UK surname

Randon

A topographic surname likely derived from the French word "randonner" meaning wandering or rambling.

In the 1881 census there were 96 people recorded with the Randon surname, ranking it #20,248 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 116, ranked #28,197, down from #20,248 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Harborne, Ibstock and Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North West Leicestershire, Charnwood and Hinckley and Bosworth.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Randon is 148 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 20.8%.

1881 census count

Ranked #20,248

Modern count

116

2016, ranked #28,197

Peak year

1911

148 bearers

Map years

1861 to 2016

Key insights

• Randon had 96 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #20,248 surname in that year.
• The latest modern count shown here is 116 in 2016, ranked #28,197.
• Within the historical census years, the highest count was 148 in 1911.
• The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Suburban Professionals.

Map

Randon surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Randon surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Year

Loading map

Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Randon 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	72	#20,720
1861	historical	134	#16,754
1881	historical	96	#20,248
1891	historical	132	#19,976
1901	historical	79	#25,363
1911	historical	148	#18,023
1997	modern	120	#24,158
1998	modern	118	#25,041
1999	modern	114	#25,766
2000	modern	115	#25,591
2001	modern	111	#25,767
2002	modern	112	#26,165
2003	modern	112	#25,948
2004	modern	114	#25,870
2005	modern	114	#25,837
2006	modern	117	#25,695
2007	modern	119	#25,747
2008	modern	120	#25,922
2009	modern	124	#25,957
2010	modern	122	#26,876
2011	modern	120	#26,930
2012	modern	119	#27,100
2013	modern	126	#26,585
2014	modern	126	#26,781
2015	modern	118	#27,833
2016	modern	116	#28,197

Geography

Where Randons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Harborne, Ibstock, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, Hathern and Halesowen (all except Hunnington, Romsley; partly in Halesowen, Worcestershire). These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North West Leicestershire, Charnwood, Hinckley and Bosworth, Horsham and Leeds. 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	Harborne	Worcestershire
2	Ibstock	Leicestershire
3	Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard	Nottinghamshire
4	Hathern	Leicestershire
5	Halesowen (all except Hunnington, Romsley; partly in Halesowen, Worcestershire)	Staffordshire

Top modern areas

Rank	Area	District
1	North West Leicestershire 001	North West Leicestershire
2	Charnwood 016	Charnwood
3	Hinckley and Bosworth 008	Hinckley and Bosworth
4	Horsham 002	Horsham
5	Leeds 090	Leeds

Forenames

First names often paired with Randon

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

Historical female names

Mary Sarah Elizabeth Ann Alice Charlotte Edith Fanny Emma Harriet

Historical male names

William George John Thomas Charles Henry James Frederick Joseph Albert

Recent female names

Julie Janet Sarah Susan Constance Patricia Irene Louise Veronica Morag

Recent male names

Adam Michael Spencer Keith Simon Nicholas Duncan Richard Thomas Daniel

Modern profile

Neighbourhood profile for Randon

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

Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals

Group

Suburban Professionals

Nationally, the Randon surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Suburban Professionals, within Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals. This does not mean every Randon household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Employment in this Group is typically in managerial and professional occupations, and education to degree level is common. Residents are typically of working age, many of whom identify with an Indian ethnicity. Households are unlikely to be of Mixed or Multiple ethnicities, and English is not the main language used in some households. This Group is found on the outskirts of most conurbations as well as in the suburbs of some free-standing towns.

Wider pattern

Those working within the managerial, professional and administrative occupations typically reflect a wide range of ethnic groups, and reside in detached or semi-detached housing. Their residential locations at the edges of cities and conurbations and car-based lifestyles are more characteristic of Supergroup membership than birthplace or participation in child-rearing. Houses are typically owner-occupied and marriage rates are lower than the national average. This Supergroup is found throughout suburban UK.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles

Group

Inner London Working Professionals

Within London, Randon is most associated with areas classed as Inner London Working Professionals, part of Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles. 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 primarily Inner London neighbourhoods are more densely populated than the Supergroup average. Residents have a younger over-all age profile than the Supergroup as a whole, and are less likely to be owner occupiers. Full time employment is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup and multiple car ownership is uncommon. Chinese and non-EU-born European migrants are less in evidence than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

These neighbourhoods house people of all ages, predominantly of White British or European extraction. Resident turnover is low. Religious affiliation is less common than average and tends to be Christian if expressed. Homeownership, typically of terraced houses, is common but use of the social rented sector is not. Employment is typically in professional, managerial and associate professional or technical occupations. There are few full-time students. Level 4 qualifications are common. More households lack dependent children than have them which, considered alongside low levels of crowding and over-all age structure, indicates that many households may be post child-rearing and in late middle age. Incidence of disability is low, as is residence in communal establishments.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Randon is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Randon falls in decile 10 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.

