NameCensus.

UK surname

Rhead

A locational surname referring to someone who lived by a red headland or cliff.

In the 1881 census there were 383 people recorded with the Rhead surname, ranking it #8,212 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 549, ranked #9,292, down from #8,212 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wolstanton, Leek and Burslem. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Staffordshire Moorlands and Stoke-on-Trent.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Rhead is 631 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 43.3%.

1881 census count

383

Ranked #8,212

Modern count

549

2016, ranked #9,292

Peak year

1911

631 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Rhead had 383 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,212 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 549 in 2016, ranked #9,292.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 631 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Small Town Suburbia.

Rhead surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Rhead surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Rhead 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 248 #8,840
1861 historical 261 #9,481
1881 historical 383 #8,212
1891 historical 481 #7,664
1901 historical 552 #7,515
1911 historical 631 #6,581
1997 modern 442 #10,209
1998 modern 557 #8,837
1999 modern 562 #8,825
2000 modern 562 #8,795
2001 modern 546 #8,849
2002 modern 565 #8,802
2003 modern 556 #8,770
2004 modern 562 #8,721
2005 modern 562 #8,658
2006 modern 555 #8,752
2007 modern 552 #8,883
2008 modern 560 #8,835
2009 modern 570 #8,920
2010 modern 576 #9,036
2011 modern 574 #8,976
2012 modern 553 #9,126
2013 modern 554 #9,279
2014 modern 561 #9,242
2015 modern 557 #9,206
2016 modern 549 #9,292

Geography

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Where Rheads are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wolstanton, Leek, Burslem, Newcastle-under Lyne and Walsall. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Staffordshire Moorlands and Stoke-on-Trent. 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 Wolstanton Staffordshire
2 Leek Staffordshire
3 Burslem Staffordshire
4 Newcastle-under Lyne Staffordshire
5 Walsall Staffordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Staffordshire Moorlands 005 Staffordshire Moorlands
2 Staffordshire Moorlands 001 Staffordshire Moorlands
3 Staffordshire Moorlands 006 Staffordshire Moorlands
4 Stoke-on-Trent 007 Stoke-on-Trent
5 Staffordshire Moorlands 009 Staffordshire Moorlands

Forenames

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First names often paired with Rhead

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Rhead

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Small Town Suburbia

Nationally, the Rhead surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Small Town Suburbia, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Rhead 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 predominantly comprised of married couples with no resident dependent children, living in areas characterised neither by under-occupancy nor overcrowding throughout the UK in or adjacent to small towns. White ethnic groups and affiliation with Christianity predominates. Housing tends to be predominantly semi-detached or detached and workers are employed principally in managerial and professional occupations, with semi-skilled occupations also in evidence. These areas of the Supergroup are of higher population density.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Rhead is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Rhead is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Rhead falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Rhead

The surname RHEAD has its roots in England, tracing back to the medieval period. It is believed to have originated from a place name, likely a settlement or region, bearing a similar spelling. The name may have evolved from the Old English words "read" (red) and "heafod" (head), potentially referring to a person with reddish hair or complexion.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the RHEAD surname can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire, dated 1170, where a certain Robert Rehead is mentioned. This suggests that the name was already established in the northern regions of England during the 12th century.

The Domesday Book, the remarkable survey conducted in 1086 by order of William the Conqueror, does not explicitly mention the RHEAD surname. However, it does record several place names that share similarities with the surname, such as Redeheued (Redhead) and Redheued (Redhead), indicating the possible geographic origins of the name.

In the 13th century, records show the presence of a family bearing the RHEAD surname in the county of Staffordshire. Notable individuals from this lineage include William RHEAD, who served as a local magistrate in the town of Uttoxeter in 1274.

During the 16th century, the RHEAD surname gained prominence in the county of Cheshire, where several families with this name established themselves as landowners and gentry. One notable figure was John RHEAD (1550-1618), a wealthy merchant and alderman in the city of Chester.

The RHEAD family also had connections to the textile industry in the neighboring county of Lancashire. Thomas RHEAD (1678-1752) was a renowned weaver and entrepreneur who contributed to the region's thriving textile trade.

As the name spread across England, it encountered various spellings, such as Reade, Reade, Rhead, and Reade, reflecting the inconsistencies in record-keeping and regional dialects of the time.

In the literary realm, the RHEAD surname found its place in the works of the renowned English author, Samuel Johnson (1709-1784). In his dictionary, Johnson included the entry "Readhead," defining it as "a name of family."

The artistic legacy of the RHEAD surname can be traced to the renowned pottery and ceramics family from Staffordshire. Notable members include Frederick Alfred RHEAD (1856-1942), a celebrated ceramicist and designer, and his son Louis RHEAD (1884-1926), an accomplished illustrator and artist.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Rhead families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Rhead 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. Staffordshire leads with 263 Rheads recorded in 1881 and an index of 20.80x.

