NameCensus.

UK surname

Waddon

In the 1881 census there were 59 people recorded with the Waddon surname, ranking it #25,281 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 177, ranked #21,230, up from #25,281 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Englishcombe, Tiverton and Mark, Chapel Allerton, Weare, East Brent, South Brent. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Caerphilly and Taunton Deane.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Waddon is 195 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 200.0%.

1881 census count

59

Ranked #25,281

Modern count

177

2016, ranked #21,230

Peak year

1999

195 bearers

Map years

4

1911 to 2016

Key insights

  • Waddon had 59 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #25,281 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 177 in 2016, ranked #21,230.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 102 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Waddon surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Waddon surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Waddon 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 50 #24,274
1861 historical 85 #22,922
1881 historical 59 #25,281
1891 historical 57 #29,533
1901 historical 82 #25,019
1911 historical 102 #22,465
1997 modern 189 #18,267
1998 modern 191 #18,624
1999 modern 195 #18,517
2000 modern 184 #19,190
2001 modern 183 #18,980
2002 modern 183 #19,354
2003 modern 161 #20,697
2004 modern 158 #21,077
2005 modern 160 #20,899
2006 modern 165 #20,634
2007 modern 163 #21,050
2008 modern 160 #21,521
2009 modern 178 #20,486
2010 modern 182 #20,662
2011 modern 184 #20,363
2012 modern 173 #21,135
2013 modern 179 #21,028
2014 modern 177 #21,340
2015 modern 178 #21,149
2016 modern 177 #21,230

Geography

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Where Waddons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Englishcombe, Tiverton, Mark, Chapel Allerton, Weare, East Brent, South Brent, Bridgwater, Goathurst, Durleigh, Wembdon, Chilton Trinity and Portsmouth, Portsea. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Caerphilly and Taunton Deane. 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 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 Englishcombe, Tiverton Somerset
3 Mark, Chapel Allerton, Weare, East Brent, South Brent Somerset
4 Bridgwater, Goathurst, Durleigh, Wembdon, Chilton Trinity Somerset
5 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Caerphilly 018 Caerphilly
2 Caerphilly 022 Caerphilly
3 Taunton Deane 009 Taunton Deane
4 Taunton Deane 005 Taunton Deane
5 Caerphilly 019 Caerphilly

Forenames

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First names often paired with Waddon

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Waddon

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Waddon surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Waddon household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Waddon 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

Waddon is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Waddon falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Waddon is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 20-25 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

4
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Waddon, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

1881 census detail

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Waddon families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Waddon 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. Somerset leads with 38 Waddons recorded in 1881 and an index of 40.34x.

County Total Index
Somerset 38 40.34x
Hampshire 7 5.84x
Middlesex 6 1.03x
Durham 2 1.15x
Surrey 2 0.70x
Devon 1 0.82x
Gloucestershire 1 0.87x
Lancashire 1 0.14x
Royal Navy 1 14.35x
Yorkshire 1 0.17x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Taunton St Mary in Somerset leads with 10 Waddons recorded in 1881 and an index of 578.03x.

Place Total Index
Taunton St Mary 10 578.03x
Kingston 8 4210.53x
Twerton 6 618.56x
South Brent 5 3125.00x
St Marylebone London 5 16.01x
St Helens 4 459.77x
Bridgewater 3 117.19x
Compton Bishop 3 2727.27x
Portsea 2 8.51x
Westoe 2 20.26x
Bradford 1 7.12x
Creech St Michael 1 434.78x
Islington London 1 1.76x
Lambeth 1 1.96x
Newent 1 172.41x
Plymouth Charles The 1 18.62x
Royal Navy 1 16.78x
Ryde 1 38.76x
Southwark St George Martyr 1 8.50x
Staplegrove 1 909.09x
West Derby 1 4.92x
Weston Super Mare 1 42.02x

Top female names

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

Name Count
James 4
George 3
Henry 3
Robert 3
William 3
Charles 2
Joseph 2
Alfred 1
Clifford 1
Fredrick 1
Henery 1
John 1
Maurice 1
Richard 1
Roland 1
Will.H. 1

FAQ

Waddon surname: questions and answers

How common was the Waddon surname in 1881?

In 1881, 59 people were recorded with the Waddon surname. That placed it at #25,281 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Waddon surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 177 in 2016. That gives Waddon a modern rank of #21,230.

What does the Waddon map show?

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