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

Folden, 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 Folden surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Folden in America

Folden is the 18561st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Folden surname appeared 1,486 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 Folden.

We can also compare 2010 data for Folden 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 Folden

The surname Folden is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English word "folde," which means "earth" or "land." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived or worked on a particular plot of land or estate.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Folden can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landowners and property holdings in England compiled in 1086 under the orders of William the Conqueror. This document mentions a person named Fulden, which is likely an early spelling variation of the modern surname.

The Folden name was particularly prevalent in the counties of Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire, where it is believed to have originated. Some historians have suggested that the name may also be connected to specific place names, such as Folden Hill in Oxfordshire or Folden Farm in Gloucestershire.

One notable figure bearing the Folden surname was Sir John Folden (1495-1572), a wealthy landowner and member of the English gentry in the 16th century. He served as a Member of Parliament for Oxfordshire and was known for his involvement in local politics and community affairs.

Another individual of note was Elizabeth Folden (1620-1688), a Puritan woman from Gloucestershire who was among the early settlers of the Massachusetts Bay Colony in the 17th century. She is remembered for her contributions to the establishment of the town of Ipswich, Massachusetts.

In the 18th century, a man named William Folden (1725-1801) gained recognition as a skilled clockmaker and watchmaker in London. His timepieces were highly sought after and can be found in various museums and private collections today.

Samuel Folden (1810-1876) was a prominent English architect during the Victorian era, known for his work on several notable buildings, including churches and public buildings in London and the surrounding areas.

Lastly, Sir Arthur Folden (1865-1941) was a British military officer and politician who served in the House of Commons and held various government positions during the early 20th century.

These are just a few examples of notable individuals who bore the Folden surname throughout history, showcasing the name's enduring presence and diverse backgrounds across various fields and time periods.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Folden

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

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 Folden 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 Folden 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 Folden was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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