NameCensus.

UK surname

Rex

A Latin surname meaning "king," often bestowed as a nickname for someone who conducted himself in a regal manner.

In the 1881 census there were 470 people recorded with the Rex surname, ranking it #7,098 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 738, ranked #7,396, down from #7,098 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff and Clifton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Ryedale, Ipswich and Kingston upon Hull.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Rex is 804 in 1997. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 57.0%.

1881 census count

470

Ranked #7,098

Modern count

738

2016, ranked #7,396

Peak year

1997

804 bearers

Map years

6

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Rex had 470 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,098 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 738 in 2016, ranked #7,396.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 654 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Rex surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Rex surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Rex 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 351 #6,715
1881 historical 470 #7,098
1891 historical 6 #33,800
1901 historical 654 #6,607
1997 modern 804 #6,516
1998 modern 800 #6,748
1999 modern 790 #6,870
2000 modern 779 #6,920
2001 modern 757 #6,944
2002 modern 766 #7,006
2003 modern 728 #7,163
2004 modern 746 #7,050
2005 modern 718 #7,177
2006 modern 730 #7,132
2007 modern 734 #7,179
2008 modern 744 #7,148
2009 modern 768 #7,115
2010 modern 784 #7,144
2011 modern 782 #7,080
2012 modern 760 #7,150
2013 modern 763 #7,237
2014 modern 760 #7,295
2015 modern 753 #7,283
2016 modern 738 #7,396

Geography

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Where Rex' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Clifton, London parishes and Portsmouth, Portsea. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Ryedale, Ipswich, Kingston upon Hull and Leeds. 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 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
3 Clifton Gloucestershire
4 London parishes London 3
5 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Ryedale 008 Ryedale
2 Ipswich 014 Ipswich
3 Ryedale 001 Ryedale
4 Kingston upon Hull 033 Kingston upon Hull, City of
5 Leeds 067 Leeds

Forenames

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First names often paired with Rex

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Rex

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

Nationally, the Rex surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Rex household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Rex 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

Rex is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Rex falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Rex

The surname Rex originates from the Latin word 'rex', meaning 'king'. It is thought to have first emerged as a surname in England during the Middle Ages, likely as a nickname or descriptive name given to someone who exhibited regal or kingly qualities.

Rex is an ancient surname with roots dating back to the 11th century. It is found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a historical record of land ownership commissioned by William the Conqueror. References to individuals with the surname Rex appear in various medieval records and manuscripts from this time period.

One of the earliest known bearers of the Rex surname was William Rex, a Norman knight who fought alongside William the Conqueror during the Norman Conquest of England in 1066. William Rex was granted lands in Oxfordshire for his service to the king.

The Rex surname also has ties to place names, particularly in Suffolk and Essex, where it is believed to have originated from locations like Rexham (now Rectory Farm) and Rexborough (now Roxborough). These place names likely derived from the Old English words 'recc' or 'rex', meaning 'ruler' or 'king'.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the Rex surname. One such figure was Sir William Rex (1445-1508), a prominent English courtier and landowner during the reign of Henry VII. Another was Sir John Rex (1508-1594), a Member of Parliament during the Tudor period.

Other notable individuals with the Rex surname include:

1. Walter Rex (1280-1361), an English landowner and knight who served under Edward III during the Hundred Years' War. 2. Thomas Rex (1555-1638), an English clergyman and scholar who served as the Bishop of Norwich. 3. Robert Rex (1670-1742), a Scottish mathematician and inventor who devised an early form of the barometer. 4. Ebenezer Rex (1820-1892), an American businessman and politician who served as the Mayor of Grand Rapids, Michigan. 5. Florence Rex (1889-1971), an American actress and dancer known for her work in vaudeville and Broadway productions.

The Rex surname has a rich history rooted in the Latin word for 'king', and its bearers have made significant contributions across various fields throughout the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Rex families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Rex 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. Yorkshire leads with 104 Rex' recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.26x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 104 2.26x
Somerset 71 9.50x
Gloucestershire 52 5.71x
Middlesex 52 1.12x
Hampshire 35 3.68x
Devon 24 2.48x
Surrey 21 0.93x
Herefordshire 11 5.78x
Monmouthshire 11 3.28x
Glamorgan 10 1.24x
Lincolnshire 10 1.35x
Norfolk 9 1.26x
Nottinghamshire 9 1.44x
Wiltshire 8 1.95x
Durham 7 0.51x
Dorset 6 1.97x
Warwickshire 6 0.51x
Ayrshire 5 1.44x
Essex 5 0.55x
Cornwall 4 0.76x
Lancashire 4 0.07x
Northumberland 4 0.58x
Derbyshire 3 0.41x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.34x
Cheshire 1 0.10x
Royal Navy 1 1.81x
Staffordshire 1 0.06x
Suffolk 1 0.18x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Portsea in Hampshire leads with 27 Rex' recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.48x.

