NameCensus.

UK surname

Waddingham

From a homestead or farm by the meadow or pasture.

In the 1881 census there were 460 people recorded with the Waddingham surname, ranking it #7,211 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 866, ranked #6,480, up from #7,211 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Clee, London parishes and Farriby, South. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North Lincolnshire, North East Lincolnshire and South Kesteven.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Waddingham is 895 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 88.3%.

1881 census count

460

Ranked #7,211

Modern count

866

2016, ranked #6,480

Peak year

2014

895 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Waddingham had 460 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,211 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 866 in 2016, ranked #6,480.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 626 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Waddingham surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Waddingham surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Waddingham 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 308 #7,478
1861 historical 324 #7,860
1881 historical 460 #7,211
1891 historical 489 #7,570
1901 historical 524 #7,783
1911 historical 626 #6,620
1997 modern 809 #6,483
1998 modern 834 #6,533
1999 modern 831 #6,599
2000 modern 847 #6,476
2001 modern 846 #6,359
2002 modern 847 #6,475
2003 modern 840 #6,393
2004 modern 830 #6,466
2005 modern 818 #6,492
2006 modern 802 #6,613
2007 modern 826 #6,523
2008 modern 857 #6,381
2009 modern 868 #6,465
2010 modern 885 #6,483
2011 modern 891 #6,364
2012 modern 868 #6,420
2013 modern 886 #6,416
2014 modern 895 #6,399
2015 modern 882 #6,407
2016 modern 866 #6,480

Geography

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Where Waddinghams are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Clee, London parishes, Farriby, South, Eckington and Sleaford, New. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North Lincolnshire, North East Lincolnshire, South Kesteven and East Riding of Yorkshire. 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 Clee Lincolnshire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Farriby, South Lincolnshire
4 Eckington Derbyshire
5 Sleaford, New Lincolnshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North Lincolnshire 015 North Lincolnshire
2 North East Lincolnshire 023 North East Lincolnshire
3 South Kesteven 008 South Kesteven
4 East Riding of Yorkshire 026 East Riding of Yorkshire
5 North Lincolnshire 022 North Lincolnshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Waddingham

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Waddingham

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Waddingham is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Waddingham is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Waddingham falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Waddingham

The surname Waddingham originates from England and dates back to the 12th century. It is believed to derive from the Old English words "wad" meaning "ford" and "ham" meaning "homestead" or "village." Thus, Waddingham likely referred to someone who lived near a ford or shallow river crossing.

The name is first recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Wadingeham" in reference to a village in Lincolnshire. This early spelling variation reflects the evolution of the name from its Old English roots.

One of the earliest documented individuals with the surname Waddingham was Robert de Waddingham, who lived in Lincolnshire in the late 12th century. He is mentioned in several charter records from that period.

In the 13th century, the name appears in the Hundred Rolls of 1273 as "Wadingham," referring to a landowner in Lincolnshire.

The village of Waddingham in Lincolnshire, from which the surname likely originated, is first mentioned in records dating back to the 11th century. This place name connection further reinforces the surname's geographical roots.

A notable bearer of the Waddingham name was Sir John Waddingham, a 15th-century English knight and landowner. He was born in 1420 and served as a member of Parliament for Lincolnshire in 1449 and 1455.

Another historical figure with the surname Waddingham was William Waddingham, a 16th-century clergyman and academic. He was born in 1562 and served as the President of Queens' College, Cambridge, from 1610 until his death in 1623.

In the 17th century, Thomas Waddingham, born in 1617, was a prominent English clergyman and author. He wrote several religious works, including "The Puritans' Principles" and "The Souldier's Honour."

A more recent notable bearer of the Waddingham name was Sir John Waddingham, a 19th-century English politician and landowner. He was born in 1810 and served as a Member of Parliament for South Lincolnshire from 1857 to 1865.

Throughout its history, the Waddingham surname has maintained strong connections to its geographical origins in Lincolnshire, England, with many bearers of the name hailing from or associated with that region.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Waddingham families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Waddingham 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. Lincolnshire leads with 209 Waddinghams recorded in 1881 and an index of 29.13x.

County Total Index
Lincolnshire 209 29.13x
Yorkshire 118 2.65x
Surrey 36 1.65x
Middlesex 30 0.67x
Derbyshire 17 2.42x
Nottinghamshire 16 2.65x
Lancashire 12 0.23x
Durham 6 0.45x
Cambridgeshire 3 1.06x
Gloucestershire 2 0.23x
Kent 2 0.13x
Leicestershire 2 0.40x
Angus 1 0.24x
Cardiganshire 1 0.91x
Essex 1 0.11x
Hertfordshire 1 0.32x
Northamptonshire 1 0.24x
Roxburghshire 1 1.23x
Rutland 1 3.03x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Clee With Weelsby in Lincolnshire leads with 26 Waddinghams recorded in 1881 and an index of 165.50x.

