NameCensus.

UK surname

Verden

A surname derived from the Dutch word for "world," possibly indicating the bearer's worldly occupation or travels.

In the 1881 census there were 51 people recorded with the Verden surname, ranking it #26,428 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 91, ranked #32,109, down from #26,428 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Craven, Waverley and Lancaster.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Verden is 110 in 1997. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 78.4%.

1881 census count

51

Ranked #26,428

Modern count

91

2016, ranked #32,109

Peak year

1997

110 bearers

Map years

1

1998 to 1998

Key insights

  • Verden had 51 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #26,428 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 91 in 2016, ranked #32,109.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 84 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Verden surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Verden surname density by area, 1998 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Verden 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 21 #29,550
1861 historical 24 #30,922
1881 historical 51 #26,428
1891 historical 68 #28,300
1901 historical 72 #26,162
1911 historical 84 #24,442
1997 modern 110 #25,529
1998 modern 109 #26,273
1999 modern 104 #27,164
2000 modern 104 #27,150
2001 modern 100 #27,402
2002 modern 98 #28,243
2003 modern 96 #28,381
2004 modern 93 #29,065
2005 modern 86 #30,094
2006 modern 84 #30,665
2007 modern 84 #31,067
2008 modern 86 #31,114
2009 modern 87 #31,489
2010 modern 85 #32,185
2011 modern 88 #31,801
2012 modern 90 #31,790
2013 modern 94 #31,656
2014 modern 97 #31,518
2015 modern 95 #31,749
2016 modern 91 #32,109

Geography

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Where Verdens are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Craven, Waverley, Lancaster and Haringey. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Craven 003 Craven
2 Waverley 013 Waverley
3 Lancaster 020 Lancaster
4 Lancaster 011 Lancaster
5 Haringey 028 Haringey

Forenames

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First names often paired with Verden

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Verden

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Verden surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Verden 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 includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles

Group

European Enclaves

Within London, Verden is most associated with areas classed as European Enclaves, part of Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles. 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

Many residents of these accessible neighbourhoods have wide-ranging non-UK European origins. Typically residing in privately rented flats, many residents live alone and are beyond normal retirement age. There are more students than elsewhere in the Supergroup, some of which live in communal establishments. Household residents are often drawn from different ethnic groups.

Wider London pattern

These neighbourhoods house people of all ages, predominantly of White British or European extraction. Resident turnover is low. Religious affiliation is less common than average and tends to be Christian if expressed. Homeownership, typically of terraced houses, is common but use of the social rented sector is not. Employment is typically in professional, managerial and associate professional or technical occupations. There are few full-time students. Level 4 qualifications are common. More households lack dependent children than have them which, considered alongside low levels of crowding and over-all age structure, indicates that many households may be post child-rearing and in late middle age. Incidence of disability is low, as is residence in communal establishments.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Verden is most concentrated in decile 1 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Verden

The surname Verden has its origins in Germany, dating back to the Middle Ages. It is believed to be derived from the German word "verden," meaning "to become" or "to turn." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who underwent a significant change or transformation in their life.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the surname Verden can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus Anhaltinus, a collection of historical documents from the Anhalt region of Germany, dating back to the 13th century. This document references a certain "Johannes Verden" who was a landowner in the area.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in various medieval records and manuscripts from different parts of Germany, such as the Stadtbücher (city books) of Cologne and the Urkundenbuch der Stadt Braunschweig (book of records of the city of Brunswick). These mentions provide insight into the geographical distribution of the name during that time period.

The name Verden has also been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One such person was Hans Verden (1480-1547), a German painter and engraver from Nuremberg, known for his religious works and portraits. Another was Johann Verden (1573-1638), a German composer and organist who served at the court of the Dukes of Brunswick-Lüneburg.

In the 16th century, the surname Verden appeared in the records of the city of Lübeck, where a certain Claus Verden was a prominent merchant and member of the city council. Additionally, the name was found in the Kirchenbücher (church records) of various German towns and villages, indicating its spread across different regions.

Another noteworthy individual with the surname Verden was Christoph Verden (1629-1692), a German theologian and author who served as a professor at the University of Helmstedt. His works on biblical exegesis and theology were widely respected during his time.

While the name Verden may have originated in Germany, it eventually spread to other parts of Europe and beyond, with variations in spelling and pronunciation emerging in different regions. However, the essence of the name and its connection to the concept of transformation and change remain integral to its historical significance.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Verden families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Verden 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. Middlesex leads with 28 Verdens recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.63x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 28 5.63x
Lancashire 21 3.56x
Angus 1 2.17x
Cheshire 1 0.91x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Lancaster in Lancashire leads with 20 Verdens recorded in 1881 and an index of 569.80x.

Place Total Index
Lancaster 20 569.80x
Hackney London 9 32.28x
Clerkenwell London 8 68.14x
Islington London 6 12.45x
Mile End Old Town 3 38.22x
Birkenhead 1 11.43x
Bromley London 1 9.14x
Lochee 1 243.90x
Paddington London 1 5.47x
Widnes 1 23.47x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 3
Amelia 2
Emily 2
Margaret 2
Agnes 1
Annie 1
Beatrice 1
Dorothy 1
Eleonar 1
Elizabeth 1
Ellen 1
Esther 1
Frances 1
Isabella 1
Louisa 1
Mabel 1
May 1
Sarah 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 5
Thomas 4
Henry 2
John 2
Richard 2
William 2
Alfred 1
Arthur 1
Benjamin 1
Charles 1
Conrad 1
Frank 1
Frederick 1
Fredk. 1
Robert 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 Verden households.

FAQ

Verden surname: questions and answers

How common was the Verden surname in 1881?

In 1881, 51 people were recorded with the Verden surname. That placed it at #26,428 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Verden surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 91 in 2016. That gives Verden a modern rank of #32,109.

What does the Verden surname mean?

A surname derived from the Dutch word for "world," possibly indicating the bearer's worldly occupation or travels.

What does the Verden map show?

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