NameCensus.

UK surname

Relph

A variation of Ralph, an Old Norse name meaning "counsel wolf."

In the 1881 census there were 494 people recorded with the Relph surname, ranking it #6,837 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 815, ranked #6,804, up from #6,837 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bridekirk, London parishes and Crosby Ravensworth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Allerdale, Copeland and Bolton.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Relph is 885 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 65.0%.

1881 census count

494

Ranked #6,837

Modern count

815

2016, ranked #6,804

Peak year

1998

885 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Relph had 494 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,837 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 815 in 2016, ranked #6,804.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 817 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Relph surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Relph surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Relph 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 479 #5,198
1861 historical 339 #7,522
1881 historical 494 #6,837
1891 historical 561 #6,767
1901 historical 817 #5,523
1911 historical 773 #5,615
1997 modern 837 #6,316
1998 modern 885 #6,245
1999 modern 878 #6,325
2000 modern 856 #6,419
2001 modern 844 #6,373
2002 modern 844 #6,496
2003 modern 821 #6,510
2004 modern 808 #6,617
2005 modern 807 #6,572
2006 modern 802 #6,613
2007 modern 798 #6,707
2008 modern 811 #6,668
2009 modern 827 #6,705
2010 modern 866 #6,597
2011 modern 856 #6,578
2012 modern 817 #6,724
2013 modern 831 #6,743
2014 modern 842 #6,706
2015 modern 830 #6,718
2016 modern 815 #6,804

Geography

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Where Relphs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bridekirk, London parishes, Crosby Ravensworth, Lambeth and Flimby. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Allerdale, Copeland and Bolton. 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 Bridekirk Cumberland
2 London parishes London 3
3 Crosby Ravensworth Westmorland
4 Lambeth London (South Districts)
5 Flimby Cumberland

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Allerdale 006 Allerdale
2 Copeland 005 Copeland
3 Bolton 034 Bolton
4 Allerdale 012 Allerdale
5 Allerdale 005 Allerdale

Forenames

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First names often paired with Relph

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Relph

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

Relph is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Relph falls in decile 9 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Relph

The surname Relph is of English origin and can be traced back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "relf," meaning "balk" or "ridge." This suggests that the name may have originally referred to someone who lived near a ridge or on a piece of elevated land.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1230, where a person named Richard Relph is mentioned. The Pipe Rolls were financial records maintained by the English Exchequer, which provides evidence of the name's existence during that period.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as "Relf," "Relfe," and "Relphe," reflecting the inconsistencies in spelling during that time. The Hundred Rolls of 1273 contain a reference to a John Relf, indicating the presence of the name in different parts of England.

The Relph surname is particularly prevalent in Cumbria, a county in northwestern England. It is believed that the name may have originated in this region, where it was closely associated with specific localities or villages. One such place is the village of Relph, located near Kirkby Lonsdale, which may have contributed to the surname's origins.

Notable figures with the surname Relph include:

1. William Relph (1616-1663), an English Puritan minister and religious writer from Gilsland, Cumbria. 2. Josiah Relph (1712-1778), an English poet and minister from Sebergham, Cumbria, known for his pastoral poems. 3. Samuel Relph (1735-1793), a British engraver and artist from Cumbria, renowned for his engravings of landscapes and portraits. 4. John Relph (1796-1858), a British architect and surveyor from Cumberland, responsible for designing several churches and public buildings in the region. 5. James Relph (1814-1891), an English-born Australian politician and journalist, who served as a member of the Legislative Council of New South Wales.

These examples illustrate the historical presence of the Relph surname across various fields, including religion, literature, art, architecture, and politics, spanning several centuries and regions within England and beyond.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Relph families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Relph 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. Cumberland leads with 122 Relphs recorded in 1881 and an index of 28.99x.

County Total Index
Cumberland 122 28.99x
Kent 72 4.32x
Lancashire 70 1.21x
Yorkshire 50 1.03x
Surrey 39 1.64x
Westmorland 31 28.86x
Sussex 28 3.40x
Middlesex 25 0.51x
Durham 13 0.89x
Northumberland 9 1.24x
Isle of Man 7 7.71x
Montgomeryshire 7 6.25x
Essex 6 0.62x
Suffolk 4 0.67x
Huntingdonshire 3 3.09x
Lanarkshire 3 0.19x
Somerset 3 0.38x
Hampshire 2 0.20x
Monmouthshire 2 0.57x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.34x
Cheshire 1 0.09x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.15x
Shropshire 1 0.24x
Worcestershire 1 0.16x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bridekirk in Cumberland leads with 19 Relphs recorded in 1881 and an index of 565.48x.

