UK surname
In the 1881 census there were 83 people recorded with the Retford surname, ranking it #21,808 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 60, ranked #34,340, down from #21,808 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Toynton All Saints, London parishes and St Bennet Paul's Wharf. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Retford is 100 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 27.7%.
1881 census count
83
Ranked #21,808
Modern count
60
2016, ranked #34,340
Peak year
1861
100 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Retford surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Retford surname density by area, 1861 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 | 65 | #21,747 |
| 1861 | historical | 100 | #21,103 |
| 1881 | historical | 83 | #21,808 |
| 1891 | historical | 96 | #24,559 |
| 1901 | historical | 76 | #25,734 |
| 1911 | historical | 85 | #24,322 |
| 1997 | modern | 69 | #30,712 |
| 1998 | modern | 71 | #30,869 |
| 1999 | modern | 69 | #31,223 |
| 2000 | modern | 65 | #31,641 |
| 2001 | modern | 64 | #31,602 |
| 2002 | modern | 61 | #32,286 |
| 2003 | modern | 61 | #32,352 |
| 2004 | modern | 56 | #33,067 |
| 2005 | modern | 52 | #33,619 |
| 2006 | modern | 55 | #33,688 |
| 2007 | modern | 56 | #33,875 |
| 2008 | modern | 59 | #33,827 |
| 2009 | modern | 62 | #33,832 |
| 2010 | modern | 60 | #34,205 |
| 2011 | modern | 58 | #34,330 |
| 2012 | modern | 65 | #33,964 |
| 2013 | modern | 66 | #34,003 |
| 2014 | modern | 62 | #34,281 |
| 2015 | modern | 60 | #34,361 |
| 2016 | modern | 60 | #34,340 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Toynton All Saints, London parishes, St Bennet Paul's Wharf and Earsdon. 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 | Toynton All Saints | Lincolnshire |
| 2 | London parishes | London 1 |
| 3 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 4 | St Bennet Paul's Wharf | London (Central Districts) |
| 5 | Earsdon | Northumberland |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Retford 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 Retford, 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 Retford surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Retford 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, Retford 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 Retford is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Retford, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Retford 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. Middlesex leads with 15 Retfords recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.85x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 15 | 1.85x |
| Lancashire | 12 | 1.25x |
| Hampshire | 8 | 4.82x |
| Lincolnshire | 8 | 6.18x |
| Surrey | 6 | 1.52x |
| Derbyshire | 5 | 3.95x |
| Gloucestershire | 5 | 3.15x |
| Nottinghamshire | 5 | 4.58x |
| Durham | 4 | 1.66x |
| Northumberland | 4 | 3.32x |
| Yorkshire | 4 | 0.50x |
| Kent | 3 | 1.09x |
| Cumberland | 2 | 2.87x |
| Cheshire | 1 | 0.56x |
| Northamptonshire | 1 | 1.31x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Milton in Hampshire leads with 7 Retfords recorded in 1881 and an index of 1707.32x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Milton | 7 | 1707.32x |
| Bardney | 5 | 1282.05x |
| Clerkenwell London | 5 | 26.16x |
| Newcastle On Tyne All Sts | 4 | 55.63x |
| Bristol St James St Paul | 3 | 56.71x |
| Harton | 3 | 315.79x |
| Lambeth | 3 | 4.25x |
| Openshaw | 3 | 66.67x |
| Prestwich | 3 | 125.00x |
| Ripley | 3 | 191.08x |
| Salford | 3 | 10.62x |
| Toynton All Sts | 3 | 3333.33x |
| Willesden | 3 | 39.32x |
| Aslockton | 2 | 1818.18x |
| Shoreditch London | 2 | 5.70x |
| St Clement Danes | 2 | 152.67x |
| Stretford | 2 | 37.88x |
| Stroud | 2 | 64.72x |
| Whitehaven | 2 | 53.91x |
| Chesterfield | 1 | 21.05x |
| Dartford | 1 | 35.46x |
| Denny Lodge | 1 | 1250.00x |
| Drypool | 1 | 81.30x |
| Eckington | 1 | 32.47x |
| Great Bolton | 1 | 7.86x |
| Great Driffield | 1 | 60.61x |
| Holy Trinity | 1 | 5.18x |
| Lewisham | 1 | 6.79x |
| Mexborough | 1 | 62.89x |
| Minster In Sheppey | 1 | 21.83x |
| Newark Upon Trent | 1 | 25.51x |
| Northampton All Sts | 1 | 38.76x |
| Nottingham St Nicholas | 1 | 67.11x |
| Putney | 1 | 27.10x |
| Richmond | 1 | 18.08x |
| St Anne Soho London | 1 | 21.65x |
| St George Hanover | 1 | 9.46x |
| St Marylebone London | 1 | 2.31x |
| Stoke D Abernon | 1 | 909.09x |
| Whatton | 1 | 1250.00x |
| Wincle | 1 | 1250.00x |
| Witton Le Wear | 1 | 147.06x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Retford 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 Retford 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 Retford households.
FAQ
In 1881, 83 people were recorded with the Retford surname. That placed it at #21,808 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 60 in 2016. That gives Retford a modern rank of #34,340.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Retford 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.