NameCensus.

UK surname

Rathbone

An English locational surname derived from a place name meaning "fort on a hill" in Old English.

In the 1881 census there were 1,662 people recorded with the Rathbone surname, ranking it #2,585 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,451, ranked #2,688, down from #2,585 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Prestbury, Wolstanton and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wigan, Cheshire West and Chester and Stratford-on-Avon.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Rathbone is 2,570 in 2011. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 47.5%.

1881 census count

1,662

Ranked #2,585

Modern count

2,451

2016, ranked #2,688

Peak year

2011

2,570 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Rathbone had 1,662 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,585 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,451 in 2016, ranked #2,688.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,290 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Rathbone surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Rathbone surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Rathbone 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 998 #2,802
1861 historical 914 #3,030
1881 historical 1,662 #2,585
1891 historical 1,750 #2,607
1901 historical 2,049 #2,614
1911 historical 2,290 #2,213
1997 modern 2,346 #2,662
1998 modern 2,498 #2,619
1999 modern 2,551 #2,578
2000 modern 2,541 #2,575
2001 modern 2,482 #2,580
2002 modern 2,542 #2,575
2003 modern 2,472 #2,590
2004 modern 2,470 #2,596
2005 modern 2,399 #2,636
2006 modern 2,371 #2,655
2007 modern 2,401 #2,656
2008 modern 2,436 #2,637
2009 modern 2,504 #2,639
2010 modern 2,564 #2,640
2011 modern 2,570 #2,605
2012 modern 2,500 #2,621
2013 modern 2,522 #2,643
2014 modern 2,521 #2,656
2015 modern 2,479 #2,671
2016 modern 2,451 #2,688

Geography

Back to top

Where Rathbones are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Prestbury, Wolstanton, London parishes, Toxteth Park and Great Budworth (Witton with Twambrook), Davenham (Leftwich). These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wigan, Cheshire West and Chester, Stratford-on-Avon, Blaby and Rugby. 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 Prestbury Cheshire
2 Wolstanton Staffordshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Toxteth Park Lancashire
5 Great Budworth (Witton with Twambrook), Davenham (Leftwich) Cheshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wigan 038 Wigan
2 Cheshire West and Chester 012 Cheshire West and Chester
3 Stratford-on-Avon 004 Stratford-on-Avon
4 Blaby 010 Blaby
5 Rugby 001 Rugby

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Rathbone

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Rathbone

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Rathbone, 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 Rathbone surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Rathbone 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, Rathbone 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

Rathbone 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

Rathbone 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 Rathbone 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 Rathbone, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Rathbone

The surname RATHBONE is of English origin, tracing its roots back to the 13th century. It is a locational name, derived from the town of Ratburnholme in Westmorland, now known as Cumbria. The name is believed to have evolved from the Old English words "rata" meaning "ram" and "burna" meaning "stream," suggesting a connection to a stream frequented by rams.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Lancashire in 1332, where it appears as Rathbondesone. This spelling variation highlights the transition from a descriptive phrase to a more consolidated surname.

The RATHBONE name has been present in various historical records throughout the centuries. In the Hearth Tax Rolls of Cheshire in 1674, several families bearing the name were listed, indicating their presence in the region.

Notable individuals bearing the RATHBONE surname include:

1. John RATHBONE (1554-1626), an English merchant and one of the founders of the Rathbone Brothers, a prominent trading company based in Liverpool.

2. William RATHBONE VI (1819-1902), a British industrialist, philanthropist, and social reformer, known for his efforts in improving working conditions and education for the underprivileged.

3. Basil RATHBONE (1892-1967), a renowned English actor best remembered for his portrayal of Sherlock Holmes in numerous films and radio plays.

4. Eleanor RATHBONE (1872-1946), a British politician and social reformer, who campaigned for women's rights and family allowances, and was one of the first women to be elected to the British Parliament.

5. Woodbine PARISH RATHBONE (1856-1939), an English artist and illustrator, known for his intricate drawings and etchings depicting scenes from Shakespeare's plays.

The RATHBONE name has also been associated with various place names throughout England, such as Rathbone Place in London, and Rathbone Road in Withington, Manchester, further cementing its historical and geographical connections.

While the RATHBONE surname may have evolved over time, its origins remain deeply rooted in the English countryside, reflecting the rich tapestry of language, geography, and personal histories that have shaped many family names throughout the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Rathbone families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Rathbone 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 349 Rathbones recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.81x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 349 1.81x
Cheshire 335 9.35x
Warwickshire 250 6.11x
Staffordshire 242 4.42x
Middlesex 78 0.48x
Surrey 69 0.87x
Yorkshire 57 0.35x
Durham 39 0.81x
Derbyshire 29 1.14x
Worcestershire 28 1.32x
Northamptonshire 25 1.64x
Oxfordshire 22 2.19x
Flintshire 20 4.58x
Shropshire 20 1.43x
Sussex 12 0.44x
Denbighshire 9 1.47x
Lanarkshire 9 0.17x
Somerset 9 0.34x
Gloucestershire 7 0.22x
Midlothian 7 0.32x
Leicestershire 5 0.28x
Kent 4 0.07x
Brecknockshire 3 0.92x
Buckinghamshire 3 0.31x
Dorset 3 0.28x
Dunbartonshire 3 0.69x
Caernarfonshire 2 0.30x
Cornwall 2 0.11x
Devon 2 0.06x
Essex 2 0.06x
Fife 2 0.21x
Glamorgan 2 0.07x
Hampshire 2 0.06x
Northumberland 2 0.08x
Anglesey 1 0.35x
Angus 1 0.07x
Bedfordshire 1 0.12x
Berkshire 1 0.08x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.10x
Isle of Man 1 0.33x
Lincolnshire 1 0.04x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.05x
Royal Navy 1 0.52x
West Lothian 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. Stoke Upon Trent in Staffordshire leads with 53 Rathbones recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.12x.

