NameCensus.

UK surname

Underdown

A locational surname referring to a person from a place situated beneath a hill or down.

In the 1881 census there were 591 people recorded with the Underdown surname, ranking it #5,910 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 957, ranked #6,003, down from #5,910 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Tunbridge, Bidborough and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Maidstone, Tonbridge and Malling and Ashford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Underdown is 1,047 in 2011. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 61.9%.

1881 census count

591

Ranked #5,910

Modern count

957

2016, ranked #6,003

Peak year

2011

1,047 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Underdown had 591 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,910 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 957 in 2016, ranked #6,003.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 856 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Underdown surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Underdown surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Underdown 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 408 #5,946
1861 historical 409 #6,283
1881 historical 591 #5,910
1891 historical 694 #5,646
1901 historical 729 #6,071
1911 historical 856 #5,182
1997 modern 994 #5,535
1998 modern 1,019 #5,597
1999 modern 1,011 #5,667
2000 modern 1,009 #5,648
2001 modern 999 #5,582
2002 modern 1,021 #5,603
2003 modern 976 #5,706
2004 modern 977 #5,704
2005 modern 967 #5,685
2006 modern 968 #5,701
2007 modern 969 #5,755
2008 modern 988 #5,702
2009 modern 1,003 #5,752
2010 modern 1,026 #5,758
2011 modern 1,047 #5,599
2012 modern 993 #5,768
2013 modern 991 #5,870
2014 modern 998 #5,867
2015 modern 974 #5,933
2016 modern 957 #6,003

Geography

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Where Underdowns are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Tunbridge, Bidborough, London parishes, Brenchley and Offwell, North Leigh. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Maidstone, Tonbridge and Malling, Ashford and Tunbridge Wells. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 Tunbridge, Bidborough Kent
3 London parishes London 3
4 Brenchley Kent
5 Offwell, North Leigh Devon

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Maidstone 015 Maidstone
2 Tonbridge and Malling 002 Tonbridge and Malling
3 Ashford 011 Ashford
4 Tunbridge Wells 004 Tunbridge Wells
5 Maidstone 013 Maidstone

Forenames

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First names often paired with Underdown

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Underdown

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

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Underdown is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, 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

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

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

Underdown 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

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

Meaning and origin of Underdown

The surname Underdown is of English origin, tracing its roots back to the medieval period. It derives from the Old English words "under" and "dun," which together signify a location near or beneath a hill or down.

Underdown is a locational surname, indicating that the earliest bearers of this name likely hailed from a place called Underdown, situated at the base of a hill. Such toponymic surnames were commonplace during the Middle Ages, as they helped distinguish individuals from different localities.

The earliest recorded instances of the Underdown surname date back to the 13th century. In 1273, a William de Underdon was mentioned in the Assize Rolls of Staffordshire, while a John de Underdon appeared in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex in 1327. The variations in spelling, such as "Underdon" and "Undredon," were typical of the era before standardized spelling conventions.

One notable historical figure bearing this surname was Sir John Underdown (c. 1520-1572), an English politician and Member of Parliament for Somerset during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. He served as Sheriff of Somerset and Dorset in 1558 and played a role in suppressing the Prayer Book Rebellion in the West Country.

Another individual of note was Thomas Underdown (1645-1696), an English clergyman and author who served as Rector of St. Mary Redcliffe in Bristol. He published several theological works, including "A Defence of the Doctrine of the Church of England" in 1689.

In the 17th century, the Underdown surname also appeared in colonial America. Robert Underdown (c. 1630-1711) was among the early settlers in Hingham, Massachusetts, arriving from England in the 1630s. His descendants went on to establish themselves in various parts of New England.

Moving into the 18th century, William Underdown (1761-1832) was a prominent British architect who designed several notable buildings in Bath, including the Cleveland Bridge and the Edgar Buildings. His works contributed significantly to the city's Georgian architectural heritage.

The Underdown name has also been associated with various locations across England, such as Underdown Farm in Devon, Underdown House in Somerset, and the hamlet of Underdown in Gloucestershire. These place names serve as reminders of the surname's locational origins and its enduring presence throughout the country's history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Underdown families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Underdown 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. Kent leads with 317 Underdowns recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.98x.

County Total Index
Kent 317 15.98x
Middlesex 76 1.31x
Devon 68 5.62x
Sussex 29 2.96x
Gloucestershire 24 2.10x
Hampshire 22 1.85x
Surrey 14 0.49x
Essex 9 0.78x
Herefordshire 6 2.52x
Cornwall 5 0.76x
Channel Islands 4 2.32x
Lancashire 4 0.06x
Worcestershire 4 0.53x
Caernarfonshire 3 1.28x
Oxfordshire 3 0.84x
Yorkshire 2 0.03x
Dorset 1 0.26x
Glamorgan 1 0.10x
Lanarkshire 1 0.05x
Monmouthshire 1 0.24x
Royal Navy 1 1.44x
Suffolk 1 0.14x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Brenchley in Kent leads with 39 Underdowns recorded in 1881 and an index of 549.30x.

