NameCensus.

UK surname

Reader

An occupational surname referring to a reader, one who interprets texts for others, or a proofreader.

In the 1881 census there were 2,583 people recorded with the Reader surname, ranking it #1,729 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 3,396, ranked #2,006, down from #1,729 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Chilvers Coton and Marden. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Redcar and Cleveland, Selby and Maidstone.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Reader is 3,777 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 31.5%.

1881 census count

2,583

Ranked #1,729

Modern count

3,396

2016, ranked #2,006

Peak year

1999

3,777 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Reader had 2,583 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,729 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 3,396 in 2016, ranked #2,006.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 3,548 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Reader surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Reader surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Reader 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 1,499 #1,919
1861 historical 1,588 #1,796
1881 historical 2,583 #1,729
1891 historical 2,866 #1,656
1901 historical 3,143 #1,784
1911 historical 3,548 #1,474
1997 modern 3,597 #1,797
1998 modern 3,767 #1,787
1999 modern 3,777 #1,797
2000 modern 3,734 #1,803
2001 modern 3,610 #1,827
2002 modern 3,704 #1,828
2003 modern 3,521 #1,879
2004 modern 3,516 #1,881
2005 modern 3,412 #1,904
2006 modern 3,387 #1,918
2007 modern 3,360 #1,960
2008 modern 3,416 #1,943
2009 modern 3,473 #1,958
2010 modern 3,485 #2,002
2011 modern 3,505 #1,958
2012 modern 3,452 #1,955
2013 modern 3,507 #1,961
2014 modern 3,495 #1,975
2015 modern 3,419 #1,998
2016 modern 3,396 #2,006

Geography

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Where Readers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Chilvers Coton, Marden and St John Hackney. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Redcar and Cleveland, Selby, Maidstone, Tunbridge Wells and Sunderland. 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 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 Chilvers Coton Warwickshire
4 Marden Kent
5 St John Hackney London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Redcar and Cleveland 022 Redcar and Cleveland
2 Selby 005 Selby
3 Maidstone 013 Maidstone
4 Tunbridge Wells 014 Tunbridge Wells
5 Sunderland 025 Sunderland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Reader

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Reader

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Reader is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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 concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Reader 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

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

Meaning and origin of Reader

The surname READER originated in medieval England during the 12th century. It was an occupational name derived from the Old English word "rædere," which referred to someone who could read or recite texts aloud, a highly valued skill at a time when literacy rates were low.

The earliest recorded instances of the READER surname can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire and the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire, both dating back to the late 12th century. These early records often spelled the name as "le Redere" or "le Redare," reflecting the Middle English pronunciation.

One of the earliest known bearers of the READER surname was William le Redere, who was mentioned in the Curia Regis Rolls of Bedfordshire in 1214. Another notable figure was Reginald le Redere, a prominent landowner in Warwickshire, whose name appears in the Feet of Fines records from 1268.

During the 13th and 14th centuries, the READER surname was particularly prevalent in the counties of Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, Warwickshire, and Buckinghamshire, suggesting that the name may have originated in these regions. The surname was also found in various forms, such as "Reder," "Redere," and "Redare," reflecting regional dialects and spelling variations.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the READER surname in its modern spelling can be found in the records of the Guild of Corpus Christi in York, where a certain John Reader was listed as a member in 1475.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the READER surname. One such figure was William Reader (c. 1585-1670), an English clergyman and theologian who served as the Master of Peterhouse, Cambridge, and later became the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge.

Another prominent READER was Sir Samuel Reader (1770-1849), a British naval officer who played a crucial role in the Battle of Navarino during the Greek War of Independence in 1827. He received knighthood for his distinguished service.

In the realm of literature, William Tew Reader (1671-1738) was an English dramatist and poet, best known for his plays "The Modish Husband" and "The Millers Tale."

The READER surname has also been associated with several locations in England, such as Reader's Farm in Berkshire and Reader's Green in Cheshire, further highlighting its deep roots in the country's history.

Overall, the surname READER has a rich and diverse history, tracing its origins back to medieval England and reflecting the importance of literacy and education in the development of surnames during that era.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Reader families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Reader 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. Kent leads with 530 Readers recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.16x.

County Total Index
Kent 530 6.16x
Middlesex 387 1.53x
Warwickshire 199 3.13x
Yorkshire 165 0.66x
Essex 150 3.01x
Surrey 147 1.20x
Norfolk 126 3.25x
Lancashire 115 0.38x
Cambridgeshire 101 6.32x
Derbyshire 101 2.56x
Staffordshire 81 0.95x
Northamptonshire 67 2.82x
Suffolk 46 1.50x
Sussex 45 1.06x
Dorset 43 2.60x
Lincolnshire 42 1.04x
Northumberland 28 0.75x
Somerset 25 0.62x
Devon 24 0.46x
Nottinghamshire 22 0.65x
Buckinghamshire 19 1.25x
Worcestershire 16 0.49x
Durham 13 0.17x
Hampshire 11 0.21x
Cornwall 10 0.35x
Leicestershire 10 0.36x
Monmouthshire 10 0.55x
Angus 8 0.34x
Hertfordshire 7 0.40x
Morayshire 7 1.79x
Cheshire 6 0.11x
Gloucestershire 6 0.12x
Oxfordshire 5 0.32x
Pembrokeshire 4 0.50x
Royal Navy 3 1.00x
Shropshire 2 0.09x
Berkshire 1 0.05x
Fife 1 0.07x
Herefordshire 1 0.10x
Kincardineshire 1 0.33x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hackney London in Middlesex leads with 59 Readers recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.17x.

