NameCensus.

UK surname

Ralls

Derived from a place name meaning "rye hill" in Old English, referring to someone who lived near such a hill.

In the 1881 census there were 134 people recorded with the Ralls surname, ranking it #16,602 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 298, ranked #14,801, up from #16,602 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Edmonton, Glastonbury St Benedict and St John, Street and Wimbledon. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Devon, Merthyr Tydfil and Rushmoor.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ralls is 320 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 122.4%.

1881 census count

134

Ranked #16,602

Modern count

298

2016, ranked #14,801

Peak year

1999

320 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Ralls had 134 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #16,602 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 298 in 2016, ranked #14,801.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 252 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Ralls surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Ralls surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Ralls 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 76 #20,127
1861 historical 141 #16,072
1881 historical 134 #16,602
1891 historical 202 #14,808
1901 historical 213 #14,563
1911 historical 252 #12,834
1997 modern 271 #14,486
1998 modern 307 #13,690
1999 modern 320 #13,398
2000 modern 311 #13,588
2001 modern 308 #13,519
2002 modern 315 #13,561
2003 modern 313 #13,443
2004 modern 306 #13,720
2005 modern 306 #13,657
2006 modern 294 #14,092
2007 modern 294 #14,241
2008 modern 282 #14,748
2009 modern 289 #14,809
2010 modern 303 #14,626
2011 modern 286 #15,091
2012 modern 295 #14,670
2013 modern 305 #14,577
2014 modern 311 #14,464
2015 modern 301 #14,727
2016 modern 298 #14,801

Geography

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Where Ralls' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Edmonton, Glastonbury St Benedict and St John, Street, Wimbledon, Somerton and Semley. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Devon, Merthyr Tydfil, Rushmoor and Winchester. 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 Edmonton Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
2 Glastonbury St Benedict and St John, Street Somerset
3 Wimbledon Surrey
4 Somerton Somerset
5 Semley Wiltshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Devon 011 East Devon
2 East Devon 008 East Devon
3 Merthyr Tydfil 004 Merthyr Tydfil
4 Rushmoor 012 Rushmoor
5 Winchester 014 Winchester

Forenames

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First names often paired with Ralls

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Ralls

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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Ralls surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Ralls household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Ralls is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Ralls is most concentrated in decile 5 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Ralls falls in decile 9 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.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Ralls

The surname Ralls is of English origin, with its roots traced back to the early 13th century in the northern counties of England. The name is believed to have derived from the Old English word 'ralles,' which referred to a strip of land or a boundary between two properties.

The earliest recorded instance of the name Ralls can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where it appeared as 'Ralles.' This document was a survey of landowners in England commissioned by King Edward I. The name was also mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1301, indicating that the Ralls family had established itself in the region.

During the medieval period, the name Ralls was closely associated with the village of Ralls Green in Staffordshire. This village was mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086 as 'Ralles,' suggesting that the name had already been established in the area by that time.

One of the earliest known bearers of the surname was Sir John Ralls, who lived in the 14th century and was a prominent landowner in Northumberland. Another notable figure was William Ralls (c. 1540-1602), a merchant and ship owner from Bristol, who played a significant role in establishing trade routes with the Americas.

In the 17th century, the Ralls family spread to various parts of England, with some members settling in London. One of the most renowned individuals from this period was Sir Benjamin Ralls (1642-1723), a successful businessman and philanthropist who became Lord Mayor of London in 1700.

As the British Empire expanded, the Ralls name also traveled to other parts of the world. Captain James Ralls (1768-1842) was a naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars and later became a prominent figure in the early settlement of Australia.

Another notable bearer of the name was the explorer and naturalist William Ralls (1820-1892), who led several expeditions to South America and made significant contributions to the study of botany and zoology.

Throughout its history, the Ralls surname has been associated with various occupations, including landowners, merchants, military personnel, and explorers. While the name has undergone some variations in spelling, such as Rawles and Rawlls, it has retained its distinct identity and continues to be a part of the rich tapestry of English surnames.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Ralls families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Ralls 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. Somerset leads with 51 Ralls' recorded in 1881 and an index of 22.72x.

County Total Index
Somerset 51 22.72x
Dorset 22 24.04x
Glamorgan 15 6.18x
Hampshire 12 4.20x
Surrey 11 1.62x
Channel Islands 9 21.78x
Wiltshire 9 7.30x
Middlesex 8 0.57x
Gloucestershire 4 1.46x
Oxfordshire 1 1.16x
Staffordshire 1 0.21x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Portsea in Hampshire leads with 11 Ralls' recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.63x.

Place Total Index
Portsea 11 19.63x
Bradpole 10 1333.33x
Semley 9 2727.27x
Somerton 9 978.26x
Bridgewater 8 131.36x
Edmonton 8 71.17x
North Curry 8 1052.63x
St Peter Port 8 104.58x
Baltonsborough 6 1764.71x
Clapham 6 34.40x
Hatch Beauchamp 6 3529.41x
Llanwonno 6 68.73x
Cardiff St John 5 63.05x
Croydon 5 13.26x
Tickenham 5 3125.00x
Wareham Lady St Mary 5 704.23x
Aberdare 4 24.00x
Chard 4 147.06x
Creech St Michael 4 714.29x
Dursley 4 357.14x
Walditch 4 4444.44x
West Lulworth 2 1250.00x
Blandford Forum 1 55.25x
Clevedon 1 42.92x
Portsmouth 1 15.20x
Sedgley 1 5.72x
St Maryde Castro 1 98.04x
Upper Heyford 1 555.56x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 13
Elizabeth 5
Ann 3
Jane 3
Mabel 3
Adelaide 2
Charlotte 2
Ellen 2
Emily 2
Emma 2
Kate 2
Louisa 2
Sarah 2
Alice 1
Amy 1
Annie 1
Bertha 1
Bessy 1
Clara 1
Eeanor 1
Esther 1
Ethel 1
Flora 1
Florence 1
Frances 1
Gertrude 1
Harriet 1
Ida 1
Isabella 1
Julia 1
Livey 1
Lucy 1
Margaret 1
Martha 1
Nellie 1
Selina 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 17
George 5
John 5
Thomas 5
Henry 4
James 4
Walter 4
Arthur 3
Ernest 3
Joseph 3
Richard 3
Alfred 2
Charles 2
Frederick 2
Orlando 2
Abraham 1
Albert 1
Beadon 1
Earnest 1
Ebor.S.J. 1
Edgar 1
Edmund 1
Everard 1
Gabriel 1
Harry 1
Hugh 1
Samuel 1
Willie 1

FAQ

Ralls surname: questions and answers

How common was the Ralls surname in 1881?

In 1881, 134 people were recorded with the Ralls surname. That placed it at #16,602 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Ralls surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 298 in 2016. That gives Ralls a modern rank of #14,801.

What does the Ralls surname mean?

Derived from a place name meaning "rye hill" in Old English, referring to someone who lived near such a hill.

What does the Ralls map show?

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