NameCensus.

UK surname

Radford

A locational surname denoting someone from any of the places called Radford in England, meaning "red ford."

In the 1881 census there were 5,672 people recorded with the Radford surname, ranking it #776 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 8,256, ranked #794, down from #776 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes and Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bolsover, Ashfield and Kettering.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Radford is 8,721 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 45.6%.

1881 census count

5,672

Ranked #776

Modern count

8,256

2016, ranked #794

Peak year

1999

8,721 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Radford had 5,672 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #776 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 8,256 in 2016, ranked #794.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 8,298 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Radford surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Radford surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Radford 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 3,686 #772
1861 historical 3,790 #742
1881 historical 5,672 #776
1891 historical 6,290 #737
1901 historical 7,296 #749
1911 historical 8,298 #601
1997 modern 8,428 #756
1998 modern 8,642 #766
1999 modern 8,721 #764
2000 modern 8,501 #783
2001 modern 8,339 #778
2002 modern 8,545 #774
2003 modern 8,384 #773
2004 modern 8,334 #778
2005 modern 8,145 #783
2006 modern 8,120 #788
2007 modern 8,137 #795
2008 modern 8,190 #792
2009 modern 8,361 #794
2010 modern 8,506 #796
2011 modern 8,454 #788
2012 modern 8,280 #789
2013 modern 8,417 #788
2014 modern 8,500 #785
2015 modern 8,359 #788
2016 modern 8,256 #794

Geography

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Where Radfords are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard and Bulwell. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bolsover, Ashfield and Kettering. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 London parishes London 1
3 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
4 London parishes London 3
5 Bulwell Nottinghamshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bolsover 007 Bolsover
2 Ashfield 001 Ashfield
3 Ashfield 005 Ashfield
4 Bolsover 008 Bolsover
5 Kettering 005 Kettering

Forenames

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First names often paired with Radford

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Radford

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

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Radford surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Radford 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 comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Radford 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

Radford is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Radford falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Radford

The surname Radford is of English origin, derived from the place name Radford, which means "red ford" or "ford by the red land." The name is found in various locations across England, including Nottinghamshire, Oxfordshire, and Warwickshire.

Radford's earliest recorded appearance dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is listed as Redeforde in Nottinghamshire. This suggests that the name has been in use since the 11th century or earlier.

In the 13th century, the name appears in various records, such as the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where it is written as Radeford and Redeford. During this time, the spelling of the name varied, including Radford, Radforde, and Redforde.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname was William de Radford, who lived in Nottinghamshire in the late 13th century. Another notable person was John Radford, a member of the English Parliament in 1330.

In the 16th century, the name was associated with the Radford family of Radford Hall in Nottinghamshire. This family produced several noteworthy individuals, including Sir Francis Radford (1580-1648), a wealthy landowner and Member of Parliament.

During the 17th century, the surname gained prominence with Lewis Radford (1608-1679), a Puritan clergyman and author, and John Radford (1639-1696), an English mathematician and astronomer.

In the 18th century, one of the most famous individuals with the surname was Thomas Radford (1743-1827), an English architect who designed several notable buildings in Bristol and Bath.

Another notable figure was William Radford (1808-1890), an English artist and engraver known for his etchings of English landscapes and architectural subjects.

The 19th century saw the rise of John Radford (1817-1896), a British Army officer and Victoria Cross recipient for his bravery during the Crimean War.

Throughout history, the surname Radford has been associated with various professions, including clergy, academics, military personnel, and artists, reflecting its diverse origins and the contributions of individuals who bore this name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Radford families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Radford 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. Derbyshire leads with 851 Radfords recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.81x.

County Total Index
Derbyshire 851 9.81x
Nottinghamshire 661 8.85x
Devon 608 5.27x
Middlesex 447 0.81x
Somerset 348 3.90x
Yorkshire 337 0.61x
Lancashire 327 0.50x
Staffordshire 302 1.61x
Surrey 251 0.93x
Warwickshire 220 1.57x
Gloucestershire 212 1.95x
Cambridgeshire 165 4.70x
Hampshire 112 0.99x
Essex 91 0.83x
Glamorgan 81 0.84x
Suffolk 79 1.17x
Leicestershire 78 1.27x
Kent 70 0.37x
Cheshire 59 0.48x
Bedfordshire 39 1.36x
Sussex 39 0.42x
Worcestershire 39 0.54x
Huntingdonshire 29 2.64x
Dorset 28 0.77x
Lincolnshire 26 0.29x
Oxfordshire 26 0.76x
Berkshire 23 0.55x
Monmouthshire 22 0.55x
Durham 15 0.09x
Channel Islands 12 0.73x
Buckinghamshire 10 0.30x
Hertfordshire 10 0.26x
Lanarkshire 9 0.05x
Royal Navy 8 1.21x
Northamptonshire 7 0.13x
Northumberland 7 0.08x
Anglesey 6 0.61x
Renfrewshire 6 0.14x
Caernarfonshire 5 0.22x
Cornwall 3 0.05x
Norfolk 3 0.04x
Shropshire 3 0.06x
Midlothian 2 0.03x
Montgomeryshire 1 0.08x
Roxburghshire 1 0.10x
Wiltshire 1 0.02x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Nottingham St Mary in Nottinghamshire leads with 175 Radfords recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.06x.

