UK surname
A locational surname derived from the Dutch word "wad", referring to mudflats and marshlands.
In the 1881 census there were 60 people recorded with the Wadden surname, ranking it #25,133 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 40, ranked #35,434, down from #25,133 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Stanstead Abbots, New Monkland and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Wadden is 106 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 33.3%.
1881 census count
60
Ranked #25,133
Modern count
40
2016, ranked #35,434
Peak year
1861
106 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Wadden surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Wadden surname density by area, 1861 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 56 | #23,235 |
| 1861 | historical | 106 | #20,147 |
| 1881 | historical | 60 | #25,133 |
| 1891 | historical | 92 | #25,109 |
| 1901 | historical | 80 | #25,251 |
| 1911 | historical | 52 | #27,620 |
| 1997 | modern | 46 | #33,077 |
| 1998 | modern | 43 | #33,557 |
| 1999 | modern | 54 | #32,660 |
| 2000 | modern | 48 | #33,288 |
| 2001 | modern | 45 | #33,401 |
| 2002 | modern | 49 | #33,377 |
| 2003 | modern | 50 | #33,362 |
| 2004 | modern | 51 | #33,478 |
| 2005 | modern | 45 | #34,160 |
| 2006 | modern | 47 | #34,335 |
| 2007 | modern | 49 | #34,422 |
| 2008 | modern | 52 | #34,381 |
| 2009 | modern | 52 | #34,544 |
| 2010 | modern | 54 | #34,582 |
| 2011 | modern | 50 | #34,816 |
| 2012 | modern | 45 | #35,105 |
| 2013 | modern | 49 | #34,952 |
| 2014 | modern | 47 | #35,097 |
| 2015 | modern | 44 | #35,212 |
| 2016 | modern | 40 | #35,434 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Stanstead Abbots, New Monkland, London parishes, St Pancras and Whalley. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stanstead Abbots | Hertfordshire |
| 2 | New Monkland | Lanark |
| 3 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 4 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| 5 | Whalley | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Wadden surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Wadden, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Wadden surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Wadden household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Wadden is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Wadden is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Wadden, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname WADDEN is believed to have originated in the Netherlands during the medieval period. It is likely derived from the Dutch word "wad," which refers to a coastal mudflat or tidal area. This suggests that the name may have initially been associated with people who lived or worked near such coastal regions.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name WADDEN can be found in the Oorkondenboek van Holland en Zeeland, a collection of historical records from the provinces of Holland and Zeeland, dating back to the 13th century. The name appears to have been particularly prevalent in these coastal regions of the Netherlands during the medieval and early modern periods.
In the 16th century, a notable figure named Gerrit WADDEN (1510-1580) was a prominent merchant and ship owner based in Rotterdam. His successful trading ventures contributed to the city's economic growth and helped establish the WADDEN name as a respected mercantile family.
Another historical figure bearing the WADDEN surname was Jan WADDEN (1625-1697), a Dutch engineer and architect who played a significant role in the construction of fortifications and hydraulic works in the Netherlands during the 17th century.
In the 19th century, Pieter WADDEN (1822-1901) was a renowned Dutch painter known for his landscapes and maritime scenes. His works often captured the coastal environments and tidal flats that may have been associated with the origin of the WADDEN name.
The name WADDEN also appears in various place names throughout the Netherlands, such as Waddenzee (Wadden Sea) and Waddeneilanden (Wadden Islands), further reinforcing its connection to the coastal regions of the country.
It is worth noting that variations in spelling, such as WADDENS, WADDENER, and WADDENAAR, have also been documented throughout history, reflecting regional linguistic differences or personal preferences in name recording.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Wadden surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 17 Waddens recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.91x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 17 | 2.91x |
| Hampshire | 9 | 7.50x |
| Glamorgan | 7 | 6.87x |
| Surrey | 7 | 2.46x |
| Sussex | 5 | 5.07x |
| Devon | 4 | 3.28x |
| Lancashire | 3 | 0.43x |
| Northumberland | 2 | 2.30x |
| Cheshire | 1 | 0.77x |
| Gloucestershire | 1 | 0.87x |
| Hertfordshire | 1 | 2.48x |
| Somerset | 1 | 1.06x |
| Worcestershire | 1 | 1.31x |
| Yorkshire | 1 | 0.17x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Islington London in Middlesex leads with 11 Waddens recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.39x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Islington London | 11 | 19.39x |
| Binsted | 8 | 1739.13x |
| Michaelstone Super Avon | 5 | 454.55x |
| Newhaven | 4 | 500.00x |
| Plymouth St Andrew | 4 | 42.64x |
| St Pancras London | 4 | 8.49x |
| Warrington | 3 | 36.45x |
| Battersea | 2 | 9.29x |
| Lambeth | 2 | 3.92x |
| Aberdare | 1 | 14.31x |
| Byker | 1 | 23.26x |
| Camberwell | 1 | 2.68x |
| Chelsea London | 1 | 5.67x |
| Christchurch | 1 | 38.46x |
| Corfe | 1 | 1250.00x |
| Esher | 1 | 250.00x |
| Evesham St Lawrence | 1 | 243.90x |
| Hastings Holy Trinity | 1 | 136.99x |
| Kingston On Thames | 1 | 14.60x |
| Leckwith | 1 | 416.67x |
| Newent | 1 | 172.41x |
| Plumbley | 1 | 1428.57x |
| Potter Newton | 1 | 98.04x |
| St Albans | 1 | 120.48x |
| Westgate | 1 | 18.55x |
| Westminster St James | 1 | 16.61x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Wadden surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Wadden surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Wadden households.
FAQ
In 1881, 60 people were recorded with the Wadden surname. That placed it at #25,133 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 40 in 2016. That gives Wadden a modern rank of #35,434.
A locational surname derived from the Dutch word "wad", referring to mudflats and marshlands.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Wadden bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.