NameCensus.

UK surname

Warde

A surname derived from the Old English "weard" meaning watchman or guardian.

In the 1881 census there were 247 people recorded with the Warde surname, ranking it #11,173 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 318, ranked #14,159, down from #11,173 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St Werburgh and Yalding, Aylesford, Burham, Mereworth, Wateringbury, Nettlestead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Sevenoaks, Bromley and Torbay.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Warde is 350 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 28.7%.

1881 census count

247

Ranked #11,173

Modern count

318

2016, ranked #14,159

Peak year

1861

350 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Warde had 247 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,173 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 318 in 2016, ranked #14,159.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 350 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Warde surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Warde surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Warde 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 261 #8,490
1861 historical 350 #7,295
1881 historical 247 #11,173
1891 historical 324 #10,453
1901 historical 314 #11,285
1911 historical 331 #10,654
1997 modern 278 #14,210
1998 modern 305 #13,753
1999 modern 298 #14,026
2000 modern 270 #14,943
2001 modern 259 #15,151
2002 modern 273 #14,892
2003 modern 273 #14,715
2004 modern 285 #14,344
2005 modern 286 #14,242
2006 modern 285 #14,361
2007 modern 289 #14,401
2008 modern 291 #14,430
2009 modern 299 #14,445
2010 modern 330 #13,786
2011 modern 326 #13,775
2012 modern 319 #13,898
2013 modern 322 #14,037
2014 modern 321 #14,150
2015 modern 322 #14,023
2016 modern 318 #14,159

Geography

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Where Wardes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St Werburgh, Yalding, Aylesford, Burham, Mereworth, Wateringbury, Nettlestead and Warmfield. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Sevenoaks, Bromley, Torbay, South Oxfordshire and Hammersmith and Fulham. 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 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 St Werburgh Derbyshire
4 Yalding, Aylesford, Burham, Mereworth, Wateringbury, Nettlestead Kent
5 Warmfield Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Sevenoaks 013 Sevenoaks
2 Bromley 009 Bromley
3 Torbay 005 Torbay
4 South Oxfordshire 008 South Oxfordshire
5 Hammersmith and Fulham 017 Hammersmith and Fulham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Warde

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Warde

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Warde, 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 Warde surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Warde 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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Warde is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Warde is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Warde falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Warde is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Warde

The surname Warde originated in England, deriving from the Old English word "weard" or the Old French "warde," meaning a guard or watchman. The name first emerged during the medieval period, typically denoting someone who served as a guardian or protector of a particular location or estate.

Historically, the Warde surname was concentrated in various regions of England, including counties like Kent, Essex, and Hertfordshire. In the renowned Domesday Book of 1086, a record of landholders in England commissioned by William the Conqueror, several individuals with variations of the Warde name are mentioned, such as Warda and Warde.

One of the earliest recorded bearers of the Warde surname was Roger Warde, who lived in Oxfordshire during the 13th century. Another notable figure was John Warde, a wealthy merchant and alderman in London, who served as the city's Sheriff in 1368.

The Warde surname has also been linked to various place names across England, including Warden in Bedfordshire, Wardenhill in Northumberland, and Wardlow in Derbyshire. These place names likely influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname over time.

Throughout history, several prominent individuals have borne the Warde surname. One such figure was Sir Thomas Warde (c. 1490-1537), an English judge and Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer during the reign of King Henry VIII. Another notable Warde was Samuel Ward (1572-1643), a renowned English puritan minister and a prominent figure in the Anglican Church.

Other notable individuals with the Warde surname include John Warde (1518-1554), an English Protestant martyr who was burned at the stake during the Marian Persecutions under Queen Mary I, and Samuel Ward (1577-1639), a renowned English puritan minister and one of the founders of Harvard College in Massachusetts.

The Warde surname has also been associated with various coats of arms and heraldic symbols, reflecting the family's historical significance and status within English society.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Warde families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Warde 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. Yorkshire leads with 42 Wardes recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.79x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 42 1.79x
Middlesex 29 1.22x
Surrey 22 1.90x
Sussex 22 5.50x
Derbyshire 21 5.66x
Lancashire 20 0.71x
Kent 17 2.10x
Hampshire 11 2.26x
Staffordshire 10 1.25x
Lincolnshire 8 2.11x
Durham 7 0.99x
Warwickshire 6 1.00x
Monmouthshire 5 2.92x
Hertfordshire 4 2.45x
Devon 3 0.61x
Worcestershire 3 0.97x
Angus 2 0.91x
Cheshire 2 0.38x
Nottinghamshire 2 0.63x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.46x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.70x
Cornwall 1 0.37x
Glamorgan 1 0.24x
Gloucestershire 1 0.22x
Lanarkshire 1 0.13x
Oxfordshire 1 0.68x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Dalton Upon Tees in Yorkshire leads with 11 Wardes recorded in 1881 and an index of 6875.00x.

