NameCensus.

UK surname

Redgrave

A locational surname referring to someone who lived near a red cliff or ravine.

In the 1881 census there were 657 people recorded with the Redgrave surname, ranking it #5,456 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 802, ranked #6,897, down from #5,456 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St John Hackney and Coventry Holy Trinity (incl. Radford), Coventry St Michael, Wyken. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Salford, North Norfolk and Stratford-on-Avon.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Redgrave is 887 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 22.1%.

1881 census count

657

Ranked #5,456

Modern count

802

2016, ranked #6,897

Peak year

1998

887 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Redgrave had 657 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,456 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 802 in 2016, ranked #6,897.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 832 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Redgrave surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Redgrave surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Redgrave 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 404 #5,991
1861 historical 332 #7,673
1881 historical 657 #5,456
1891 historical 642 #6,044
1901 historical 718 #6,149
1911 historical 832 #5,305
1997 modern 858 #6,191
1998 modern 887 #6,231
1999 modern 878 #6,325
2000 modern 862 #6,377
2001 modern 846 #6,359
2002 modern 841 #6,517
2003 modern 818 #6,535
2004 modern 805 #6,634
2005 modern 779 #6,746
2006 modern 771 #6,835
2007 modern 778 #6,851
2008 modern 795 #6,786
2009 modern 815 #6,785
2010 modern 829 #6,826
2011 modern 796 #6,986
2012 modern 777 #7,026
2013 modern 827 #6,765
2014 modern 823 #6,821
2015 modern 802 #6,926
2016 modern 802 #6,897

Geography

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Where Redgraves are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St John Hackney, Coventry Holy Trinity (incl. Radford), Coventry St Michael, Wyken and Kensington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Salford, North Norfolk, Stratford-on-Avon, Wiltshire and South Norfolk. 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 St John Hackney London (North Districts)
4 Coventry Holy Trinity (incl. Radford), Coventry St Michael, Wyken Warwickshire
5 Kensington London (West Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Salford 026 Salford
2 North Norfolk 003 North Norfolk
3 Stratford-on-Avon 004 Stratford-on-Avon
4 Wiltshire 045 Wiltshire
5 South Norfolk 014 South Norfolk

Forenames

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First names often paired with Redgrave

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Redgrave

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Redgrave is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Redgrave 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

Redgrave 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 Redgrave 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.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Redgrave

The surname Redgrave originated in England during the medieval era. It is a locational name derived from the parish of Redgrave in Suffolk, which was recorded as Redgrava in the Domesday Book of 1086. The name likely comes from the Old English words "read" meaning red, and "graf" meaning grove or thicket, suggesting it referred to a red-colored grove or wooded area.

One of the earliest known bearers of the Redgrave surname was Walter de Redgrave, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Norfolk in 1198. Another early record is that of Radulphus de Redgrave, found in the Feet of Fines for Suffolk in 1227.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in various spellings such as Redegrave, Redgreve, and Redgrave. One notable individual from this period was William Redgrave, who was a witness to a deed in Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, in 1349.

The Redgrave family was well-established in Suffolk and Norfolk, with many members holding positions of prominence in their local communities. In the 16th century, Richard Redgrave (1504-1579) served as a Member of Parliament for Dunwich, Suffolk.

During the 17th century, the name spread to other parts of England. John Redgrave (1625-1685) was a clergyman and author from Yorkshire, while Samuel Redgrave (1630-1701) was a prominent merchant and landowner in Bristol.

Notable individuals with the Redgrave surname in more recent history include the actors Sir Michael Redgrave (1908-1985) and his daughters Vanessa Redgrave (born 1937) and Lynn Redgrave (1943-2010), who were part of a renowned acting dynasty.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Redgrave families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Redgrave 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. Middlesex leads with 156 Redgraves recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.43x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 156 2.43x
Suffolk 144 18.42x
Norfolk 114 11.55x
Surrey 61 1.95x
Warwickshire 45 2.78x
Essex 29 2.29x
Worcestershire 21 2.51x
Kent 19 0.87x
Sussex 12 1.11x
Lancashire 10 0.13x
Monmouthshire 9 1.94x
Hampshire 7 0.53x
Yorkshire 7 0.11x
Buckinghamshire 6 1.55x
Leicestershire 5 0.70x
Lincolnshire 5 0.49x
Northumberland 3 0.31x
Devon 1 0.07x
Durham 1 0.05x
Glamorgan 1 0.09x
Hertfordshire 1 0.23x
Somerset 1 0.10x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Great Yarmouth in Norfolk leads with 37 Redgraves recorded in 1881 and an index of 45.26x.

