NameCensus.

UK surname

Waldron

Derived from a place name meaning "valley of the Britons" in Old English, likely referring to an early settlement.

In the 1881 census there were 2,615 people recorded with the Waldron surname, ranking it #1,703 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 5,273, ranked #1,283, up from #1,703 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Plymouth St Andrew (incl. Eddystone Lighthouse in 1841), Belbroughton and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bromsgrove, Amber Valley and Wiltshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Waldron is 5,458 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 101.6%.

1881 census count

2,615

Ranked #1,703

Modern count

5,273

2016, ranked #1,283

Peak year

2010

5,458 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Waldron had 2,615 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,703 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 5,273 in 2016, ranked #1,283.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 3,727 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Waldron surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Waldron surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Waldron 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 1,343 #2,147
1861 historical 1,265 #2,254
1881 historical 2,615 #1,703
1891 historical 2,500 #1,893
1901 historical 3,342 #1,669
1911 historical 3,727 #1,392
1997 modern 5,103 #1,279
1998 modern 5,301 #1,286
1999 modern 5,269 #1,296
2000 modern 5,259 #1,291
2001 modern 5,157 #1,287
2002 modern 5,264 #1,293
2003 modern 5,172 #1,282
2004 modern 5,161 #1,285
2005 modern 5,136 #1,271
2006 modern 5,151 #1,267
2007 modern 5,228 #1,258
2008 modern 5,265 #1,261
2009 modern 5,367 #1,266
2010 modern 5,458 #1,276
2011 modern 5,391 #1,273
2012 modern 5,293 #1,265
2013 modern 5,343 #1,279
2014 modern 5,365 #1,283
2015 modern 5,297 #1,284
2016 modern 5,273 #1,283

Geography

Back to top

Where Waldrons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Plymouth St Andrew (incl. Eddystone Lighthouse in 1841), Belbroughton, London parishes, Portsmouth, Portsea and Kidderminster. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bromsgrove, Amber Valley and Wiltshire. 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 Plymouth St Andrew (incl. Eddystone Lighthouse in 1841) Devon
2 Belbroughton Worcestershire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire
5 Kidderminster Worcestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bromsgrove 010 Bromsgrove
2 Bromsgrove 013 Bromsgrove
3 Bromsgrove 011 Bromsgrove
4 Amber Valley 010 Amber Valley
5 Wiltshire 002 Wiltshire

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Waldron

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Waldron

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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Waldron surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Waldron household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Waldron is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Waldron is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Waldron falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Waldron

The surname Waldron is of English origin, derived from the Old English words "weald" meaning forest and "tun" meaning an enclosure or settlement. It was initially used to refer to someone who lived in or near a wooded area.

Waldron is believed to have originated in the counties of Sussex and Surrey in southern England, where the name was first recorded in the 13th century. The earliest known spelling variations include Waldrond, Waldryn, and Waldrene.

One of the earliest known references to the name Waldron can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex in 1296, where a William Waldrond is listed. The Waldron family is also mentioned in the Lay Subsidy Rolls of Wiltshire in 1333.

In the 14th century, the name Waldron appeared in the Feet of Fines records for Surrey, which documented the transfer of land. This suggests that the Waldron family held land and property during this period.

Notable individuals with the surname Waldron include:

1. Alexander Waldron (c. 1615-1694), an early settler and landowner in New Hampshire, who played a role in the Cocheco Massacre during King Philip's War.

2. Richard Waldron (c. 1615-1689), a military officer and early settler in New Hampshire, who was also involved in the Cocheco Massacre.

3. John Waldron (1740-1818), an American Revolutionary War soldier and early settler in Ohio.

4. James Waldron (1784-1859), an Irish-born American politician who served as a U.S. Representative from New York.

5. William Waldron (1776-1849), an English engraver and artist known for his work on topographical prints and illustrations.

The surname Waldron is also associated with several place names in England, including Waldron in East Sussex, Waldron's Gate in Hampshire, and Waldron's Fen in Cambridgeshire. These place names likely derived from the surname itself, reflecting the presence of Waldron families in those areas.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Waldron families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Waldron 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. Devon leads with 308 Waldrons recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.75x.