Place Total Index
Portsea 27 14.48x
Clifton 17 36.92x
Taunton St Mary 17 123.91x
Bethnal Green London 16 7.93x
Bedminster 13 18.51x
Exeter St Sidwell 13 58.72x
St Pancras London 12 3.21x
Farmanby 11 1392.41x
York St Mary 11 57.71x
Ebberston 10 1063.83x
Hereford St Nicholas 9 347.49x
Leeds 9 3.46x
Ashwick 8 661.16x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 8 9.33x
Bromley London 8 7.83x
Camberwell 8 2.70x
Charlton Musgrove 8 1230.77x
Lambeth 8 1.98x
Bristol St James St Paul 7 23.05x
Cropton 7 1250.00x
Dunton Cum Doughton 7 2592.59x
Garforth 7 198.86x
St Martin Lincoln 7 101.60x
Weaverthorpe 7 686.27x
Ashton Keynes 6 392.16x
Batcombe 6 606.06x
Neath 6 36.47x
Pannal 6 135.75x
Pickering 6 103.63x
Sherborne 6 66.82x
Taunton St James 6 55.05x
Tavistock 6 54.50x
Uley 6 361.45x
Warblington 6 159.15x
Birmingham 5 1.28x
Brotton 5 83.33x
Darlington 5 9.38x
Helperby 5 490.20x
Kilmarnock 5 12.09x
West Ham 5 2.47x
East Retford 4 73.66x
Ermington 4 113.64x
Hackney London 4 1.54x
Llandaff 4 14.87x
Trevethin 4 12.62x
Westgate 4 9.35x
Birdsall 3 588.24x
Bitton 3 37.83x
Kenwyn 3 21.82x
Llangibby 3 389.61x
Long Ashton 3 80.86x
Long Eaton 3 31.25x
Newington 3 1.75x
Stretford 3 9.90x
Upton Noble 3 882.35x
West Retford 3 230.77x
Box 2 57.14x
Bristol St George 2 4.75x
Bristol St Paul In 2 8.24x
Bristol St Peter 2 61.35x
Bromyard 2 79.68x
Cheltenham 2 2.85x
Hartlepool 2 10.19x
Holy Trinity Less 2 200.00x
St Marylebone London 2 0.81x
Sutton St Mary 2 28.49x
Thornton Dale 2 163.93x
Wells St Cuthbert Out 2 33.22x
West Heslerton 2 363.64x
Westminster St James 2 4.19x
York St Michael 2 303.03x
Bristol St Mary Redcliff 1 12.05x
Calstock 1 9.70x
Kirby Grindalyth 1 238.10x
Openshaw 1 3.88x
Pickering Marishes 1 200.00x
Shereford 1 714.29x
St Andrew Holborn 1 6.35x
Walcot 1 2.51x
West Teignmouth 1 13.53x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 33
Sarah 20
Ann 11
Annie 11
Elizabeth 11
Jane 11
Ellen 10
Alice 9
Hannah 6
Caroline 5
Florence 5
Louisa 5
Charlotte 4
Eliza 4
Fanny 4
Kate 4
Lucy 4
Clara 3
Emma 3
Harriet 3
Julia 3
Margaret 3
Susan 3
Agnes 2
Amelia 2
Edith 2
Eleanor 2
Emily 2
Esther 2
Henrietta 2
Livinia 2
Maud 2
May 2
Rebecca 2
Rosa 2
Rosina 2
Carnelia 1
Cecilia 1
Elizebeth 1
Elizth. 1
Elsie 1
Flora 1
Isobella 1
Jessie 1
Laura 1
Lillian 1
Lily 1
Lousia 1
Lucey 1
Victoria 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 35
William 34
John 17
Charles 15
Henry 13
James 13
Thomas 13
Albert 9
Arthur 8
Alfred 7
Mark 6
Samuel 6
Richard 5
Walter 5
Edwin 4
Frederick 4
Edward 3
Harry 3
Isaac 2
Joseph 2
Philip 2
Tom 2
Wm. 2
Beresford 1
Colin 1
David 1
Ernest 1
Francis 1
Frank 1
Fredrick 1
Herbert 1
Hy.John 1
Jas. 1
Maurice 1
Mitchel 1
Oliver 1
Ralph 1
Ringrose 1
Robert 1
Stephen 1
T.A. 1
Thos. 1

FAQ

Rex surname: questions and answers

How common was the Rex surname in 1881?

In 1881, 470 people were recorded with the Rex surname. That placed it at #7,098 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Rex surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 738 in 2016. That gives Rex a modern rank of #7,396.

What does the Rex surname mean?

A Latin surname meaning "king," often bestowed as a nickname for someone who conducted himself in a regal manner.

What does the Rex map show?

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