NameCensus.

UK surname

Redpath

A locational surname derived from a place name referring to a red path or road.

In the 1881 census there were 1,371 people recorded with the Redpath surname, ranking it #2,996 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,276, ranked #2,853, up from #2,996 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Melrose, Duns and Govan Combination. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Northumberland, Berwickshire Central and Cheviot East.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Redpath is 2,316 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 66.0%.

1881 census count

1,371

Ranked #2,996

Modern count

2,276

2016, ranked #2,853

Peak year

2000

2,316 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Redpath had 1,371 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,996 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,276 in 2016, ranked #2,853.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,766 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Redpath surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Redpath surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Redpath 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 749 #3,539
1861 historical 907 #3,052
1881 historical 1,371 #2,996
1891 historical 1,524 #2,900
1901 historical 1,766 #2,941
1911 historical 999 #4,549
1997 modern 2,212 #2,803
1998 modern 2,285 #2,824
1999 modern 2,311 #2,817
2000 modern 2,316 #2,787
2001 modern 2,262 #2,793
2002 modern 2,299 #2,809
2003 modern 2,244 #2,812
2004 modern 2,224 #2,840
2005 modern 2,209 #2,824
2006 modern 2,221 #2,811
2007 modern 2,240 #2,810
2008 modern 2,230 #2,849
2009 modern 2,273 #2,864
2010 modern 2,288 #2,910
2011 modern 2,259 #2,912
2012 modern 2,208 #2,913
2013 modern 2,259 #2,897
2014 modern 2,302 #2,867
2015 modern 2,294 #2,844
2016 modern 2,276 #2,853

Geography

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Where Redpaths are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Melrose, Duns, Govan Combination, Gateshead and London parishes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Northumberland, Berwickshire Central, Cheviot East and Duns. 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 Melrose Roxburgh
2 Duns Berwick
3 Govan Combination Lanark
4 Gateshead Durham
5 London parishes London 3

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Northumberland 003 Northumberland
2 Berwickshire Central Scottish Borders
3 Northumberland 008 Northumberland
4 Cheviot East Scottish Borders
5 Duns Scottish Borders

Forenames

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First names often paired with Redpath

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Redpath

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Redpath, 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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Redpath surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Redpath household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Redpath 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

Redpath is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Redpath falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Redpath 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 Redpath, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Redpath

The surname Redpath is of English origin, derived from a geographical location. It is believed to have originated in the medieval period, around the 13th or 14th century. The name is thought to be derived from the Old English words "read" and "path," referring to a path or road that was reddish in color, likely due to the soil or vegetation in the area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Redpath can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire, a historical record from 1273, which mentions a person named Richard de Redepath. This suggests that the name was already in use in England during the 13th century.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as Redepathes, Redpaths, and Redepath, reflecting the variations in spelling during that time period. The Redpath surname is also associated with several place names in England, such as Redpath Hill in Northumberland and Redpath Farm in Cumbria.

One notable individual with the surname Redpath was Thomas Redpath (c. 1500-1592), a Scottish clergyman who served as the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 1572. Another was James Redpath (1833-1891), an American journalist and abolitionist who worked alongside John Brown during the anti-slavery movement in the United States.

In the 17th century, the surname appears in various records, including the Hearth Tax Rolls of Northumberland in 1665, which mentions a Thomas Redpath. Additionally, the parish records of St. Giles in Durham from 1636 include the baptism of John, son of John Redpath.

Another notable individual with the Redpath surname was Sir Compton Redpath (1909-1994), a British businessman and politician who served as the Governor of the Bank of England from 1966 to 1972. He played a significant role in managing the British economy during a period of economic instability.

The Redpath surname has also been associated with the Scottish Borders region, where it is believed to have originated. Some instances of the name can be found in historical records from this area, such as the Parish Registers of Jedburgh in the 18th century, which mention several individuals with the Redpath surname.

Overall, the surname Redpath has a rich history that can be traced back to medieval England and Scotland, with connections to various geographical locations and notable individuals throughout the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Redpath families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Redpath 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. Northumberland leads with 328 Redpaths recorded in 1881 and an index of 16.26x.

County Total Index
Northumberland 328 16.26x
Berwickshire 129 78.56x
Midlothian 127 6.99x
Durham 112 2.78x
East Lothian 89 49.55x
Lanarkshire 81 1.85x
Roxburghshire 71 28.91x
Selkirkshire 63 51.36x
Fife 59 7.35x
Middlesex 56 0.41x
Yorkshire 55 0.41x
Surrey 41 0.62x
Isle of Man 32 12.71x
Dumfriesshire 21 7.01x
Essex 19 0.71x
Lancashire 16 0.10x
Peeblesshire 14 21.95x
Kent 11 0.24x
Renfrewshire 11 1.05x
Stirlingshire 8 1.60x
Cumberland 7 0.60x
Gloucestershire 6 0.23x
Warwickshire 6 0.18x
West Lothian 6 2.94x
Wiltshire 6 0.50x
Sussex 5 0.22x
Dunbartonshire 2 0.55x
Angus 1 0.08x
Argyllshire 1 0.26x
Buteshire 1 1.22x
Caithness 1 0.54x
Clackmannanshire 1 0.89x
Cornwall 1 0.07x
Glamorgan 1 0.04x
Hampshire 1 0.04x
Oxfordshire 1 0.12x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Edinburgh St Cuthberts in Midlothian leads with 54 Redpaths recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.39x.

