NameCensus.

UK surname

Randles

A locational surname derived from Randalstown in County Antrim, Northern Ireland, or Randal's Wyke in Lancashire, England.

In the 1881 census there were 676 people recorded with the Randles surname, ranking it #5,331 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,561, ranked #3,970, up from #5,331 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Gresford, Shrewsbury St Alkmond, St Julian, St Mary (pt), Meole Brace and Toxteth Park. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wrexham, Shropshire and Wirral.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Randles is 1,581 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 130.9%.

1881 census count

676

Ranked #5,331

Modern count

1,561

2016, ranked #3,970

Peak year

2010

1,581 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Randles had 676 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,331 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,561 in 2016, ranked #3,970.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,176 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Randles surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Randles surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Randles 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 488 #5,116
1861 historical 496 #5,271
1881 historical 676 #5,331
1891 historical 778 #5,157
1901 historical 969 #4,865
1911 historical 1,176 #3,978
1997 modern 1,490 #3,930
1998 modern 1,531 #3,981
1999 modern 1,535 #4,000
2000 modern 1,524 #4,012
2001 modern 1,508 #3,964
2002 modern 1,525 #4,015
2003 modern 1,534 #3,920
2004 modern 1,519 #3,953
2005 modern 1,481 #4,003
2006 modern 1,486 #3,989
2007 modern 1,499 #3,999
2008 modern 1,520 #3,967
2009 modern 1,548 #3,999
2010 modern 1,581 #4,000
2011 modern 1,548 #4,035
2012 modern 1,520 #4,032
2013 modern 1,547 #4,036
2014 modern 1,573 #3,998
2015 modern 1,565 #3,975
2016 modern 1,561 #3,970

Geography

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Where Randles' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Gresford, Shrewsbury St Alkmond, St Julian, St Mary (pt), Meole Brace, Toxteth Park, Runcorn and Liverpool. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wrexham, Shropshire, Wirral, Halton and Wyre. 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 Gresford Denbighshire
2 Shrewsbury St Alkmond, St Julian, St Mary (pt), Meole Brace Shropshire
3 Toxteth Park Lancashire
4 Runcorn Cheshire
5 Liverpool Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wrexham 020 Wrexham
2 Shropshire 026 Shropshire
3 Wirral 011 Wirral
4 Halton 012 Halton
5 Wyre 001 Wyre

Forenames

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First names often paired with Randles

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Randles

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Randles surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Randles household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Randles 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

Randles is most concentrated in decile 3 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Randles falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Randles

The surname Randles is of English origin, emerging in the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English word "rand," meaning border or boundary, and the suffix "-les," indicating a diminutive or small version. This suggests the name may have initially referred to someone living near a small border or boundary area.

Randles is a variant spelling of the more common surname Randall, which has been recorded in various historical documents throughout the centuries. One of the earliest known references is found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where the name appears as "Randel" and "Randulf."

In the 13th century, the name was recorded as "Randel" in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire in 1221. The spelling "Randles" emerged in the 16th century, with records showing a John Randles in the Subsidy Rolls of Staffordshire in 1523.

The name Randles is closely associated with several place names in England, particularly in the counties of Staffordshire, Shropshire, and Cheshire. Examples include Randleswood in Staffordshire and Randles Holme in Cheshire.

Notable individuals with the surname Randles throughout history include:

1. William Marsden Randles (1794-1873), an English artist and engraver known for his landscapes and architectural works.

2. Edith Randles (1884-1957), a British novelist and playwright who wrote under the pen name Edith Henrietta Fowler.

3. Sir John Randles (1903-1994), a British businessman and philanthropist who founded the Randles Trust for children with disabilities.

4. Robert Randles (1738-1820), an English clergyman and author who served as the Rector of Dodington in Somerset.

5. Thomas Randles (1684-1753), an English mathematician and astronomer who made significant contributions to the field of celestial mechanics.

The surname Randles has a rich history dating back to medieval England, with its origins rooted in Old English vocabulary and geographic locations. While variations in spelling have occurred over time, the name has maintained a presence throughout the centuries, carried by individuals across various professions and disciplines.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Randles families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Randles 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. Lancashire leads with 152 Randles' recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.94x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 152 1.94x
Cheshire 147 10.10x
Shropshire 93 16.32x
Denbighshire 91 36.53x
Staffordshire 85 3.82x
Warwickshire 29 1.74x
Derbyshire 15 1.45x
Middlesex 15 0.23x
Surrey 11 0.34x
Flintshire 7 3.95x
Lanarkshire 7 0.33x
Sussex 6 0.54x
Yorkshire 5 0.08x
Leicestershire 4 0.55x
Herefordshire 2 0.74x
Renfrewshire 2 0.39x
Somerset 2 0.19x
Berkshire 1 0.20x
Montgomeryshire 1 0.66x
Stirlingshire 1 0.41x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Allington in Denbighshire leads with 30 Randles' recorded in 1881 and an index of 1612.90x.

