Alfred 3
Samuel 3
Tom 3
Andrew 2
David 2
Francis 2
Gaius 2
Oliver 2
Prestwood 2
Richard 2
Urban 2
Catherine 1
Ebeneyer 1
Edmond 1
Emmanuel 1
Floyer 1
Frances 1
Fred 1
Frederic 1
Fredrick 1
Ganis 1
Harold 1
Horatio 1
Isaac 1
Jon 1
Lewis 1
Louis 1
Noah 1
Reuben 1
Sidney 1
Stephen 1
Thos. 1
Wm.Hy. 1

FAQ

Udall surname: questions and answers

How common was the Udall surname in 1881?

In 1881, 553 people were recorded with the Udall surname. That placed it at #6,244 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Udall surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 615 in 2016. That gives Udall a modern rank of #8,539.

What does the Udall surname mean?

A surname of English origin derived from a place name meaning "at the valley" or "valley dweller".

What does the Udall map show?

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