Place Total Index
Hackney London 59 4.17x
Milton In Gravesend 49 37.98x
Marden 44 218.15x
West Ham 42 3.82x
Maidstone 35 13.66x
St Peters 34 85.43x
Chilvers Coton 33 126.20x
Ravensthorpe 32 747.66x
Islington London 30 1.23x
Aston 29 1.66x
Yalding 28 128.85x
Coventry Holy Trinity 25 13.17x
Poplar London 25 5.25x
West Bromwich 24 4.93x
Lewisham 23 5.01x
Camberwell 22 1.37x
Cowpe Lench Newhall Hey 21 65.69x
Shudy Camps 19 659.72x
St Pancras London 19 0.94x
Aylesbury 18 26.65x
Battersea 18 1.94x
Bromley London 18 3.24x
Derby St Werburgh 18 7.90x
Shoreditch London 18 1.65x
Bermondsey 17 2.26x
Birmingham 17 0.80x
Bow London 17 5.30x
Dover St Mary Virgin 17 20.42x
Kensington London 17 1.21x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 17 7.59x
Paddington London 17 1.83x
Brighton 16 1.87x
Horseheath 16 340.43x
Lambeth 16 0.73x
Linton 16 212.20x
Nottingham St Mary 16 1.82x
Nuneaton 16 21.72x
Skipton 16 20.35x
Belper 15 19.60x
Frindsbury 15 46.27x
Chatham 14 5.91x
Dagenham 14 47.27x
St George In East 14 8.16x
Derby St Alkmund 13 10.99x
Dorking 13 15.76x
Fordham 13 126.09x
Gayton Thorpe 13 921.99x
Holy Trinity 13 2.16x
Linton 13 85.64x
Manchester 13 0.97x
Scarborough 13 5.73x
Bedworth 12 25.86x
Clerkenwell London 12 2.02x
Deptford St Paul 12 1.81x
East Ham 12 12.99x
Sheffield 12 1.51x
Tenterden 12 39.55x
Walthamstow 12 6.70x
Walton On Hill 12 7.40x
Yeovil 12 14.55x
Bethnal Green London 11 1.00x
Brenchley 11 35.73x
Broadwinsor 11 101.48x
Chalcombe 11 284.97x
Chigwell 11 23.41x
Folkestone 11 6.59x
Gillingham 11 6.20x
Gravesend 11 15.10x
Leyton Low 11 10.87x
Mile End Old Town 11 2.76x
Sittingbourne 11 16.19x
Barnstaple 10 12.14x
Chelsea London 10 1.32x
Drinkstone 10 250.00x
Litcham 10 143.68x
Rotherhithe 10 3.21x
St Giles In Fields 10 11.50x
Sutton St Mary 10 26.23x
Tonbridge 10 3.22x
Wakefield 10 5.21x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 164
Sarah 88
Elizabeth 85
Eliza 58
Ann 48
Jane 48
Alice 45
Emma 45
Ellen 39
Emily 31
Hannah 30
Annie 29
Florence 26
Harriet 26
Martha 24
Maria 21
Susan 21
Edith 16
Charlotte 15
Rose 15
Fanny 14
Margaret 14
Ada 13
Kate 13
Lucy 13
Caroline 12
Clara 12
Harriett 12
Agnes 10
Minnie 10
Esther 9
Laura 9
Louisa 9
Sophia 9
Selina 8
Anne 7
Ethel 7
Frances 7
Lizzie 7
Lydia 7
Amelia 6
Amy 6
Beatrice 6
Gertrude 6
Ruth 6
Grace 5
Henrietta 5
Jessie 5
Matilda 5
Rosa 5

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 173
John 135
George 91
Thomas 81
Henry 58
James 55
Charles 54
Robert 48
Joseph 47
Arthur 33
Edward 30
Alfred 25
Walter 25
Albert 21
Harry 21
Richard 21
Frederick 20
Samuel 20
Herbert 16
Fred 11
Daniel 10
Ernest 10
Stephen 10
Edwin 9
Frank 8
David 7
Francis 6
Mark 6
Elijah 5
Jonathan 5
Reuben 5
Thos. 5
Benjamin 4
Fredrick 4
Jesse 4
Josiah 4
Percy 4
Tom 4
Amos 3
Christopher 3
Cornelius 3
Edgar 3
Grove 3
Percival 3
Philip 3
Caleb 2
Peter 2
Phillip 2
Reginald 2
Robt. 2

FAQ

Reader surname: questions and answers

How common was the Reader surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,583 people were recorded with the Reader surname. That placed it at #1,729 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Reader surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 3,396 in 2016. That gives Reader a modern rank of #2,006.

What does the Reader surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to a reader, one who interprets texts for others, or a proofreader.

What does the Reader map show?

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