NameCensus.

UK surname

Redway

Reference to someone residing along a reddish-colored road or path.

In the 1881 census there were 78 people recorded with the Redway surname, ranking it #22,500 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 197, ranked #19,777, up from #22,500 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Churcham, Sandhurst, St Mary-de-Lode, St Catherine Longford, Barnwood, Wootton Ville, North Hamlet,, Tormoham with Torquay and St Leonard Shoreditch. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bridgend, Leicester and Wandsworth.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Redway is 203 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 152.6%.

1881 census count

78

Ranked #22,500

Modern count

197

2016, ranked #19,777

Peak year

1999

203 bearers

Map years

4

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Redway had 78 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #22,500 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 197 in 2016, ranked #19,777.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 129 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Redway surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Redway surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Redway 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 58 #22,928
1861 historical 129 #17,271
1881 historical 78 #22,500
1891 historical 87 #25,802
1901 historical 76 #25,734
1911 historical 74 #25,423
1997 modern 185 #18,506
1998 modern 195 #18,397
1999 modern 203 #18,081
2000 modern 196 #18,431
2001 modern 191 #18,453
2002 modern 196 #18,535
2003 modern 184 #19,075
2004 modern 183 #19,251
2005 modern 178 #19,535
2006 modern 185 #19,204
2007 modern 171 #20,387
2008 modern 171 #20,595
2009 modern 169 #21,190
2010 modern 173 #21,327
2011 modern 176 #20,957
2012 modern 172 #21,219
2013 modern 186 #20,502
2014 modern 191 #20,302
2015 modern 190 #20,272
2016 modern 197 #19,777

Geography

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Where Redways are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Churcham, Sandhurst, St Mary-de-Lode, St Catherine Longford, Barnwood, Wootton Ville, North Hamlet,, Tormoham with Torquay, St Leonard Shoreditch, London parishes and St Mary Islington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bridgend, Leicester, Wandsworth and Chiltern. 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 Churcham, Sandhurst, St Mary-de-Lode, St Catherine Longford, Barnwood, Wootton Ville, North Hamlet, Gloucestershire
2 Tormoham with Torquay Devon
3 St Leonard Shoreditch London (East Districts)
4 London parishes London 3
5 St Mary Islington London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bridgend 004 Bridgend
2 Leicester 037 Leicester
3 Wandsworth 030 Wandsworth
4 Leicester 013 Leicester
5 Chiltern 001 Chiltern

Forenames

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First names often paired with Redway

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Redway

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Redway surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Redway 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 is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Redway is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Redway is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Redway falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Redway

The surname Redway is of English origin, tracing its roots back to the medieval period. It is a locational name, derived from a place name that once referred to a red-colored path or road. The earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which documented landowners and tenants throughout England following the Norman Conquest.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Robert de Redwey, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Staffordshire in 1199. These rolls were financial records maintained by the English Exchequer, providing valuable insights into the lives of individuals during that time. The name Redwey likely originated from a place name such as Redway, a hamlet near Stafford, or Redway Lane, a street in Worcestershire.

During the 13th century, the name appeared in various forms, including Redewey, Redweye, and Redwaye, reflecting the fluid nature of spellings in those times. One notable individual was William Redwaye, who was recorded as a landowner in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1279.

In the 14th century, the name continued to be documented in various records. John Redwey was mentioned in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1327, while Thomas Redway was listed in the Poll Tax Returns of Yorkshire in 1379.

The 16th century brought forth another prominent bearer of the name, Sir John Redway (c. 1500 - 1565), who served as a Member of Parliament for Gloucestershire in 1545 and 1547. He was knighted for his service during the reign of King Henry VIII.

Another noteworthy figure was William Redway (1628 - 1696), a renowned English clergyman and academic who served as the Provost of Eton College from 1675 until his death. He was highly respected for his contributions to education and theology during his lifetime.

Throughout the centuries, the surname Redway has been carried by many individuals, each contributing to the rich tapestry of history in their own unique ways. While the origin of the name may be rooted in a simple description of a red-colored path, it has since evolved to represent a legacy of diverse experiences and accomplishments.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Redway families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Redway 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. Devon leads with 30 Redways recorded in 1881 and an index of 18.95x.

County Total Index
Devon 30 18.95x
Middlesex 19 2.50x
Pembrokeshire 8 33.09x
Surrey 8 2.16x
Cheshire 7 4.17x
Hampshire 3 1.92x
Gloucestershire 1 0.67x
Monmouthshire 1 1.82x
Northumberland 1 0.88x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Littleham in Devon leads with 10 Redways recorded in 1881 and an index of 862.07x.

Place Total Index
Littleham 10 862.07x
Steynton 8 1025.64x
Chelsea London 7 30.54x
Tytherington 7 8750.00x
Kingskerswell 6 2307.69x
Withycombe Rawleigh 5 609.76x
Bromley London 4 23.89x
Camberwell 4 8.23x
Islington London 4 5.43x
Southwark St George Martyr 4 26.13x
Chudleigh 2 400.00x
Newton Abbot St Nicholas 2 625.00x
Portsea 2 6.54x
Shoreditch London 2 6.06x
Bishton 1 2500.00x
Bristol St James St Paul 1 20.12x
Dawlish 1 84.75x
East Teignmouth 1 153.85x
Hillingdon 1 41.15x
Holy Trinity 1 303.03x
Kensington London 1 2.36x
Newcastle On Tyne St 1 17.04x
Plymouth St Andrew 1 8.20x
St Thomas Winchester 1 90.91x
Tormoham 1 14.93x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 4
Alice 2
Bessie 2
Blanche 2
Edith 2
Florence 2
Hannah 2
Sarah 2
Sophia 2
Abigal 1
Amelia 1
Amy 1
Ann 1
Charlott 1
Elizabeth 1
Ellen 1
Elsie 1
Emily 1
Fanny 1
Harriet 1
Jane 1
Lavinia 1
Louisa 1
Lydia 1
Mabel 1
Margaret 1
Martha 1
Matilda 1
Theresa 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Redway surname: questions and answers

How common was the Redway surname in 1881?

In 1881, 78 people were recorded with the Redway surname. That placed it at #22,500 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Redway surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 197 in 2016. That gives Redway a modern rank of #19,777.

What does the Redway surname mean?

Reference to someone residing along a reddish-colored road or path.

What does the Redway map show?

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