Place Total Index
Allington 30 1612.90x
Liverpool 25 5.26x
Aston 23 5.02x
Birkenhead 22 18.96x
Bootle Cum Linacre 22 35.40x
Everton 20 8.02x
Gresford 20 843.88x
Chester St Mary On Hill 14 112.09x
Shrewsbury St Mary 14 62.28x
Chester St John Baptist 12 45.87x
Stoke Upon Trent 12 5.08x
Beard Ollerset Whitle 11 162.00x
Chorlton 11 1279.07x
Shrewsbury St Alkmond 11 348.10x
Ruabon 10 29.20x
Warrington 10 10.78x
Runcorn 9 26.82x
Toxteth Park 9 3.40x
Tranmere 9 16.82x
Whittington 9 188.68x
Widnes 9 15.95x
Hurdsfield 8 89.29x
Oswestry Town 8 43.86x
Trentham 8 42.26x
West Derby 8 3.49x
Broughton In Salford 7 9.78x
Gresford Gwersyllt 7 90.56x
Hapsford 7 4117.65x
Hulme 7 4.29x
Lilleshall 7 80.37x
New Monkland 7 11.10x
Whitby 7 208.33x
Wolstanton 7 10.36x
Burslem 6 9.41x
Camberwell 6 1.42x
Keymer 6 76.43x
Monks Coppenhall 6 10.92x
Newcastle Under Lyme 6 15.23x
Oxton 6 72.90x
Pontesbury 6 86.58x
Salford 6 2.61x
Selattyn 6 232.56x
Smallthorne 6 72.64x
Westminster St James 6 8.85x
Wrexham Regis 6 32.43x
Acton 5 666.67x
Ashley 5 274.73x
Ashton On Mersey 5 66.40x
Bermondsey 5 2.55x
Burwardsley 5 495.05x
Chebsey 5 438.60x
Chester Holy Trinity 5 73.31x
Chester St Oswald 5 18.97x
Islington London 5 0.78x
Shrewsbury St Julian 5 35.49x
Walton On Hill 5 11.80x
Birmingham 4 0.72x
Drayton In Hales 4 34.07x
Ellesmere Penley 4 579.71x
Garston 4 17.32x
Great Bolton 4 3.86x
Great Boughton 4 79.68x
Helsby 4 218.58x
Kingsley 4 147.60x
Leicester St Mary 4 6.77x
Madeley 4 72.07x
Shrewsbury St Chad 4 20.01x
St Martin 4 62.79x
Swynnerton 4 228.57x
Weston In Runcorn 4 105.82x
Eyton Royton 3 434.78x
Frodsham 3 53.19x
Hunslet 3 2.94x
Kirkdale 3 2.28x
Madeley 3 14.36x
Meole Brace 3 101.69x
Westbury 3 102.04x
Whitgreave 3 882.35x
Gresford Marford 2 281.69x
Leeds 2 0.54x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 53
Sarah 39
Ann 22
Elizabeth 18
Ellen 12
Jane 12
Alice 10
Eliza 10
Hannah 10
Margaret 10
Annie 9
Emma 7
Martha 7
Charlotte 5
Harriet 5
Catherine 4
Edith 4
Elizth. 4
Margt. 4
Maria 4
Anne 3
Harriett 3
Kate 3
Rose 3
Caroline 2
Elth. 2
Florence 2
Gertrude 2
Isabella 2
Pheobe 2
Susan 2
Aliss 1
Amelia 1
Amy 1
Barbara 1
Betsy 1
Catherene 1
Debroah 1
Diana 1
Eleanor 1
Eliz. 1
Elizeth 1
Elizth.S. 1
Ellinor 1
Georgina 1
Harriette 1
Henrietta 1
J. 1
Katherine 1
Lavinia 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 58
William 55
Thomas 31
Edward 26
James 26
George 18
Joseph 14
Robert 12
Charles 11
Henry 9
Richard 7
Hugh 6
Albert 5
Frederick 4
Samuel 4
Arthur 3
Fred 3
Philip 3
Edwd. 2
Edwin 2
Ernest 2
Peter 2
Walter 2
Willm. 2
Chas 1
Chas. 1
Earnest 1
Edmund 1
Ephraim 1
Frank 1
Geo. 1
Geoe. 1
Gorge 1
Herbert 1
Hubert 1
Jabez 1
Jesse 1
Johnathan 1
Leonel 1
Marshall 1
Moses 1
Paul 1
Percy 1
Ralph 1
Reginald 1
Richd. 1
Sarah 1
Silas 1
Stephen 1
Wm.Sumner 1

FAQ

Randles surname: questions and answers

How common was the Randles surname in 1881?

In 1881, 676 people were recorded with the Randles surname. That placed it at #5,331 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Randles surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,561 in 2016. That gives Randles a modern rank of #3,970.

What does the Randles surname mean?

A locational surname derived from Randalstown in County Antrim, Northern Ireland, or Randal's Wyke in Lancashire, England.

What does the Randles map show?

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