NameCensus.

UK surname

Rhoades

An English toponymic surname derived from a place name meaning "dweller by the road" in Old English.

In the 1881 census there were 488 people recorded with the Rhoades surname, ranking it #6,898 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 472, ranked #10,433, down from #6,898 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Swaby and Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North East Lincolnshire, Tunbridge Wells and Thanet.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Rhoades is 561 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 3.3%.

1881 census count

488

Ranked #6,898

Modern count

472

2016, ranked #10,433

Peak year

1911

561 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Rhoades had 488 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,898 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 472 in 2016, ranked #10,433.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 561 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Rhoades surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Rhoades surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Rhoades 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 413 #5,872
1861 historical 338 #7,541
1881 historical 488 #6,898
1891 historical 520 #7,194
1901 historical 513 #7,901
1911 historical 561 #7,180
1997 modern 485 #9,512
1998 modern 486 #9,810
1999 modern 489 #9,830
2000 modern 465 #10,175
2001 modern 462 #10,034
2002 modern 463 #10,202
2003 modern 438 #10,507
2004 modern 445 #10,418
2005 modern 417 #10,833
2006 modern 423 #10,765
2007 modern 436 #10,597
2008 modern 439 #10,640
2009 modern 456 #10,558
2010 modern 466 #10,595
2011 modern 463 #10,551
2012 modern 458 #10,528
2013 modern 483 #10,287
2014 modern 485 #10,327
2015 modern 476 #10,379
2016 modern 472 #10,433

Geography

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Where Rhoades' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Swaby, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, Clee and Grimsby, Great. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North East Lincolnshire, Tunbridge Wells, Thanet and Croydon. 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 London parishes London 3
2 Swaby Lincolnshire
3 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
4 Clee Lincolnshire
5 Grimsby, Great Lincolnshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North East Lincolnshire 013 North East Lincolnshire
2 Tunbridge Wells 014 Tunbridge Wells
3 North East Lincolnshire 007 North East Lincolnshire
4 Thanet 001 Thanet
5 Croydon 030 Croydon

Forenames

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First names often paired with Rhoades

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Rhoades

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

Ageing Communities

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Rhoades is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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 concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Rhoades 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

Rhoades falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Rhoades is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Rhoades, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Rhoades

The surname Rhoades has its origins in the United Kingdom, deriving from the Old English word "rod," meaning a clearing or a small piece of land. It is believed to have emerged as a surname in the 12th century.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be traced back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appeared as "Rode" and "Rodis." These entries suggest that the name was initially used to identify individuals who lived near or owned a small parcel of land or a clearing.

In the centuries that followed, the surname underwent various spelling variations, such as Rhodes, Rodes, and Rhoades. These variations were often influenced by regional dialects and the preferences of scribes who recorded the name.

One notable early bearer of the surname was John Rhoades, a member of the English Parliament who was born in 1532 and died in 1592. He represented the constituency of Taunton in Somerset during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

Another prominent figure was Sir Godfrey Rhoades, a British diplomat and colonial administrator who lived from 1837 to 1912. He served as the Governor of British Honduras (now Belize) and later became the Lieutenant-Governor of the Windward Islands.

In the United States, the Rhoades surname can be traced back to the colonial era, with several early settlers bearing the name. One such individual was Henry Rhoades, who arrived in Virginia in 1623 and became a prominent landowner and planter in the region.

The name Rhoades has also been associated with several place names throughout history. For instance, the village of Rhodes in Shropshire, England, was once known as "Rodes" in medieval records. Similarly, the town of Rhodes in Yorkshire was referred to as "Rodhes" in the 13th century.

Other notable individuals with the Rhoades surname include Katharine Rhoades (1838-1920), an American educator and suffragist, and Trumbull Rhoades (1890-1952), an American artist and illustrator known for his work in magazines and children's books.

Throughout its history, the surname Rhoades has been borne by individuals from various walks of life, including politicians, diplomats, educators, and artists, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and contributions of those who carried this name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Rhoades families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Rhoades 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. Lincolnshire leads with 171 Rhoades' recorded in 1881 and an index of 22.65x.

County Total Index
Lincolnshire 171 22.65x
Yorkshire 61 1.30x
Sussex 34 4.27x
Middlesex 30 0.64x
Nottinghamshire 29 4.56x
Kent 24 1.49x
Surrey 23 1.00x
Hertfordshire 20 6.15x
Warwickshire 12 1.01x
Worcestershire 11 1.78x
Northamptonshire 9 2.03x
Berkshire 8 2.26x
Buckinghamshire 8 2.80x
Staffordshire 8 0.50x
Dorset 7 2.26x
Essex 6 0.64x
Hampshire 6 0.62x
Devon 4 0.41x
Cambridgeshire 2 0.67x
Glamorgan 2 0.24x
Leicestershire 2 0.38x
Bedfordshire 1 0.41x
Cheshire 1 0.10x
Derbyshire 1 0.14x
Durham 1 0.07x
Herefordshire 1 0.52x
Merionethshire 1 1.16x
Shropshire 1 0.25x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hemel Hempstead in Hertfordshire leads with 17 Rhoades' recorded in 1881 and an index of 115.96x.