More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Randon is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate: White - British

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

Origin

Meaning and origin of Randon

The surname Randon originated in France, likely emerging during the medieval period between the 5th and 15th centuries. It is derived from the Old French word "randon," meaning "impetuous" or "hasty." This suggests the name may have initially been given as a nickname to someone with an impulsive or hasty nature.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Randon name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire, England, dating back to 1194. These records mention a William Randon, indicating that the surname had already spread beyond France by the late 12th century.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various charters and records across France and England. For example, a Stephanus Randon was mentioned in the Cartulary of Guisborough Priory in Yorkshire, England, around 1260.

During the 14th century, the Randon surname gained prominence in the region of Auvergne, France. Records from this time mention a Jean Randon, a nobleman who served as the Lord of Pouzol in the late 1300s.

In the 15th century, the Randon family established itself in the town of Aigueperse, located in the historical province of Auvergne. This branch of the Randon family produced several notable individuals, including Jacques Randon (1470-1542), a renowned scholar and theologian who served as the Bishop of Clermont.

Another prominent figure with the Randon surname was Armand Randon (1568-1625), a French military commander who fought in the Wars of Religion and later served as the Governor of Cherbourg.

In the 17th century, the Randon name appeared in various records across Europe, including the Netherlands and Germany. One notable individual from this period was Johannes Randon (1620-1692), a Dutch painter known for his landscapes and still-life works.

As the Randon surname spread throughout Europe, it also found its way to the British Isles. In the 18th century, records show a John Randon (1712-1780) who served as a Member of Parliament for Shaftesbury in England.

Moving into the 19th century, the Randon surname gained recognition in the field of military service. Auguste Randon (1795-1876) was a French general who served in the Napoleonic Wars and later became the Governor-General of Algeria.

Overall, the surname Randon has a rich history spanning multiple countries and centuries, with its origins rooted in medieval France and its meaning tied to the notion of impulsiveness or haste.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Randon families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Randon 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. Leicestershire leads with 72 Randons recorded in 1881 and an index of 69.36x.

County	Total	Frequency	Index
Leicestershire	72	0.02%	69.36x
Staffordshire	13	0.00%	4.11x
Durham	6	0.00%	2.15x
Middlesex	3	0.00%	0.32x
Kent	1	0.00%	0.31x
Northamptonshire	1	0.00%	1.14x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hathern in Leicestershire leads with 64 Randons recorded in 1881 and an index of 15238.10x.

Place	Total	Frequency	Index
Hathern	64	4.88%	15238.10x
Harborne	7	0.02%	69.10x
Handsworth	6	0.02%	77.02x
Kirkby Mallory Earl	6	0.39%	1200.00x
South Shields	6	0.08%	241.94x
Paddington London	2	0.00%	5.81x
Barwell	1	0.06%	181.82x
Leicester St Margaret	1	0.00%	3.95x
Lewisham	1	0.00%	5.87x
Peterborough Minster Close	1	0.36%	1111.11x
Westminster St James	1	0.00%	10.38x

Top female names

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

Name	Count
Mary	9
Elizabeth	7
Sarah	7
Ann	2
Charlotte	2
Clara	2
Edith	2
Emily	2
Fanny	2
Jane	2
Ada	1
Agnes	1
Alice	1
Eliza	1
Emma	1
Esther	1
Florence	1
Lilly	1
Lucy	1
Maria	1
Martha	1
Maryann	1
May	1
Rosetta	1

Top male names

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

Name	Count
William	7
George	6
Charles	3
Henry	3
John	3
Albert	2
Arthur	2
Edwin	2
Frederic	2
Frederick	2
Thomas	2
Alfred	1
Claude	1
Edward	1
Ernest	1
Francis	1
Harriet	1
Herbert	1
Joseph	1
Oswald	1
Samuel	1
Walter	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 Randon households.

Occupation	Count
Scholar	30
Frameworknitter Worsted	10
Framework Knitter (Worsted)	7
Framework Knitter (Cotton)	2
Framework Knitter (Worsted Silk)	2
Servant	2
Annuitant	1
Butler Domestic Serv	1
Charwoman	1
Cook Domestic Serv	1
Domestic House Work	1
Domestic Serv	1
Domestic Work	1
Dressmaker	1
Equestrian	1
Framework Knitter (Silk)	1
Frameworknitter (Out Of Employment)	1
Frameworknitter Silk	1
Gas ... Unemployed	1
Glass Worker	1
Gold Engraver (Arts)	1
Grocer Hosiery Post Master	1
Labourer In Iron Works	1
Moulder (Iron)	1
Moulder Apprentice (Iron)	1
Proffessional Cricketer	1
Seamer	1
Seamer (Hosy)	1
Serv	1
Shoe Finisher	1
Steam Ribbed Hand (Worsted) (Hosy Mf)	1
Wife	1
Winder Worsted (Hosry)	1

FAQ

Randon surname: questions and answers

How common was the Randon surname in 1881?

In 1881, 96 people were recorded with the Randon surname. That placed it at #20,248 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Randon surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 116 in 2016. That gives Randon a modern rank of #28,197.

What does the Randon surname mean?