Place Total Index
Nottingham St Mary 175 9.06x
Alfreton 102 38.71x
Derby St Werburgh 80 15.97x
Bulwell 79 48.66x
Crich 68 120.14x
Mansfield 65 25.16x
Birmingham 61 1.31x
Aston 53 1.38x
Sutton In Ashfield 52 32.09x
Tiverton 52 26.18x
Derby St Peter 49 17.74x
Islington London 48 0.89x
Hucknall Torkard 46 24.29x
Camberwell 44 1.24x
Derby St Alkmund 44 16.93x
Sheffield 43 2.46x
Mickleover 42 156.77x
Lambeth 41 0.85x
Stoke Upon Trent 41 2.07x
Burton Upon Trent 37 8.46x
Kensington London 37 1.20x
Aston Cum Aughton 35 77.95x
Kentisbeare 35 220.26x
Bristol St George 34 6.77x
Wellington 33 27.29x
Haverhill 32 53.39x
Hulme 32 2.33x
Moss Side 32 9.25x
Hackney London 31 1.00x
Sidmouth 30 45.45x
St Marylebone London 30 1.01x
Weston Super Mare 30 13.32x
Brightside Bierlow 29 2.69x
Bristol St James St Paul 29 8.00x
Broad Clist 29 72.90x
Polesworth 29 43.72x
Clifton 28 5.10x
Ecclesall Bierlow 28 2.51x
Litchurch 27 7.74x
Shoreditch London 27 1.12x
Skegby 27 59.03x
Kingswinford 26 3.83x
Wolverhampton 26 1.81x
Claylane 25 20.73x
Radford 25 6.59x
Swansea Town 25 3.16x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 24 2.35x
Dawlish 24 27.90x
St Ives 24 42.08x
Stapenhill 24 18.59x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 23 4.50x
Wombwell 23 14.37x
Awliscombe 22 217.18x
Portsea 22 0.99x
Wingfield South 22 94.62x
Battersea 21 1.03x
Bristol St Augustine 21 11.98x
Everton 21 1.00x
Manchester 21 0.71x
Silverton 21 87.46x
Uffculme 21 61.12x
Exeter St Sidwell 20 7.57x
Paddington London 20 0.98x
Plymouth St Andrew 20 2.25x
St Pancras London 20 0.45x
Bermondsey 19 1.15x
Stapleton 19 9.22x
Uphill 19 155.36x
Bedminster 18 2.15x
Bethnal Green London 18 0.75x
Bow London 18 2.55x
Chelsea London 18 1.08x
Newark Upon Trent 18 6.71x
Shirland 18 27.75x
Liverpool 17 0.43x
Lullington 17 120.31x
Stoke Damerel 17 2.11x
Taunton St Mary 17 10.39x
Toxteth Park 17 0.76x
Warwick St Mary 16 13.19x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 394
Sarah 241
Elizabeth 199
Ann 121
Eliza 111
Emma 102
Annie 97
Jane 85
Ellen 84
Alice 81
Emily 64
Hannah 56
Harriet 54
Florence 48
Louisa 45
Edith 40
Lucy 36
Martha 36
Fanny 35
Ada 33
Charlotte 33
Kate 32
Margaret 32
Frances 31
Harriett 29
Clara 26
Catherine 25
Agnes 23
Caroline 23
Rebecca 23
Elizth. 21
Anne 18
Maria 18
Susan 17
Amelia 16
Esther 16
Matilda 15
Rose 15
Bessie 13
Jessie 13
Selina 13
Amy 12
Betsy 10
Gertrude 10
Laura 10
Ruth 10
Julia 9
Minnie 9
Bertha 8
Sophia 8

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 377
John 347
George 189
Thomas 172
James 162
Henry 130
Joseph 126
Charles 103
Samuel 79
Alfred 61
Robert 59
Arthur 58
Richard 45
Harry 44
Walter 43
Frederick 41
Albert 40
Herbert 38
Edward 34
Frank 30
Francis 29
Ernest 25
Edwin 23
Wm. 21
Daniel 17
Thos. 16
Stephen 14
Benjamin 13
David 12
Fred 12
Geo. 11
Fredrick 8
Chas. 7
Isaac 7
Leonard 7
Peter 7
Philip 7
Tom 7
Harold 6
Jas. 6
Jesse 6
Christopher 5
Frederic 5
Fredk. 5
Griffin 5
Lewis 5
Mark 5
Matthew 5
Saml. 5
Oliver 4

FAQ

Radford surname: questions and answers

How common was the Radford surname in 1881?

In 1881, 5,672 people were recorded with the Radford surname. That placed it at #776 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Radford surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 8,256 in 2016. That gives Radford a modern rank of #794.

What does the Radford surname mean?

A locational surname denoting someone from any of the places called Radford in England, meaning "red ford."

What does the Radford map show?

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