County Total Index
Staffordshire 263 20.80x
Cheshire 24 2.90x
Warwickshire 22 2.33x
Lancashire 21 0.47x
Pembrokeshire 12 10.08x
Monmouthshire 8 2.95x
Kent 7 0.55x
Middlesex 6 0.16x
Worcestershire 5 1.02x
Glamorgan 4 0.61x
Midlothian 4 0.80x
Caernarfonshire 3 1.98x
Surrey 2 0.11x
Gloucestershire 1 0.14x
Shropshire 1 0.31x
Yorkshire 1 0.03x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Stoke Upon Trent in Staffordshire leads with 105 Rheads recorded in 1881 and an index of 78.31x.

Place Total Index
Stoke Upon Trent 105 78.31x
Wolstanton 38 98.96x
Newcastle Under Lyme 24 107.29x
Monks Coppenhall 22 70.51x
Leek Lowe 16 95.12x
Wolstanton Knutton 12 155.44x
Walsall Foreign 11 16.84x
Aston 9 3.46x
Audley 8 63.95x
Upper Llanvrechva 8 190.02x
Walton West 8 1702.13x
Deptford St Paul 7 7.10x
Leek Frith 7 666.67x
Monks Kirby 7 336.54x
Norton In Moors 7 104.63x
Trentham 7 65.12x
Wolstanton Chesterton 7 108.36x
Aldridge 6 246.91x
Birmingham 6 1.91x
Halsall 5 284.09x
Salford 5 3.82x
Burslem 4 11.04x
Camrose 4 350.88x
Cardiff St John 4 18.78x
Chorlton 4 816.33x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 4 1.98x
Everton 4 2.82x
Bettws Y Coed 3 297.03x
Pendleton In Salford 3 5.67x
Redditch 3 30.24x
Chelsea London 2 1.77x
Kirkdale 2 2.67x
Lambeth 2 0.61x
St Pancras London 2 0.66x
Stone 2 12.37x
Wollaston 2 64.52x
Wolstanton Oldcott 2 43.67x
Audley Talk O Th Hill 1 43.86x
Birkenhead 1 1.52x
Boroughbridge 1 80.00x
Burnley 1 2.67x
Eccleshall 1 20.88x
Islington London 1 0.28x
Manchester 1 0.50x
Sandbach 1 14.18x
St George Hanover 1 2.05x
Tibberton 1 212.77x
Whitmore 1 303.03x
Woore 1 116.28x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 24
Elizabeth 17
Martha 12
Ellen 11
Alice 10
Sarah 9
Annie 7
Eliza 7
Jane 7
Fanny 6
Ann 5
Hannah 4
Louisa 4
Ada 3
Anne 3
Eleanor 3
Elizth. 3
Julia 3
Margaret 3
Cecilia 2
Charlotte 2
Edith 2
Emma 2
Florence 2
Frances 2
Gertrude 2
Agnes 1
Betsy 1
Caroline 1
Clara 1
Dinah 1
Eli 1
Eliz. 1
Emily 1
Ethel 1
Eunice 1
Evelyn 1
Harriett 1
Harriott 1
Heplingh 1
Kate 1
L.A. 1
Leah 1
Lilian 1
Lilleth 1
Lilly 1
Lizzie 1
Lois 1
Lucy 1
Violet 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 24
John 23
James 13
Thomas 12
George 11
Arthur 9
Joseph 9
Alfred 8
Henry 5
Edward 4
Frederick 4
Peter 4
Samuel 4
Thos. 4
Charles 3
Daniel 3
Ernest 3
Josiah 3
Richard 3
Wm. 3
Abraham 2
Albert 2
Edwin 2
Geo. 2
Isaac 2
Sampson 2
Allan 1
Archibald 1
Beatried 1
Bernal 1
Caleb 1
Carlton 1
Cyrus 1
Enoch 1
Essex 1
Ezra 1
Fredk. 1
Fredk.Geo. 1
Geo 1
Harry 1
Hy.J. 1
Joshua 1
Louis 1
Nathanial 1
Norman 1
Richd. 1
Robt. 1
Walter 1
Wm.G. 1
Wm.Geo. 1

FAQ

Rhead surname: questions and answers

How common was the Rhead surname in 1881?

In 1881, 383 people were recorded with the Rhead surname. That placed it at #8,212 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Rhead surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 549 in 2016. That gives Rhead a modern rank of #9,292.

What does the Rhead surname mean?

A locational surname referring to someone who lived by a red headland or cliff.

What does the Rhead map show?

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