Place Total Index
Hemel Hempstead 17 115.96x
Henfield 14 457.52x
Nottingham St Mary 12 7.29x
Pocklington 12 271.49x
Swaby 12 1791.04x
Alford 10 213.68x
Croydon 10 7.83x
Cadney 9 1232.88x
East Retford 9 163.04x
Friskney 9 375.00x
Great Grimsby 9 18.79x
Hackney London 9 3.40x
Sculcoates 9 12.13x
Streatham 9 25.69x
Ecclesall Bierlow 8 8.41x
Horsham 8 51.75x
Lewisham 8 9.31x
Rugby 8 49.66x
Thurlby 8 1632.65x
Twickenham 8 39.53x
Wolstanton 8 16.53x
Ashby By Partney 7 3500.00x
Boston 7 30.57x
Kings Cliffe 7 338.16x
Market Stainton 7 4375.00x
St Nicholas Lincoln 7 96.95x
Waddesdon 7 514.71x
Yalding 7 171.99x
Barnoldby Le Beck 6 1764.71x
Bramley In Bramley 6 33.50x
Gringley On Hill 6 447.76x
Holton Le Clay 6 1304.35x
Sherborne 6 65.72x
Barnetby Le Wold 5 364.96x
Belbroughton 5 156.25x
Biscathorpe 5 5000.00x
Holton Beckering 5 1851.85x
Holy Trinity 5 4.44x
Rye 5 66.14x
Shoreditch London 5 2.44x
Sibsey 5 294.12x
Steeple Bumpstead 5 292.40x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 4 9.18x
Barkham 4 1111.11x
Goudhurst 4 89.69x
Havant 4 81.63x
Legsby 4 740.74x
Mancetter 4 116.96x
Mitcham 4 27.51x
Northbourne 4 261.44x
Plymouth Charles The 4 9.24x
Reading St Lawrence 4 52.77x
Scawby 4 160.00x
St Peterat Gowts Lincoln 4 37.66x
Bethnal Green London 3 1.46x
Caistor 3 100.00x
Keighley 3 6.02x
Lewes St John Southover 3 56.07x
Lewes St John Under 3 275.23x
Louth 3 17.34x
Newington 3 23.29x
Orby 3 454.55x
Sheffield 3 2.01x
St Benedict Lincoln 3 297.03x
Welton Le Wold 3 555.56x
Bradford 2 1.77x
Bromsgrove 2 9.64x
Clee With Weelsby 2 12.10x
Cottenham 2 50.38x
Elmley Castle 2 333.33x
Hampstead London 2 2.72x
Huttoft 2 206.19x
Scotter 2 115.61x
Skendleby 2 454.55x
Strubby 2 425.53x
Swansea Town 2 2.97x
Thurlby Obthorpe 2 198.02x
Titchfield 2 27.43x
Ulceby 2 108.70x
Wombwell 2 14.66x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 33
Elizabeth 20
Sarah 15
Ann 11
Emma 11
Emily 10
Annie 9
Ellen 8
Fanny 8
Jane 8
Alice 7
Eliza 7
Lucy 6
Maria 6
Ada 4
Betsy 3
Edith 3
Margaret 3
Agnes 2
Anne 2
Catherine 2
Clara 2
Florence 2
Hannah 2
Harriett 2
Julia 2
Louisa 2
Martha 2
Matilda 2
Rosa 2
Susannah 2
Anna 1
Bertha 1
Bessie 1
Charlotte 1
Christiana 1
Eleanor 1
Elizebeth 1
Esther 1
Eve 1
Evelyn 1
Hellen 1
Isabella 1
Kate 1
Lane 1
Liza 1
Louisian 1
Mabel 1
Madeline 1
William 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 37
John 28
Charles 23
George 22
Thomas 16
Henry 12
James 12
Arthur 11
Joseph 10
Robert 8
Edward 7
Alfred 6
Samuel 6
Albert 4
Fred 4
Frederick 4
Harry 4
Richard 4
Walter 4
David 3
Edwin 2
Fredrick 2
Ambrose 1
Benjamin 1
Chars. 1
Daniel 1
Edwards 1
Elias 1
Enoch 1
Ernest 1
Geo.D. 1
Henery 1
Herbert 1
Joe 1
Josiah 1
Luke 1
Ralph 1
Robt. 1
Theodore 1
Thos. 1
Tom 1
Uriah 1
Willathorne 1
Wilson 1

FAQ

Rhoades surname: questions and answers

How common was the Rhoades surname in 1881?

In 1881, 488 people were recorded with the Rhoades surname. That placed it at #6,898 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Rhoades surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 472 in 2016. That gives Rhoades a modern rank of #10,433.

What does the Rhoades surname mean?

An English toponymic surname derived from a place name meaning "dweller by the road" in Old English.

What does the Rhoades map show?

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