Place Total Index
Stoke Upon Trent 53 9.12x
Macclesfield 48 30.14x
Aston 41 3.64x
Wolstanton 41 24.64x
Birmingham 34 2.49x
Warrington 32 14.01x
Leamington Priors 31 30.78x
Droylsden 27 42.97x
Walsall Foreign 24 8.48x
Widnes 24 17.28x
Burslem 23 14.65x
Chorlton On Medlock 23 7.52x
Leeds 23 2.53x
Toxteth Park 22 3.37x
Exhall 20 322.06x
Bishopwearmouth 19 4.58x
Manchester 19 2.19x
Lambeth 16 1.13x
Oldbury 16 15.34x
Wolverhampton 16 3.80x
Delamere 15 465.84x
Heswall Cum Oldfield 15 303.64x
Monks Coppenhall 15 11.09x
Runcorn 15 18.16x
Northampton St Sepulchre 14 18.03x
Rudheath 14 496.45x
Salford 14 2.47x
West Derby 14 2.48x
Witton Cum Twambrooks 14 43.90x
Newington 13 2.17x
Rugby 12 21.67x
Stretton On Dunsmore 12 320.86x
Garston 11 19.35x
Handsworth 11 8.15x
Hoole 11 81.18x
Liverpool 11 0.94x
Sheffield 11 2.15x
Ashton Under Lyne 10 2.38x
Bilston 10 9.42x
Eccleston In Prescot 10 10.34x
Kelsall 10 281.69x
Ryhope 10 29.82x
Southwark St George Martyr 10 3.06x
Sutton In Macclesfield 10 26.90x
Appleton 9 110.84x
Bedminster 9 3.67x
Glossop Dale 9 7.56x
Hackney London 9 0.99x
Kensington London 9 1.00x
Nether Hallam 9 4.14x
Poulton With Fearnhead 9 218.45x
Wavertree 9 14.60x
Wigan 9 3.34x
Ardwick 8 4.60x
Bermondsey 8 1.66x
Churchill 8 284.70x
Dalziel 8 14.17x
Edgbaston 8 6.30x
Hinstock 8 166.32x
Southam 8 80.40x
St George Hanover 8 3.78x
Westleigh 8 18.29x
Bethnal Green London 7 0.99x
Birkenhead 7 2.45x
Blackden 7 886.08x
Burton Dassett 7 193.37x
Camberwell 7 0.68x
Drayton In Hales 7 24.21x
Eddisbury 7 510.95x
Great Bolton 7 2.74x
Hammerwich 7 89.97x
Harborne 7 3.99x
Hillmorton 7 95.89x
Leftwich 7 44.00x
Oldham 7 1.13x
Sedgley 7 3.44x
Streatham 7 5.81x
Stretford 7 6.61x
Tottenham 7 2.71x
Westminster St James 7 4.19x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 111
Sarah 70
Elizabeth 65
Ann 46
Emma 32
Annie 27
Hannah 27
Ellen 24
Jane 23
Martha 23
Alice 21
Eliza 20
Emily 19
Frances 16
Margaret 16
Harriet 14
Charlotte 12
Maria 11
Louisa 10
Ada 9
Amelia 9
Kate 9
Lucy 9
Clara 8
Ruth 8
Edith 7
Fanny 7
Florence 7
Lydia 7
Anne 6
Esther 5
Harriett 5
Isabella 5
Susannah 5
Amy 4
Caroline 4
Elizth. 4
Ethel 4
Lizzie 4
Phoebe 4
Agnes 3
Betsy 3
Catherine 3
Jessie 3
Maud 3
Rachel 3
Rose 3
Beatrice 2
Dinah 2
Matilda 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 110
William 96
Thomas 71
James 59
George 50
Joseph 42
Charles 34
Samuel 29
Henry 28
Edward 14
Robert 14
Alfred 13
Arthur 13
David 9
Harry 9
Peter 8
Richard 8
Albert 6
Edwin 6
Frederick 6
Geo. 6
Philip 6
Thos. 6
Wm. 6
Frank 5
Fred 5
Jabez 5
Herbert 4
Isaac 4
Noah 4
Saml. 4
Walter 4
Andrew 3
Francis 3
Fredk. 3
Jeremiah 3
Job 3
Chas. 2
Christopher 2
Elias 2
Ernest 2
Frederic 2
Harold 2
Jessie 2
Joe 2
Lewis 2
Mark 2
Moses 2
Percy 2
Sampson 2

FAQ

Rathbone surname: questions and answers

How common was the Rathbone surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,662 people were recorded with the Rathbone surname. That placed it at #2,585 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Rathbone surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,451 in 2016. That gives Rathbone a modern rank of #2,688.

What does the Rathbone surname mean?

An English locational surname derived from a place name meaning "fort on a hill" in Old English.

What does the Rathbone map show?

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