Place Total Index
Bridekirk 19 565.48x
Crosby Ravensworth 16 1221.37x
Milton In Gravesend 16 64.00x
Lambeth 14 3.29x
Everton 13 7.03x
Middlesbrough 13 20.62x
Newington 13 7.20x
Horton Kirby 12 465.12x
Great Bolton 11 14.32x
Camberwell 10 3.20x
Hastings St Mary 10 48.76x
Harrington 9 177.17x
Eynsford 8 279.72x
Stainton 8 567.38x
Askham 7 813.95x
Caldewgate 7 30.37x
Castle Sowerby 7 752.69x
Crook Billy Row 7 37.59x
Holbeck 7 21.82x
Middle Town 7 4117.65x
Moresby 7 437.50x
Moss Side 7 22.94x
Muncaster 7 777.78x
Tenterden 7 119.05x
Yarm 7 281.12x
Dacre 6 370.37x
Hampstead London 6 7.88x
Holme St Cuthbert 6 480.00x
Liverpool 6 1.70x
Mile End Old Town 6 7.78x
Morpeth 6 70.18x
St Cuthbert W O 6 29.25x
West Ham 6 2.82x
Kirkby Ireleth 5 173.01x
Lewes St John Southover 5 90.42x
Oldham 5 2.67x
Onchan 5 19.13x
Preston Quarter 5 42.41x
Rochester St Margaret 5 28.44x
Sockbridge 5 1388.89x
Carlton Colville 4 183.49x
Chislehurst 4 44.74x
Dalston 4 123.08x
Hammersmith London 4 3.32x
Hastings St Clement 4 51.61x
Haswell 4 38.39x
Hunslet 4 5.30x
Lewes St Michael 4 243.90x
Linthorpe 4 13.84x
Little Bolton 4 5.36x
Penrith 4 25.74x
Bethnal Green London 3 1.41x
Bexley 3 20.35x
Brigham 3 150.75x
Chorlton On Medlock 3 3.26x
Eltham 3 30.71x
Glasgow 3 1.07x
Greenwich 3 3.86x
Ruishton 3 379.75x
St Neots 3 56.93x
Watermillock 3 389.61x
Westward 3 170.45x
Aldershot 2 5.96x
Ardwick 2 3.82x
Barrow In Furness 2 2.54x
Beeston 2 40.82x
Beverley St Nicholas 2 50.38x
Crosscanonby 2 14.37x
Goytrey 2 176.99x
Gressingham 2 800.00x
Hastings St Mary In The 2 11.38x
Heworth 2 158.73x
Lonan 2 36.36x
Lower Allithwaite 2 143.88x
Rickergate 2 22.47x
Scarborough 2 4.54x
Stone In Tenterden 2 312.50x
Stranton 2 4.09x
Urswick 2 93.02x
Yanwath Eamont Bridge 2 416.67x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 34
Jane 26
Elizabeth 18
Sarah 15
Annie 12
Margaret 12
Ellen 10
Ann 9
Hannah 9
Emma 8
Eliza 6
Isabella 6
Ada 5
Florence 5
Harriet 5
Alice 4
Kate 4
Edith 3
Eleanor 3
Esther 3
Louisa 3
Matilda 3
Agnes 2
Amelia 2
Caroline 2
Dinah 2
Emily 2
Frances 2
Martha 2
Catherine 1
Cathrine 1
Charlotte 1
Christiana 1
Deborah 1
Dorothy 1
Eliz.Ann 1
Elizaboto 1
Elsie 1
Emley 1
Jessie 1
Joanna 1
Jobina 1
June 1
Kitty 1
Laura 1
M. 1
Mabel 1
Margret 1
Margt. 1
Susan 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 35
John 29
Thomas 21
George 16
James 15
Joseph 13
Richard 13
Robert 11
Henry 10
Charles 9
Edward 7
Harry 7
Arthur 5
Edwin 4
Stephen 4
Daniel 3
Herbert 3
Jonathan 3
Samuel 3
Walter 3
Alfred 2
David 2
Frank 2
Frederick 2
Jno. 2
Ritson 2
Acton 1
Bertram 1
Cuthbert 1
Earnest 1
Edmund 1
Ernest 1
Fred. 1
Isiah 1
Jeremiah 1
Jonath. 1
Leonard 1
Michael 1
Percy 1
Thos. 1
Tom 1
W. 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Relph surname: questions and answers

How common was the Relph surname in 1881?

In 1881, 494 people were recorded with the Relph surname. That placed it at #6,837 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Relph surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 815 in 2016. That gives Relph a modern rank of #6,804.

What does the Relph surname mean?

A variation of Ralph, an Old Norse name meaning "counsel wolf."

What does the Relph map show?

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