Find out how popular the last name Arden is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Arden.

Arden, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Arden surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Arden in America

Arden is the 13933rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Arden surname appeared 2,167 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Arden.

We can also compare 2010 data for Arden to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Arden

The surname Arden originated in England, with roots dating back to the Anglo-Saxon era. The name is derived from the Old English words "ardern" or "arenden," which referred to areas of arable or cultivated land. It is believed to have originally been a topographic name, given to families who lived or worked on such fertile lands.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Arden can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears in various spellings such as "Ardern" and "Arderne." These entries are found in counties like Warwickshire, Cheshire, and Shropshire, suggesting that the name was particularly prevalent in the Midlands and the northwest regions of England.

One of the earliest notable bearers of the name was Sir Robert Arden, a prominent landowner in Warwickshire during the late 15th century. His descendants included the famous playwright William Shakespeare, whose mother, Mary Arden, was a member of the well-established Arden family.

Another notable figure was Reverend John Arden (1506-1563), an English Protestant reformer and chaplain to King Henry VIII. He played a crucial role in the English Reformation and was known for his fiery sermons against the Catholic Church.

In the 17th century, Richard Arden (1608-1692) gained recognition as a prominent English Puritan minister and author. He served as the rector of Stratford-upon-Avon and was known for his scholarly works on religious subjects.

The name Arden also has ties to place names in various parts of England. For instance, the Forest of Arden, a former royal forest situated in Warwickshire, is believed to have derived its name from the Old English word "ardern." Similarly, the village of Arden in Cheshire and the town of Ardentown in Buckinghamshire may have originated from the same root.

Over time, the name Arden has undergone various spelling variations, including Arderne, Ardern, Ardren, and Ardron. These variations were often influenced by regional dialects and scribal errors in historical records.

Throughout history, the surname Arden has been associated with individuals from diverse backgrounds, ranging from landowners and clergymen to authors and playwrights. Its enduring presence in England and its connections to places and historical figures make it a notable surname with a rich heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Arden

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Arden.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Arden was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Arden has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Arden was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Arden, please contact us.

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