NameCensus.

UK surname

Rad

A surname indicating a bright, cheery, or joyful disposition.

In the 1881 census there were 2 people recorded with the Rad surname, ranking it #33,721 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 129, ranked #26,270, up from #33,721 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Waltham Forest, Charnwood and Kensington and Chelsea.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Rad is 129 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 6350.0%.

1881 census count

2

Ranked #33,721

Modern count

129

2016, ranked #26,270

Peak year

2016

129 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • Rad had 2 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #33,721 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 129 in 2016, ranked #26,270.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 18 in 1851.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Rad surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Rad surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Rad 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 18 #30,094
1881 historical 2 #33,721
1901 historical 1 #34,548
1997 modern 18 #36,053
1998 modern 15 #36,457
1999 modern 13 #36,693
2000 modern 17 #36,207
2001 modern 13 #36,483
2002 modern 18 #36,067
2003 modern 21 #35,825
2004 modern 24 #35,697
2005 modern 29 #35,431
2006 modern 35 #35,191
2007 modern 46 #34,634
2008 modern 46 #34,759
2009 modern 62 #33,832
2010 modern 90 #31,621
2011 modern 78 #32,819
2012 modern 93 #31,409
2013 modern 101 #30,591
2014 modern 106 #30,030
2015 modern 115 #28,319
2016 modern 129 #26,270

Geography

Back to top

Where Rads are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Waltham Forest, Charnwood, Kensington and Chelsea, Bristol and Barnet. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Waltham Forest 014 Waltham Forest
2 Charnwood 020 Charnwood
3 Kensington and Chelsea 016 Kensington and Chelsea
4 Bristol 001 Bristol, City of
5 Barnet 019 Barnet

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Rad

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Rad

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

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Rad is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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

These residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Rad 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

Rad falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Rad is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
Other Ethnic Group

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

Meaning and origin of Rad

The surname Rad originates from the Slavic regions of Central and Eastern Europe, with roots tracing back to the 9th century AD. It is believed to have derived from the Old Slavic word "rad," meaning "joy" or "happiness." This suggests that the name may have initially been a descriptive nickname given to someone with a cheerful disposition.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Rad can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus, a collection of medieval documents from the Kingdom of Croatia, dating back to the 11th century. In this record, a person named Radoslav Rad is mentioned as a witness to a land transfer.

During the Middle Ages, variations of the name, such as Radić, Radić, and Radić, were common in the Slavic regions of the Balkans and Central Europe. These variants likely emerged due to regional linguistic differences and the influence of different dialects.

In the 14th century, a nobleman named Petar Rad was recorded in the archives of the city of Dubrovnik, which was then an independent city-state on the Adriatic coast. This suggests that the surname had gained some prominence among the nobility of the region.

One notable individual with the surname Rad was Žiško Rad, a Croatian military commander who fought against the Ottoman Empire in the 16th century. He is remembered for his bravery and tactical skills in defending the Croatian territories from Ottoman invasion.

Another significant figure was Blažo Rad, a Croatian poet and writer who lived in the late 18th century. His works, written in the Štokavian dialect, contributed to the development of modern Croatian literature and helped shape the literary language.

In the 19th century, a prominent Czech mathematician and astronomer named Martin Rad made significant contributions to the fields of celestial mechanics and geodesy. He was born in 1813 and served as the director of the Prague Observatory.

A more contemporary figure with the surname Rad was Tadija Rad, a Croatian painter and sculptor who lived from 1894 to 1975. He is known for his expressionist works and for his contributions to the development of modern art in Croatia.

While the surname Rad has its roots in the Slavic regions, it has since spread to various parts of the world due to migration and diaspora communities. However, its origins and historical significance remain firmly rooted in the cultural heritage of Central and Eastern Europe.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Rad families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Rad 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. Lanarkshire leads with 2 Rads recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.91x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 2 15.91x
Buckinghamshire 1 42.55x
Middlesex 1 2.57x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Govan in Lanarkshire leads with 2 Rads recorded in 1881 and an index of 64.31x.

Place Total Index
Govan 2 64.31x
Eton 1 2000.00x
Spitalfields London 1 344.83x

Top male names

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

Name Count
Arthur 1
Frederick 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Rad households.

FAQ

Rad surname: questions and answers

How common was the Rad surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2 people were recorded with the Rad surname. That placed it at #33,721 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Rad surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 129 in 2016. That gives Rad a modern rank of #26,270.

What does the Rad surname mean?

A surname indicating a bright, cheery, or joyful disposition.

What does the Rad map show?

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