Place Total Index
Great Yarmouth 37 45.26x
Lowestoft 35 94.77x
Kensington London 28 7.85x
Hackney London 22 6.11x
St Pancras London 20 3.87x
Lambeth 18 3.22x
Edgbaston 16 31.88x
Kirstead 16 3636.36x
Bermondsey 15 7.85x
Kings Norton 13 17.30x
St Luke London 13 12.63x
Blyford 11 2820.51x
Coventry St Michael 10 19.23x
Shoreditch London 10 3.59x
Wanstead 10 45.07x
Heigham 9 16.99x
Letheringham 9 2045.45x
Risca 9 102.86x
Worsley 9 19.17x
Barton Mills 8 776.70x
Camberwell 8 1.95x
Napton On Hill 8 410.26x
St Giles In Fields 8 36.13x
Brighton 7 3.21x
Clerkenwell London 7 4.62x
Hampstead London 7 7.00x
Runham 7 355.33x
Wangford 7 476.19x
Willesborough 7 118.85x
Yoxford 7 300.43x
Aston 6 1.35x
Bergh Apton 6 582.52x
Gillingham 6 606.06x
Portsmouth 6 19.81x
Seething 6 697.67x
Shottesham All Sts 6 722.89x
Southwark St George Martyr 6 4.65x
West Ham 6 2.14x
Wolverton 6 74.72x
Broadwater 5 20.15x
Bungay St Mary 5 129.20x
Great Grimsby 5 7.68x
Leiston 5 93.11x
Martlesham 5 454.55x
Westhall 5 526.32x
Westminster St John 5 6.40x
Battersea 4 1.69x
Chelsea London 4 2.07x
Croydon 4 2.30x
Ditchingham 4 169.49x
Henstead 4 338.98x
Ipswich St Mathew 4 18.26x
Peatling Magna 4 930.23x
Rotherham 4 11.15x
St George Hanover 4 4.77x
St George Martyr 4 36.97x
Wickham Bishops 4 338.98x
Woodbridge 4 40.04x
Worcester St Martin 4 35.37x
Billingford In Depwade 3 697.67x
Birmingham 3 0.56x
Bramfield 3 217.39x
Brundish 3 370.37x
Edmonton 3 5.80x
Hammersmith London 3 1.90x
Ipswich St Margaret 3 11.31x
Kirkley 3 45.87x
Mile End Old Town 3 2.96x
Paddington London 3 1.27x
Scole Cum Frenze 3 209.79x
Sibton 3 277.78x
Tonbridge 3 3.80x
Wallsend 3 9.90x
Woolwich 3 3.71x
Eltham 2 15.59x
Laxfield 2 102.56x
Pakefield 2 103.09x
Penge 2 4.88x
St Dionis Backchurch 2 434.78x
St Marylebone London 2 0.58x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 42
Elizabeth 24
Sarah 20
Eliza 14
Ann 13
Alice 11
Ellen 10
Martha 10
Jane 9
Annie 8
Charlotte 8
Emily 7
Emma 7
Hannah 7
Louisa 7
Caroline 6
Florence 6
Edith 5
Laura 5
Margaret 5
Ada 4
Fanny 4
Harriet 4
Maria 4
Minnie 4
Amelia 3
Anna 3
Frances 3
Harriett 3
Kate 3
Lydia 3
Susan 3
Adeline 2
Agnes 2
Anne 2
Beatrice 2
Eleanor 2
Ethel 2
Hester 2
Johannah 2
Lily 2
Maud 2
Rebecca 2
Sybella 2
Zoe 2
Elisa 1
Elizth. 1
Elsie 1
Emilear 1
Hariot 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 37
John 31
James 24
George 21
Joseph 14
Samuel 13
Frederick 12
Charles 11
Henry 11
Robert 10
Harry 9
Ernest 8
Thomas 8
Alfred 6
Herbert 6
Albert 5
Arthur 5
Edmund 5
Richard 5
Edward 4
Edwin 4
Chas. 3
David 3
Walter 3
Alexander 2
Benjamin 2
Edgar 2
Elijah 2
Hy. 2
Miles 2
Willm. 2
Wm. 2
Aurther 1
Ben 1
Christopher 1
Cornuous 1
Cornurus 1
Crawford 1
Elisha 1
Ezer 1
Franck 1
Fred 1
Fredk. 1
Isaac 1
Ishmiel 1
Jasper 1
Lionel 1
Martin 1
Maurice 1
Michael 1

FAQ

Redgrave surname: questions and answers

How common was the Redgrave surname in 1881?

In 1881, 657 people were recorded with the Redgrave surname. That placed it at #5,456 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Redgrave surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 802 in 2016. That gives Redgrave a modern rank of #6,897.

What does the Redgrave surname mean?

A locational surname referring to someone who lived near a red cliff or ravine.

What does the Redgrave map show?

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