UK surname
A surname derived from an occupation associated with collecting payments or rents.
In the 1881 census there were 37 people recorded with the Rent surname, ranking it #28,418 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 10, ranked #37,599, down from #28,418 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to St James, St Dunstan Stepney and Lambeth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Rent is 366 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 73.0%.
1881 census count
37
Ranked #28,418
Modern count
10
2016, ranked #37,599
Peak year
1861
366 bearers
Map years
3
1851 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Rent surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Rent surname density by area, 1891 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 132 | #14,174 |
| 1861 | historical | 366 | #6,987 |
| 1881 | historical | 37 | #28,418 |
| 1891 | historical | 220 | #13,937 |
| 1901 | historical | 50 | #28,590 |
| 1911 | historical | 49 | #27,894 |
| 1997 | modern | 10 | #37,060 |
| 1998 | modern | 8 | #37,334 |
| 1999 | modern | 9 | #37,217 |
| 2000 | modern | 8 | #37,264 |
| 2001 | modern | 6 | #37,456 |
| 2002 | modern | 6 | #37,532 |
| 2003 | modern | 5 | #37,750 |
| 2004 | modern | 7 | #37,496 |
| 2005 | modern | 5 | #37,885 |
| 2006 | modern | 7 | #37,634 |
| 2007 | modern | 4 | #38,169 |
| 2008 | modern | 3 | #38,396 |
| 2009 | modern | 2 | #38,725 |
| 2010 | modern | 4 | #38,371 |
| 2011 | modern | 4 | #38,338 |
| 2012 | modern | 3 | #38,530 |
| 2013 | modern | 4 | #38,359 |
| 2014 | modern | 7 | #37,929 |
| 2015 | modern | 8 | #37,797 |
| 2016 | modern | 10 | #37,599 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around St James, St Dunstan Stepney, Lambeth, Brighton 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 No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | St James | Suffolk |
| 2 | St Dunstan Stepney | London (East Districts) |
| 3 | Lambeth | London (South Districts) |
| 4 | Brighton | Sussex |
| 5 | St Mary Islington | London (North Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Rent surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Rent, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Rent surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Rent household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Rent is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Rent is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Rent, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname RENT is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period, likely derived from the Old English word "rente" or "rent," which referred to a payment or dues owed to a landowner or authority. This surname may have been initially given to someone who collected rents or was responsible for managing the collection of payments.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname RENT can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire from the late 12th century, where a certain William Rent is mentioned as a taxpayer. Additionally, the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1279 list a John Rent among the residents of the county.
During the 13th and 14th centuries, the surname RENT appeared in various records across different regions of England, suggesting its widespread adoption. For instance, in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex from 1327, a Robert Rent is listed as a landowner, while the Poll Tax Returns of Yorkshire from 1379 include a Thomas Rent among the taxpayers.
Notably, the surname RENT is also associated with several place names in England, such as Rent in Gloucestershire and Rent Hill in Herefordshire. These place names may have contributed to the surname's origin or influenced its geographical distribution.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname RENT was Sir John Rent (c. 1320-1384), a prominent English landowner and knight who served as a Member of Parliament for Gloucestershire during the reign of Edward III.
Another notable figure was Thomas Rent (1516-1568), an English clergyman and theologian who served as the Archdeacon of Taunton and was involved in the religious reforms of the 16th century.
In the 17th century, John Rent (1624-1692) was a successful merchant and shipowner from Bristol, England, who played a significant role in the expansion of the city's maritime trade.
During the 18th century, the RENT surname gained further prominence with individuals like Sir Thomas Rent (1718-1788), a British politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament for Gloucestershire.
In the 19th century, George Rent (1801-1876) was a renowned English architect and surveyor who contributed to several notable buildings and infrastructure projects in London and other parts of the country.
These examples illustrate the long-standing presence and historical significance of the surname RENT, which has been associated with various professions, social statuses, and geographical locations throughout the centuries.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Rent surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Norfolk leads with 6 Rents recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.82x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Norfolk | 6 | 10.82x |
| Middlesex | 5 | 1.39x |
| Lancashire | 4 | 0.93x |
| Staffordshire | 4 | 3.28x |
| Surrey | 4 | 2.28x |
| Dorset | 3 | 12.67x |
| Glamorgan | 3 | 4.78x |
| Kent | 3 | 2.44x |
| Buckinghamshire | 1 | 4.59x |
| Durham | 1 | 0.93x |
| Gloucestershire | 1 | 1.41x |
| Orkney | 1 | 25.19x |
| Suffolk | 1 | 2.28x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Norwich St Andrew in Norfolk leads with 6 Rents recorded in 1881 and an index of 6666.67x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Norwich St Andrew | 6 | 6666.67x |
| Oldham | 4 | 28.94x |
| Canford Magna | 3 | 2142.86x |
| Cardiff St Mary | 3 | 86.71x |
| Handsworth | 3 | 100.00x |
| Lambeth | 3 | 9.54x |
| Dover St James | 2 | 370.37x |
| St George In East | 2 | 81.63x |
| Bexley | 1 | 91.74x |
| Camberwell | 1 | 4.34x |
| Cheltenham | 1 | 18.32x |
| Hornsey | 1 | 21.93x |
| Lathbury | 1 | 10000.00x |
| Monkwearmouth Shore | 1 | 47.62x |
| Newmarket St Mary | 1 | 294.12x |
| St Marylebone London | 1 | 5.19x |
| St Vedast Foster Lane | 1 | 5000.00x |
| Stronsay Eday | 1 | 384.62x |
| West Bromwich | 1 | 14.35x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Rent surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Rent surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Rent households.
FAQ
In 1881, 37 people were recorded with the Rent surname. That placed it at #28,418 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 10 in 2016. That gives Rent a modern rank of #37,599.
A surname derived from an occupation associated with collecting payments or rents.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Rent bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.