NameCensus.

UK surname

Rhind

A Scottish surname derived from a place name meaning "boundary" or "ridge."

In the 1881 census there were 718 people recorded with the Rhind surname, ranking it #5,071 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 731, ranked #7,448, down from #5,071 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Elgin, Edinburgh and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Findhorn, Kinloss and Pluscarden Valley, Cullen, Portknockie, Findochty, Drybridge and Berryhillock and Alyth.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Rhind is 855 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 1.8%.

1881 census count

718

Ranked #5,071

Modern count

731

2016, ranked #7,448

Peak year

1901

855 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Rhind had 718 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,071 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 731 in 2016, ranked #7,448.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 855 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Rhind surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Rhind surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Rhind 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 524 #4,784
1861 historical 525 #4,992
1881 historical 718 #5,071
1891 historical 826 #4,913
1901 historical 855 #5,336
1911 historical 370 #9,852
1997 modern 672 #7,476
1998 modern 718 #7,326
1999 modern 741 #7,220
2000 modern 762 #7,023
2001 modern 747 #7,006
2002 modern 778 #6,933
2003 modern 747 #7,043
2004 modern 759 #6,963
2005 modern 743 #7,012
2006 modern 752 #6,972
2007 modern 744 #7,100
2008 modern 757 #7,057
2009 modern 759 #7,182
2010 modern 758 #7,320
2011 modern 738 #7,405
2012 modern 700 #7,607
2013 modern 702 #7,705
2014 modern 716 #7,638
2015 modern 720 #7,561
2016 modern 731 #7,448

Geography

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Where Rhinds are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Elgin, Edinburgh, Manchester, Glasgow and Alves. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Findhorn, Kinloss and Pluscarden Valley, Cullen, Portknockie, Findochty, Drybridge and Berryhillock, Alyth, Invergordon and Duns. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Elgin Elgin
2 Edinburgh Edinburgh
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 Glasgow Lanark
5 Alves Elgin

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Findhorn, Kinloss and Pluscarden Valley Moray
2 Cullen, Portknockie, Findochty, Drybridge and Berryhillock Moray
3 Alyth Perth and Kinross
4 Invergordon Highland
5 Duns Scottish Borders

Forenames

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First names often paired with Rhind

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Rhind

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

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Rhind surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Rhind household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

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, Rhind 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

Rhind is most concentrated in decile 2 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Rhind falls in decile 10 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.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Rhind

The surname Rhind has its origins in Scotland, dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Gaelic word "roinn," which means a portion or a share, possibly referring to a land grant or a division of land. The name may also be linked to the Old Norse word "rinda," meaning a strip of land.

The earliest known record of the name Rhind can be traced back to the county of Perthshire, where the name was prominent in the area around the village of Rhynd, which may have influenced the spelling variation. This area was known for its fertile lands along the River Tay, and it is speculated that the name Rhind may have originated from a landowner or tenant in this region.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Rhind appeared in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a historical record of homages sworn by Scottish nobles to King Edward I of England. The document lists a "Johannes de Rinde" among the landowners who pledged allegiance to the English monarch.

In the 16th century, the name Rhind gained prominence with the birth of Thomas Rhind (1519-1583), a Scottish minister and reformer who played a significant role in the Scottish Reformation. He was a strong advocate for the establishment of the Presbyterian Church in Scotland and served as the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland.

Another notable figure with the surname Rhind was Alexander Henry Rhind (1833-1863), a Scottish archaeologist and Egyptologist. He is renowned for his pioneering work in excavating and studying the ancient Egyptian sites, including the pyramids of Giza and the temple complexes of Abydos. His untimely death at the age of 30 cut short a promising career in Egyptology.

In the literary realm, William Rhind (1799-1873) was a Scottish writer and journalist who authored several books on Scottish history and folklore. His work, "A Sketch of the Life of Sir Walter Scott," published in 1834, provided valuable insights into the life and works of the renowned Scottish novelist and poet.

The surname Rhind also found its way into the field of mathematics with the Scottish mathematician and professor, William Rhind (1865-1936). He made significant contributions to the teaching of mathematics and authored several influential textbooks on the subject.

Lastly, a notable figure in the realm of Scottish politics was James Rhind (1913-1996), a Scottish lawyer and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Stirlingshire and Falkirk from 1964 to 1979. He was a prominent advocate for Scottish devolution and played a key role in shaping the policies of the Scottish National Party.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Rhind families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Rhind 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. Aberdeenshire leads with 142 Rhinds recorded in 1881 and an index of 21.98x.

County Total Index
Aberdeenshire 142 21.98x
Midlothian 92 9.85x
Morayshire 72 66.44x
Middlesex 54 0.77x
Lancashire 51 0.62x
Lanarkshire 37 1.64x
Yorkshire 29 0.42x
Angus 25 3.87x
Banffshire 23 15.90x
Northumberland 18 1.73x
Inverness-shire 16 7.68x
Fife 14 3.39x
Dunbartonshire 13 6.94x
Berkshire 12 2.29x
Renfrewshire 11 2.04x
Durham 10 0.48x
Surrey 10 0.29x
Warwickshire 8 0.45x
Argyllshire 7 3.61x
Stirlingshire 6 2.33x
Essex 5 0.36x
Hampshire 5 0.35x
Sussex 5 0.43x
Sutherland 5 9.32x
Berwickshire 4 4.74x
Glamorgan 4 0.33x
Nairnshire 4 18.79x
Perthshire 4 1.28x
Selkirkshire 4 6.34x
Caithness 3 3.14x
Kent 3 0.13x
Suffolk 3 0.35x
Ayrshire 2 0.38x
Cheshire 2 0.13x
Cumberland 2 0.33x
Herefordshire 2 0.70x
Ross-shire 2 1.04x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.24x
Clackmannanshire 1 1.74x
Hertfordshire 1 0.21x
Kincardineshire 1 1.18x
Kirkcudbrightshire 1 0.99x
Staffordshire 1 0.04x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Aberdeen Old Machar in Aberdeenshire leads with 56 Rhinds recorded in 1881 and an index of 41.52x.

