UK surname
English surname transferred from a Dutch place name meaning "red sand" or "red soil".
In the 1881 census there were 234 people recorded with the Rearden surname, ranking it #11,607 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 81, ranked #32,971, down from #11,607 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St Pancras and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Rearden is 234 in 1881. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 65.4%.
1881 census count
234
Ranked #11,607
Modern count
81
2016, ranked #32,971
Peak year
1881
234 bearers
Map years
5
1851 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Rearden surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Rearden surname density by area, 1881 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 168 | #11,873 |
| 1861 | historical | 158 | #14,644 |
| 1881 | historical | 234 | #11,607 |
| 1891 | historical | 170 | #16,816 |
| 1901 | historical | 99 | #22,999 |
| 1911 | historical | 131 | #19,404 |
| 1997 | modern | 87 | #28,749 |
| 1998 | modern | 87 | #29,240 |
| 1999 | modern | 87 | #29,398 |
| 2000 | modern | 80 | #30,139 |
| 2001 | modern | 78 | #30,168 |
| 2002 | modern | 78 | #30,601 |
| 2003 | modern | 85 | #29,877 |
| 2004 | modern | 86 | #30,019 |
| 2005 | modern | 82 | #30,617 |
| 2006 | modern | 85 | #30,556 |
| 2007 | modern | 85 | #30,954 |
| 2008 | modern | 90 | #30,567 |
| 2009 | modern | 89 | #31,235 |
| 2010 | modern | 85 | #32,185 |
| 2011 | modern | 83 | #32,336 |
| 2012 | modern | 80 | #32,877 |
| 2013 | modern | 82 | #32,903 |
| 2014 | modern | 82 | #32,992 |
| 2015 | modern | 84 | #32,782 |
| 2016 | modern | 81 | #32,971 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St Pancras, Manchester, St Marylebone and Dean. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 2 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| 3 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 4 | St Marylebone | London (North Districts) |
| 5 | Dean | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Rearden surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Rearden, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Rearden surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Rearden household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Rearden is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Rearden is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Rearden, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname REARDEN has its origins in England, tracing back to the Anglo-Saxon period between the 5th and 11th centuries. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "reord," which means "speech" or "discourse." This suggests that the name may have originated as a descriptive nickname for someone who was particularly articulate or eloquent.
The earliest recorded instance of the name REARDEN can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive survey of landholdings in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name is listed as "Reordene," referring to a place name that likely means "the speech valley" or "the valley of discourse."
Throughout the Middle Ages, variations of the name emerged, such as Riordan, Reardon, and Riordan, reflecting the influence of regional dialects and spelling conventions of the time. One notable figure from this era was Sir John Reardon (c. 1350-1420), a knight who served under King Henry IV and fought in the Battle of Shrewsbury during the Welsh Revolt.
In the 16th century, the REARDEN surname gained prominence with the birth of Thomas Rearden (1510-1576), a prominent English lawyer and judge who served as the Chief Justice of the Common Pleas under Queen Elizabeth I. His son, William Rearden (1540-1612), was a renowned scholar and theologian who authored several works on religious philosophy.
During the 17th and 18th centuries, the REARDEN name appeared in various parts of England, including Yorkshire, Gloucestershire, and Oxfordshire. One notable figure was Sir Edward Rearden (1635-1701), a successful merchant and philanthropist who made significant contributions to the development of the city of Bristol.
In the 19th century, the REARDEN surname gained global recognition with the birth of John Rearden (1810-1884), a British explorer and adventurer who gained fame for his expeditions to Africa and the Middle East. His accounts of his travels, published in several books, were widely read and influential at the time.
Another prominent figure with the REARDEN surname was Mary Rearden (1855-1932), an English suffragette and activist who played a significant role in the women's suffrage movement in the early 20th century. Her tireless efforts helped pave the way for women's rights and gender equality in Britain.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Rearden surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lancashire leads with 66 Reardens recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.51x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 66 | 2.51x |
| Middlesex | 48 | 2.17x |
| Yorkshire | 40 | 1.82x |
| Surrey | 25 | 2.32x |
| Kent | 13 | 1.72x |
| Glamorgan | 9 | 2.33x |
| Cheshire | 8 | 1.64x |
| Cumberland | 4 | 2.10x |
| Cornwall | 3 | 1.20x |
| Gloucestershire | 3 | 0.69x |
| Essex | 2 | 0.46x |
| Durham | 1 | 0.15x |
| Lincolnshire | 1 | 0.28x |
| Monmouthshire | 1 | 0.62x |
| Staffordshire | 1 | 0.13x |
| Warwickshire | 1 | 0.18x |
| Worcestershire | 1 | 0.35x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Leeds in Yorkshire leads with 15 Reardens recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.11x.
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Rearden surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Mary | 25 |
| Ellen | 12 |
| Bridget | 7 |
| Ann | 6 |
| Elizabeth | 6 |
| Catherine | 4 |
| Johanna | 4 |
| Julia | 4 |
| Margaret | 4 |
| Eliza | 3 |
| Emily | 3 |
| Jane | 3 |
| Kate | 3 |
| Sarah | 3 |
| Amy | 2 |
| Anne | 2 |
| Emma | 2 |
| Johannah | 2 |
| Susan | 2 |
| Ada | 1 |
| Angelina | 1 |
| Anndra | 1 |
| Caroline | 1 |
| Catharine | 1 |
| Charlotte | 1 |
| Christina | 1 |
| Elina | 1 |
| Hannah | 1 |
| Helen | 1 |
| Mar | 1 |
| Margret | 1 |
| Maud | 1 |
| Maude | 1 |
| Nancy | 1 |
| Rhoda | 1 |
| Roseatta | 1 |
| Susannah | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Rearden surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Rearden households.
FAQ
In 1881, 234 people were recorded with the Rearden surname. That placed it at #11,607 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 81 in 2016. That gives Rearden a modern rank of #32,971.
English surname transferred from a Dutch place name meaning "red sand" or "red soil".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Rearden bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.