Place Total Index
Brenchley 39 549.30x
Smarden 28 1233.48x
Maidstone 24 40.62x
Tonbridge 23 32.15x
Folkestone 16 41.58x
Westbury On Trym 14 36.24x
Headcorn 12 404.04x
Faversham 11 58.14x
Horsemonden 11 379.31x
Lewisham 11 10.40x
Portsea 11 4.71x
Hammersmith London 10 6.98x
Strood 10 88.34x
Talaton 10 1086.96x
Goudhurst 9 163.93x
Hampton London 9 94.14x
Lambeth 9 1.78x
North Leigh 9 1836.73x
South Leigh 9 2045.45x
St Giles In Fields 9 44.89x
Bristol St George 8 15.17x
Shoreditch London 8 3.17x
Ashford 7 36.23x
Beckley 7 285.71x
Buckland In Dover 7 106.54x
Gillingham 7 17.11x
Kilmington 7 700.00x
Membury 7 546.88x
Peasmarsh 7 419.16x
Plumstead 7 10.59x
Portsmouth 7 25.51x
St George Hanover 7 9.22x
St Pancras London 7 1.50x
Worth 7 98.31x
Brenenden 6 235.29x
Charlton 6 45.56x
Orleton 6 526.32x
Ramsgate 6 18.53x
Tenterden 6 85.71x
Woolwich 6 8.19x
Chartham 5 101.21x
Saltash 5 98.04x
Snodland 5 88.97x
Yalding 5 99.80x
Colyton 4 86.02x
Dudley 4 4.33x
Elmsted 4 465.12x
Exeter St Mary Major 4 54.79x
Offwell 4 606.06x
Rye 4 42.92x
St Marylebone London 4 1.29x
St Sampson 4 51.55x
West Ham 4 1.58x
Westminster St 4 18.67x
Woodford 4 30.79x
Bromley London 3 2.35x
Cheriton 3 37.08x
Dover St Mary Virgin 3 15.63x
East Peckham 3 72.82x
Exeter St Olave 3 192.31x
Gt Milton 3 247.93x
Heston 3 15.54x
Llanbeblig 3 12.57x
Margate St John Baptist 3 8.26x
Murston 3 171.43x
Petersfield 3 91.46x
Bethnal Green London 2 0.79x
Chart Sutton 2 145.99x
Chatham 2 3.67x
Cranbrook 2 23.81x
Deptford St Paul 2 1.31x
Islington London 2 0.35x
Newington 2 0.93x
Queenborough 2 102.04x
Shadoxhurst 2 526.32x
St George Bloomsbury 2 6.00x
St George In East 2 5.06x
Westwell 2 100.50x
Whitechapel London 2 3.49x
Wittersham 2 112.99x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 26
Elizabeth 23
Sarah 18
Eliza 15
Emily 14
Jane 12
Alice 9
Ellen 8
Harriett 8
Annie 7
Ann 6
Anne 6
Caroline 6
Hannah 6
Harriet 6
Kate 5
Ada 4
Catherine 4
Frances 4
Louisa 4
Martha 4
Rosa 4
Amelia 3
Clara 3
Dorcas 3
Emma 3
Fanny 3
Lucy 3
Susan 3
Bessie 2
Edith 2
Elizebeth 2
Fannie 2
Jessie 2
Maria 2
Matilda 2
Maud 2
Minnie 2
Phoebe 2
Rosanna 2
Sophia 2
Cora 1
Elizth. 1
Emelia 1
Esther 1
Eva 1
Johannah 1
Julia 1
Kazia 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 34
Thomas 32
William 30
George 22
James 18
Charles 16
Henry 16
Richard 10
Edward 8
Walter 8
Alfred 7
Frederick 7
Arthur 6
Ernest 6
Frank 5
Robert 5
Emanuel 4
Herbert 4
Albert 3
Fredk. 3
Geo. 3
Harry 3
Sydney 3
Edwin 2
Eli 2
Jesse 2
Nathaniel 2
Owen 2
Thos. 2
Tom 2
Willm. 2
Wm. 2
Alexander 1
Benjamin 1
Cornelius 1
Douglas 1
Edgar 1
Edwd. 1
F.J. 1
Fred 1
Frederic 1
Hamlet 1
Jas. 1
Jessie 1
Percival 1
Raynor 1
Sam 1
Samuel 1
Silas 1
Stephen 1

FAQ

Underdown surname: questions and answers

How common was the Underdown surname in 1881?

In 1881, 591 people were recorded with the Underdown surname. That placed it at #5,910 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Underdown surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 957 in 2016. That gives Underdown a modern rank of #6,003.

What does the Underdown surname mean?

A locational surname referring to a person from a place situated beneath a hill or down.

What does the Underdown map show?

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