NameCensus.

UK surname

Redhead

A surname referring to someone with red hair.

In the 1881 census there were 1,619 people recorded with the Redhead surname, ranking it #2,637 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,334, ranked #2,795, down from #2,637 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lancaster Borough, London parishes and Gateshead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Fenland, Craven and Copeland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Redhead is 2,529 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 44.2%.

1881 census count

1,619

Ranked #2,637

Modern count

2,334

2016, ranked #2,795

Peak year

1998

2,529 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Redhead had 1,619 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,637 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,334 in 2016, ranked #2,795.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,365 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Redhead surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Redhead surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Redhead 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 1,027 #2,724
1861 historical 1,108 #2,527
1881 historical 1,619 #2,637
1891 historical 1,857 #2,478
1901 historical 2,172 #2,480
1911 historical 2,365 #2,164
1997 modern 2,452 #2,564
1998 modern 2,529 #2,584
1999 modern 2,520 #2,615
2000 modern 2,505 #2,612
2001 modern 2,421 #2,637
2002 modern 2,465 #2,653
2003 modern 2,383 #2,679
2004 modern 2,385 #2,673
2005 modern 2,345 #2,679
2006 modern 2,341 #2,691
2007 modern 2,353 #2,703
2008 modern 2,361 #2,711
2009 modern 2,416 #2,718
2010 modern 2,487 #2,711
2011 modern 2,427 #2,740
2012 modern 2,386 #2,726
2013 modern 2,418 #2,744
2014 modern 2,403 #2,765
2015 modern 2,373 #2,768
2016 modern 2,334 #2,795

Geography

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Where Redheads are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lancaster Borough, London parishes, Gateshead, Doddington and Whittlesey St Mary and St Andrew, Standground (Stilton & Peterborough, Northamptonshire). These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Fenland, Craven and Copeland. 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 Lancaster Borough Lancashire
2 London parishes London 1
3 Gateshead Durham
4 Doddington Cambridgeshire
5 Whittlesey St Mary and St Andrew, Standground (Stilton & Peterborough, Northamptonshire) Cambridgeshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Fenland 006 Fenland
2 Fenland 008 Fenland
3 Craven 001 Craven
4 Copeland 008 Copeland
5 Fenland 010 Fenland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Redhead

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Redhead

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

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Redhead is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Redhead is most concentrated in decile 5 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Redhead

The surname "REDHEAD" originated in England, with its earliest recorded use dating back to the 13th century. It is an English descriptive surname derived from the Old English words "read" (meaning red) and "heafod" (meaning head), referring to someone with red hair.

The name "REDHEAD" first appeared in historical records in 1273, when a person named Robert Redheved was mentioned in the Hundred Rolls of Norfolk. This document, compiled in 1273-1274, recorded the names of landowners and their holdings in various counties of England.

In the 14th century, the name was also recorded in the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield in Yorkshire, with mentions of individuals such as John Redheved (1347) and Adam Redheved (1379). These court rolls provide valuable insights into the daily lives and legal proceedings of medieval English communities.

One of the earliest known bearers of the surname "REDHEAD" was Sir Richard Redhead, a prominent figure in the Wars of the Roses during the 15th century. He was a staunch supporter of the House of Lancaster and fought in several battles, including the Battle of Towton in 1461.

Another notable person with this surname was William Redhead (1638-1670), an English clergyman and author who wrote several religious works, including "A Treatise of Conscience" and "A Treatise of the Covenant of Grace."

In the 18th century, the name "REDHEAD" was also associated with the literary world. James Redhead Yorke (1722-1808) was an English poet and playwright who wrote several works, including the tragedy "The Earl of Essex" and the comedy "The Humorous Lieutenant."

During the 19th century, the surname "REDHEAD" gained prominence in the field of science. Thomas Redhead (1828-1895) was a British botanist and mycologist who made significant contributions to the study of fungi and published several books on the subject, including "The Fungus Flora of Yorkshire" and "The Fungus Flora of Cambridgeshire."

Another important figure with this surname was Sir Richard Redhead (1804-1892), a British engineer and architect who designed several notable structures, including the Birmingham Town Hall and the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery.