Place Total Index
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 54 7.39x
Galashiels 35 77.18x
Bedlington 33 48.98x
Govan 33 3.04x
Elswick 29 18.01x
Dunse 23 147.72x
Selkirk 23 66.55x
Berwick Upon Tweed 22 51.46x
Melrose 21 98.92x
Polworth 20 1904.76x
Bunkle Preston 19 563.80x
West Ham 19 3.22x
Gateshead 18 5.96x
Prestonkirk 18 200.45x
Westgate 17 13.61x
Liberton 16 57.06x
Eccles 15 208.62x
Greenlaw 15 258.18x
Glasgow 14 1.80x
Lambeth 14 1.18x
Newbottle 14 63.55x
Hampstead London 13 6.16x
Humbie 13 306.60x
Barony 12 1.08x
Bowden 12 336.13x
Dunfermline 12 9.72x
Carnbee 11 224.03x
Chatton 11 177.71x
Croydon 11 3.00x
Heaton 11 164.18x
Tynemouth 11 10.18x
Warton 11 4230.77x
German 10 72.83x
Jedburgh 10 41.55x
Newcastle On Tyne St 10 9.56x
Newham In Belford 10 884.96x
South Leith 10 4.89x
Sunderland 10 14.04x
York St George 10 94.43x
Bolton 9 573.25x
Crichton 9 177.87x
Hartlepool 9 15.70x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 9 5.15x
Seaton Delaval 9 50.79x
Tranent 9 37.08x
Whittinghame 9 302.01x
Wooler 9 126.76x
Ayton 8 84.03x
Cranston 8 172.79x
Haddington 8 30.18x
High Low Trewhitt 8 1777.78x
Hilderthorpe 8 117.82x
Islington London 8 0.61x
Lonan 8 52.46x
Scoonie 8 46.03x
Shettleston 8 20.38x
Southwark St Saviour 8 11.48x
St Monance 8 83.51x
Traquair 8 225.99x
Warden 8 194.17x
Westoe 8 3.50x
Blennerhasset Kirkland 7 308.37x
Camberwell 7 0.81x
Chester Le Street 7 22.60x
Hart 7 71.21x
Hawick 7 12.73x
Heriot 7 350.00x
Inveresk 7 14.23x
Scarborough 7 5.73x
Spott 7 260.22x
St Giles In Fields 7 14.97x
Stranton 7 5.15x
Wamphray 7 330.19x
Warenton 7 1186.44x
Bothwell 6 5.05x
Doddington 6 428.57x
Easington 6 845.07x
Stirling 6 9.52x
Tweedmouth 6 23.86x
Whittingham 6 248.96x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 57
Elizabeth 32
Margaret 28
Jane 20
Ann 16
Isabella 15
Catherine 10
Sarah 10
Alice 8
Anne 7
Agnes 6
Eleanor 6
Eliza 6
Ada 5
Annie 5
Hannah 5
Ellen 4
Dorothy 3
Emily 3
Florence 3
Margt. 3
Martha 3
Amelia 2
Arabella 2
Betsy 2
Charlotte 2
Christian 2
Edith 2
Elenor 2
Ellenor 2
Emma 2
Esther 2
Euphemia 2
Frances 2
Harriett 2
Helen 2
Janet 2
Jessie 2
Louisa 2
Lucy 2
Maria 2
Rosanna 2
Blanche 1
Caroline 1
Eliz. 1
Elizth. 1
Elizth.A. 1
Henrietta 1
Hester 1
Wm. 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 59
William 45
Robert 31
James 29
George 28
Thomas 26
Henry 15
Alexander 8
Charles 8
Samuel 7
David 6
Frank 5
Richard 5
Walter 5
Edward 4
Arthur 3
Frederick 3
Jas. 3
Joseph 3
Wm. 3
Adam 2
Andrew 2
Archibald 2
Ernest 2
Fredrick 2
Isaac 2
J. 2
Matthew 2
Stephen 2
Thos. 2
Tom 2
Chas.Fredk. 1
Christopher 1
E. 1
G. 1
Gavin 1
Geo. 1
Gordon 1
H. 1
Harold 1
Harry 1
Heny 1
Jos.H. 1
Josiah 1
Kenneth 1
Laurence 1
Martin 1
Ogal 1
Oswald 1
Peter 1

FAQ

Redpath surname: questions and answers

How common was the Redpath surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,371 people were recorded with the Redpath surname. That placed it at #2,996 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Redpath surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,276 in 2016. That gives Redpath a modern rank of #2,853.

What does the Redpath surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place name referring to a red path or road.

What does the Redpath map show?

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