Place Total Index
Clee With Weelsby 26 165.50x
Islington London 25 5.75x
Great Grimsby 19 41.72x
Newington 19 11.46x
Holy Trinity 16 14.96x
Hotham 16 2807.02x
Sculcoates 13 18.44x
South Ferriby 13 1140.35x
Winterton 13 528.46x
Eckington 12 70.30x
Osbournby 12 1578.95x
Habrough 10 1666.67x
Hucknall Torkard 10 65.19x
Nether Hallam 10 16.62x
Southcoates 10 40.50x
Winteringham 9 873.79x
Fillingham 8 1702.13x
Horkstow 8 1904.76x
Middle Rasen 8 583.94x
New Sleaford 8 173.91x
Newington 8 65.36x
St Botolph Lincoln 8 155.04x
Camberwell 6 2.09x
Sheffield 6 4.24x
Batley 5 11.83x
Cuckney 5 581.40x
Liverpool 5 1.55x
North Cave Drewton 5 285.71x
Welwick 5 961.54x
Barrow On Humber 4 96.15x
Burton Upon Stather 4 439.56x
Durham St Nicholas 4 121.95x
Frieston 4 235.29x
Killamarsh 4 91.53x
St Clement Eastcheap 4 3076.92x
Sutterton 4 279.72x
Whitton 4 1379.31x
Barton St Mary 3 83.33x
Bonby 3 483.87x
Brightside Bierlow 3 3.44x
Coleby West Halton 3 789.47x
Cottingham 3 31.32x
Glanford Brigg 3 117.19x
Linthorpe 3 11.30x
Metheringham 3 104.53x
New Sealford 3 202.70x
Roxholme 3 1666.67x
Sibsey 3 185.19x
Skeffling 3 1200.00x
St Nicholas Lincoln 3 43.73x
St Peterin Eastgate 3 135.14x
Wisbech St Peter 3 21.05x
Alkborough 2 327.87x
Battersea 2 1.21x
Bishopwearmouth 2 1.75x
Capel 2 97.09x
Dorking 2 13.62x
Guiting Power 2 210.53x
Lambeth 2 0.51x
Patrington 2 95.24x
Salford 2 1.28x
St Mark Lincoln 2 130.72x
St Paul Lincoln 2 158.73x
Sutton Stoneferry 2 15.72x
Wandsworth 2 4.63x
Wickenby 2 487.80x
Worsley 2 6.09x
Barton St Peter 1 30.40x
Broughton In Salford 1 2.05x
Derby St Werburgh 1 2.47x
Gainsborough 1 5.91x
Leeds 1 0.40x
Manningham 1 1.83x
Market Rasen 1 24.94x
Melton Mowbray 1 11.17x
Preston 1 40.65x
Prestwich 1 7.53x
Skidby 1 178.57x
South Cliff 1 555.56x
West Ham 1 0.51x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Sarah 35
Mary 26
Elizabeth 18
Annie 11
Eliza 10
Jane 10
Emma 8
Ann 7
Maria 6
Charlotte 5
Anne 4
Ellen 4
Emily 4
Fanny 4
Hannah 4
Margaret 4
Betsy 3
Caroline 3
Florence 3
Lucy 3
Alice 2
Amelia 2
Betsey 2
Eleanor 2
Frances 2
Harriet 2
Kate 2
Rose 2
Bessey 1
Bridget 1
Catherine 1
Celia 1
Diana 1
Dina 1
Elenor 1
Elizy 1
Emley 1
Esther 1
Eth. 1
Eva 1
Gertrude 1
Grace 1
Harriett 1
Helen 1
Hellen 1
Kesiah 1
Konner 1
Lillian 1
Lilly 1
Theadosia 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 36
William 27
George 26
Joseph 12
Charles 11
Henry 11
Thomas 10
Alfred 8
James 7
Samuel 5
Tom 5
Arthur 4
Edwin 4
Harry 4
Robert 4
Walter 4
Edward 3
Frederick 3
Geo. 3
Herbert 3
Ernest 2
Isaac 2
Richard 2
Thos. 2
Wm. 2
Chas. 1
Chris 1
Corneliou 1
Cornelious 1
Costleykeene 1
David 1
Dick 1
Francis 1
Fred 1
Holby 1
Holvey 1
Hy. 1
Issac 1
J. 1
Jesse 1
Johnson 1
Marshall 1
Mathew 1
Nathan 1
Nathenal 1
Newill 1
Paul 1
Thorlby 1
Thorpe 1
Walker 1

FAQ

Waddingham surname: questions and answers

How common was the Waddingham surname in 1881?

In 1881, 460 people were recorded with the Waddingham surname. That placed it at #7,211 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Waddingham surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 866 in 2016. That gives Waddingham a modern rank of #6,480.

What does the Waddingham surname mean?

From a homestead or farm by the meadow or pasture.

What does the Waddingham map show?

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