County Total Index
Devon 308 5.75x
Worcestershire 304 9.05x
Warwickshire 271 4.18x
Lancashire 245 0.80x
Staffordshire 242 2.79x
Middlesex 204 0.79x
Yorkshire 148 0.58x
Wiltshire 120 5.27x
Hampshire 115 2.18x
Surrey 83 0.66x
Berkshire 72 3.73x
Kent 58 0.66x
Gloucestershire 56 1.11x
Derbyshire 47 1.17x
Leicestershire 43 1.51x
Essex 42 0.83x
Durham 31 0.40x
Sussex 25 0.58x
Cheshire 20 0.35x
Shropshire 19 0.85x
Channel Islands 18 2.36x
Glamorgan 18 0.40x
Nottinghamshire 16 0.46x
Dorset 13 0.77x
Monmouthshire 12 0.65x
Lincolnshire 10 0.24x
Cornwall 9 0.31x
Northumberland 9 0.24x
Cumberland 8 0.36x
Flintshire 8 1.16x
Herefordshire 8 0.76x
Renfrewshire 8 0.40x
Somerset 8 0.19x
Buckinghamshire 7 0.45x
Oxfordshire 7 0.44x
Northamptonshire 5 0.21x
Caernarfonshire 4 0.38x
Royal Navy 4 1.30x
Cambridgeshire 3 0.18x
Lanarkshire 2 0.02x
Midlothian 2 0.06x
Suffolk 2 0.06x
Ayrshire 1 0.05x
Bedfordshire 1 0.08x
Perthshire 1 0.09x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Aston in Warwickshire leads with 132 Waldrons recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.39x.

Place Total Index
Aston 132 7.39x
Birmingham 94 4.35x
Bromsgrove 42 37.14x
Kidderminster Borough 35 17.80x
Liverpool 33 1.78x
St Luke London 33 8.00x
Portsea 31 3.00x
Wolverhampton 29 4.34x
Belbroughton 26 149.17x
Chisledon 26 251.21x
Clent 25 283.13x
Ramsbury 25 121.30x
Shoreditch London 25 2.24x
Wednesbury 24 11.06x
Tormoham 22 9.71x
Harborne 20 7.18x
Leeds 20 1.39x
West Derby 20 2.24x
Chittlehampton 19 143.83x
Hagley 19 174.79x
Brighton 18 2.06x
East Stonehouse 18 17.06x
Hulme 18 2.82x
Lambourn 18 94.04x
Minety 18 284.81x
Bristol St James St Paul 17 10.10x
Edgbaston 17 8.45x
Exeter St Mary Major 17 52.65x
Oldham 17 1.72x
West Ham 17 1.52x
Bilston 16 9.50x
Chelsea London 16 2.06x
Lambeth 16 0.71x
Manchester 16 1.17x
Pelsall 16 61.94x
Castle Donnington 15 63.40x
Everton 15 1.54x
Handsworth 15 7.01x
Ramsgate 15 10.47x
Berkeley 14 49.86x
Cannock 14 9.24x
Ilsington 14 149.57x
Bermondsey 13 1.70x
Bury 13 3.73x
Camberwell 13 0.79x
Kings Norton 13 4.31x
West Bromwich 13 2.61x
Wolborough 13 19.20x
Alverstoke 12 6.29x
Alverthorpe Cum Thornes 12 12.96x
Derby St Werburgh 12 5.16x
Fulham London 12 3.22x
Gomersal 12 10.08x
Islington London 12 0.48x
Plymouth St Andrew 12 2.91x
Stoke Prior 12 57.89x
Walsall Foreign 12 2.67x
Yarnscombe 12 512.82x
Aldershot 11 6.23x
Ashburton 11 42.95x
Bradford 11 1.78x
Darlaston 11 9.16x
Kingswinford 11 3.49x
Kinver 11 43.93x
Romsley 11 300.55x
St Helier 11 4.43x
St Pancras London 11 0.53x
Tavistock 11 18.03x
Walthamstow 11 6.02x
Wantage 11 35.71x
Worcester Blockhouse 11 59.62x
Bideford 10 17.43x
Chorlton On Medlock 10 2.06x
Cricklade St Sampson 10 94.34x
Hackney London 10 0.69x
Kensington London 10 0.70x
North Bovey 10 258.40x
Ogbourne St Andrew 10 257.07x
Portsmouth 10 8.23x
East Garston 9 221.13x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 195
William 165
Thomas 93
James 88
George 75
Henry 54
Charles 40
Joseph 36
Patrick 34
Alfred 30
Samuel 29
Arthur 27
Edward 24
Albert 21
Michael 21
Frederick 20
Harry 19
Richard 19
Walter 17
Frank 15
Robert 13
Ernest 10
Benjamin 9
Daniel 8
Edwin 8
Francis 8
Peter 7
Stephen 7
Herbert 6
Joshua 6
Sidney 5
Thos. 5
Wm. 5
Fredk. 4
Geo. 4
Josiah 4
Ambrose 3
Andrew 3
Benson 3
Chas. 3
Edmund 3
Horace 3
Isaac 3
Jabez 3
Levi 3
Lewis 3
Louis 3
Luke 3
Martin 3
Reuben 3

FAQ

Waldron surname: questions and answers

How common was the Waldron surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,615 people were recorded with the Waldron surname. That placed it at #1,703 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Waldron surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 5,273 in 2016. That gives Waldron a modern rank of #1,283.

What does the Waldron surname mean?

Derived from a place name meaning "valley of the Britons" in Old English, likely referring to an early settlement.

What does the Waldron map show?

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