While the surname "REDHEAD" originated in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world due to migration and historical events. However, its roots can be traced back to the descriptive nature of the Old English language, reflecting the physical appearance of its earliest bearers.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Redhead families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Redhead 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 379 Redheads recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.01x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 379 2.01x
Northumberland 208 8.81x
Durham 160 3.39x
Yorkshire 153 0.97x
Cambridgeshire 122 12.14x
Northamptonshire 90 6.03x
Middlesex 88 0.55x
Lincolnshire 86 3.39x
Cumberland 42 3.07x
Huntingdonshire 38 12.06x
Cheshire 36 1.03x
Surrey 27 0.35x
Wiltshire 20 1.42x
Buckinghamshire 19 1.98x
Westmorland 19 5.45x
Gloucestershire 14 0.45x
Norfolk 14 0.57x
Leicestershire 12 0.68x
Nottinghamshire 11 0.51x
Warwickshire 11 0.27x
Derbyshire 9 0.36x
Kent 8 0.15x
Lanarkshire 7 0.14x
Channel Islands 6 1.28x
Essex 6 0.19x
Renfrewshire 6 0.49x
Sussex 6 0.22x
Roxburghshire 5 1.74x
West Lothian 5 2.09x
Anglesey 4 1.42x
Cornwall 4 0.22x
Oxfordshire 3 0.31x
Staffordshire 3 0.06x
Berkshire 1 0.08x
Herefordshire 1 0.15x
Hertfordshire 1 0.09x
Isle of Man 1 0.34x
Midlothian 1 0.05x
Royal Navy 1 0.53x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Lancaster in Lancashire leads with 41 Redheads recorded in 1881 and an index of 36.59x.

Place Total Index
Lancaster 41 36.59x
Skerton 39 252.26x
Wimblington 39 657.67x
Preston 33 6.55x
Chelsea London 27 5.65x
Whittlesey St Mary St 27 76.90x
Ulverston 25 45.58x
Heworth 22 23.65x
Benwell 21 81.36x
Holy Trinity 20 5.29x
Millom 20 47.76x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 20 14.18x
Peterborough 20 18.50x
Longbenton 19 19.00x
Toxteth Park 19 2.98x
Cotterstock 17 1888.89x
Bedlington 16 20.29x
March 16 47.53x
Boldon 15 89.13x
Westoe 15 5.60x
Hammersmith London 14 3.58x
Tranmere 14 10.87x
Cramlington 13 41.65x
Elswick 13 6.90x
Leeds 13 1.46x
Lower Booths 13 38.53x
Westgate 13 8.89x
Byker 12 10.28x
Hunslet 12 4.89x
Birkenhead 11 3.94x
Brandon Byshottles 11 18.60x
Hawkshead Monk Coniston 11 167.68x
Pendleton In Clitheroe 11 154.28x
Ramsey 11 43.60x
Sculcoates 11 4.41x
Stranton 11 6.92x
Barrow In Furness 10 3.90x
Corbridge 10 115.61x
Darlington 10 5.49x
Great Gidding 10 381.68x
Ingleton 10 112.99x
Kendal 10 15.66x
Spotland 10 4.78x
Westport St Mary 10 98.33x
Blackburn 9 1.80x
Bulwick 9 508.47x
Chester Le Street 9 24.82x
Coldcoats 9 4285.71x
Flamborough 9 118.11x
Helmington Row 9 40.93x
Malmesbury St Paul 9 74.57x
Pendleton In Salford 9 4.01x
Redbourne 9 452.26x
Waterbeach 9 109.76x
Workington 9 11.50x
Bourn 8 39.02x
Burnham 8 65.41x
Burnley 8 5.04x
Chorley 8 7.57x
Dalton In Furness 8 11.00x
Eldon 8 106.95x
Eye 8 112.20x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 8 3.91x
Northampton Priory St 8 8.93x
Oundle 8 47.93x
Owston 8 111.11x
Snitter 8 1052.63x
St Giles In Fields 8 14.61x
Throckley 8 122.89x
Unstone 8 81.88x
Beverley St Nicholas 7 54.26x
Cleckheaton 7 12.08x
East Denton 7 130.35x
Hilderthorpe 7 88.16x
Ryton 7 42.19x
Somersham 7 91.50x
Walton On Hill 7 6.86x
Bold 6 128.48x
Chertsey 6 12.01x
Spittlegate 6 17.09x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 137
William 103
Thomas 71
Robert 61
James 52
George 49
Joseph 29
Henry 22
Charles 21
Richard 19
Frederick 12
Edward 11
Alfred 10
Walter 10
Albert 9
Arthur 9
Matthew 9
Michael 9
Harry 7
David 6
Mathew 6
Peter 6
Frank 5
Herbert 5
Samuel 5
Tom 5
Benjamin 4
Daniel 4
Isaac 4
Robt. 4
Wm. 4
Bartholomew 3
Edmund 3
Fred 3
Geo. 3
Mark 3
Ralph 3
Thos. 3
Anthony 2
Bensley 2
Christopher 2
Danl. 2
Edwd. 2
Ernest 2
Fredk. 2
Gawin 2
Solomon 2
Stephen 2
Baizley 1
Zachariah 1

FAQ

Redhead surname: questions and answers

How common was the Redhead surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,619 people were recorded with the Redhead surname. That placed it at #2,637 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Redhead surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,334 in 2016. That gives Redhead a modern rank of #2,795.

What does the Redhead surname mean?

A surname referring to someone with red hair.

What does the Redhead map show?

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