Place Total Index
Dalton Upon Tees 11 6875.00x
Derby St Werburgh 10 46.66x
Aldershot 9 55.28x
Bolsover 9 483.87x
Richmond 9 55.62x
Hackney London 8 6.02x
Gedney 7 451.61x
Whiston 7 319.63x
Firbeck 6 3000.00x
Little Horsted 6 2500.00x
St Pancras London 6 3.14x
Bedwellty 5 16.53x
Birmingham 5 2.51x
Hove 5 28.51x
Islington London 5 2.18x
Westerham 5 267.38x
Brighton 4 4.96x
Harpenden 4 160.64x
Holy Trinity 4 7.08x
Hulme 4 6.81x
Hurstpierpoint 4 180.18x
Pontefract 4 79.05x
Rowley Regis 4 17.94x
Southwark St George Martyr 4 8.39x
Streatham 4 22.74x
Tipton 4 16.33x
Bradford 3 5.28x
Lambeth 3 1.45x
Leeds 3 2.26x
Maidstone 3 12.45x
Openshaw 3 22.78x
Sunderland 3 24.10x
Arbroath 2 27.47x
Chesterfield 2 14.38x
Ealing 2 9.44x
East Retford 2 72.20x
Gorton 2 7.56x
Hastings St Leonards 2 34.07x
Leigh 2 53.19x
Lower Penn 2 714.29x
Macclesfield 2 8.60x
Plymouth St Andrew 2 5.26x
St George Bloomsbury 2 14.71x
St Luke London 2 5.26x
St Marylebone London 2 1.58x
Stockton On Tees 2 5.88x
Sutton 2 74.63x
Tonbridge 2 6.86x
Toxteth Park 2 2.10x
Yalding 2 98.04x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 1 2.43x
Aston 1 0.61x
Badsworth 1 555.56x
Baston 1 158.73x
Bromley 1 8.11x
Camberwell 1 0.66x
Clifton 1 4.26x
Eltham 1 21.10x
Falmouth 1 10.53x
Great Malvern 1 15.48x
Hemsworth 1 74.07x
Herne 1 27.93x
Kensington London 1 0.76x
Leigh 1 94.34x
Lofthouse Cum Carlton 1 34.97x
Manchester 1 0.79x
Monkwearmouth 1 14.81x
Nether Hallam 1 3.15x
North Meols 1 3.63x
Oxford St Michael 1 163.93x
Romsey Infra 1 60.61x
Saddleworth 1 5.52x
Scarborough 1 4.69x
Sevenoaks 1 15.24x
Snydale 1 204.08x
Staindrop 1 93.46x
Swansea Town 1 2.96x
Tormoham 1 4.79x
Uckfield 1 57.47x
Wandsworth 1 4.38x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 16
Elizabeth 7
Eliza 6
Harriet 6
Ann 5
Sarah 5
Annie 4
Catherine 4
Charlotte 4
Caroline 3
Margaret 3
Augusta 2
Edith 2
Ellen 2
Emily 2
Emma 2
Esther 2
Fanny 2
Florence 2
Hannah 2
Harriett 2
Isabella 2
Jane 2
Sarrah 2
Agnes 1
Anastasia 1
Anne 1
Bertha 1
Bridget 1
C. 1
Catharine 1
Clara 1
Eliz. 1
Enley 1
Ethel 1
Evelyn 1
Helda 1
Hester 1
Jennie 1
Katherine 1
Letitia 1
Lizzie 1
Lousia 1
Magt.I. 1
Margret 1
Marian 1
Mariana 1
Marianne 1
Marie 1
Teresa 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 17
George 13
John 9
Henry 7
Charles 6
Edward 5
Thomas 5
Harry 4
Walter 4
James 3
Richard 3
Arthur 2
Edwin 2
Francis 2
Herbert 2
Robert 2
Wm. 2
Albert 1
Alfred 1
Ambrose 1
Augustus 1
Chas 1
Daniel 1
David 1
Eli 1
Fred. 1
Hary 1
Hugh 1
Isaac 1
Lionel 1
Louis 1
Nathan 1
Nathanil 1
Newton 1
Orlando 1
Sidney 1
Sydney 1
Waldemar 1
Wilfrid 1
Willie 1
Willm.Daniel 1

FAQ

Warde surname: questions and answers

How common was the Warde surname in 1881?

In 1881, 247 people were recorded with the Warde surname. That placed it at #11,173 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Warde surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 318 in 2016. That gives Warde a modern rank of #14,159.

What does the Warde surname mean?

A surname derived from the Old English "weard" meaning watchman or guardian.

What does the Warde map show?

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