Place Total Index
Aberdeen Old Machar 56 41.52x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 42 11.17x
Hulme 23 13.31x
Alves 21 780.67x
Elgin 18 85.39x
Huntly 18 171.27x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 16 13.24x
Barony 16 2.80x
Duffus 16 167.54x
Govan 15 2.69x
Insch 15 408.72x
Englefield 12 1290.32x
Fordyce 12 115.27x
Inverness 12 22.91x
North Leith 12 27.75x
St Vigeans 12 34.40x
Clerkenwell London 10 6.07x
Holy Trinity 10 6.02x
Inverurie 10 136.80x
South Leith 10 9.51x
Edinburgh St Stephens 9 48.94x
Leeds 9 2.31x
Westoe 9 7.65x
Edgbaston 8 14.67x
St Pancras London 8 1.43x
Monquhitter 7 104.63x
Teddington London 7 44.30x
Arbroath 6 28.02x
Birnie 6 681.82x
Edinburgh Tolbooth 6 110.29x
Lambeth 6 0.99x
Longbenton 6 13.65x
North Meols 6 7.41x
St Luke London 6 5.36x
Stretford 6 13.18x
Strichen 6 106.95x
Sutton 6 21.61x
Tynemouth 6 10.80x
Arrochar 5 406.50x
Clyne 5 115.74x
Duddingston 5 26.65x
Edinburgh St Georges 5 25.79x
Falkirk 5 8.30x
Glasgow 5 1.25x
Great Dunmow 5 69.74x
Hastings Holy Trinity 5 57.67x
Old Kilpatrick 5 22.57x
St Andrew Holborn 5 21.15x
St Helens 5 48.12x
St Marylebone London 5 1.34x
York St Cuthbert 5 78.99x
Aberlour 4 87.15x
Cairney 4 106.38x
Camberwell 4 0.90x
Cardiff St John 4 10.08x
Cathcart 4 13.68x
Coldingham 4 52.70x
Eastwood 4 12.02x
Elswick 4 4.83x
Everton 4 1.52x
Galashiels 4 17.15x
Hampstead London 4 3.68x
Knapdale South 4 59.97x
Liff Benvie 4 4.08x
Manchester 4 1.07x
Moy Dalarossie 4 204.08x
Nairn 4 30.96x
Rothiemay 4 121.95x
Shoreditch London 4 1.32x
Abbotshall 3 19.44x
Dunfermline 3 4.73x
Forgan 3 37.93x
King Edward 3 40.32x
Leslie 3 28.71x
Lowestoft 3 7.48x
Rawcliffe In Goole 3 76.34x
Renfrew 3 16.81x
Wick 3 9.72x
Berwick Upon Tweed 2 9.10x
Drainie 2 20.83x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 22
Elizabeth 8
Jane 7
Sarah 5
Alice 4
Charlotte 4
Ada 3
Emily 3
Helen 3
Isabella 3
Anne 2
Annie 2
Edith 2
Frances 2
Harriet 2
Jessie 2
Louisa 2
Margaret 2
Margret 2
Maria 2
Minnie 2
Phoebe 2
Sophia 2
Amelia 1
Ann 1
Beatrice 1
Caroline 1
Catherine 1
Eliza 1
Ellen 1
Ellie 1
Emma 1
Euphemia 1
Evelyn 1
Florence 1
Georgeanna 1
Gertrude 1
Helena 1
Hellen 1
Henrietta 1
Hepshzibah 1
Isabell 1
Janet 1
Jeanetta 1
Jennie 1
Laura 1
Louiesa 1
Marian 1
Martha 1
Nelly 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 20
James 16
John 13
George 6
Charles 5
Robert 5
Thomas 4
Frederick 3
Joseph 3
Alex. 2
Arthur 2
Benjamin 2
Edward 2
Edwin 2
Hugh 2
Peter 2
Alexander 1
Alfred 1
Ambrose 1
Cameron 1
Cecil 1
Douglas 1
Edin 1
Eric 1
Frank 1
Geo. 1
Henry 1
Jas. 1
Jas.Jos. 1
Moses 1
Percy 1
Richard 1
Robt. 1
Robt.Russell 1
Walter 1
Willm. 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Rhind surname: questions and answers

How common was the Rhind surname in 1881?

In 1881, 718 people were recorded with the Rhind surname. That placed it at #5,071 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Rhind surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 731 in 2016. That gives Rhind a modern rank of #7,448.

What does the Rhind surname mean?

A Scottish surname derived from a place name meaning "boundary" or "ridge."

What does the Rhind map show?

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