UK surname
An English toponymic surname indicating someone who lived near a road, often derived from the Old English "rod."
In the 1881 census there were 74 people recorded with the Rhoads surname, ranking it #23,062 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 21, ranked #36,596, down from #23,062 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Calceby, Wolstanton and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Rhoads is 123 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 71.6%.
1881 census count
74
Ranked #23,062
Modern count
21
2016, ranked #36,596
Peak year
1851
123 bearers
Map years
2
1851 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Rhoads surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Rhoads 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 | 123 | #14,886 |
| 1861 | historical | 104 | #20,477 |
| 1881 | historical | 74 | #23,062 |
| 1891 | historical | 62 | #28,991 |
| 1901 | historical | 25 | #31,259 |
| 1911 | historical | 31 | #29,952 |
| 1997 | modern | 17 | #36,181 |
| 1998 | modern | 18 | #36,135 |
| 1999 | modern | 18 | #36,151 |
| 2000 | modern | 15 | #36,425 |
| 2001 | modern | 15 | #36,265 |
| 2002 | modern | 20 | #35,894 |
| 2003 | modern | 19 | #36,011 |
| 2004 | modern | 17 | #36,342 |
| 2005 | modern | 16 | #36,530 |
| 2006 | modern | 18 | #36,412 |
| 2007 | modern | 19 | #36,450 |
| 2008 | modern | 18 | #36,607 |
| 2009 | modern | 19 | #36,603 |
| 2010 | modern | 17 | #36,862 |
| 2011 | modern | 20 | #36,587 |
| 2012 | modern | 21 | #36,490 |
| 2013 | modern | 21 | #36,561 |
| 2014 | modern | 21 | #36,577 |
| 2015 | modern | 21 | #36,574 |
| 2016 | modern | 21 | #36,596 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Calceby, Wolstanton, London parishes, Manchester and Kirton-in-Lindsey. 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 | Calceby | Lincolnshire |
| 2 | Wolstanton | Staffordshire |
| 3 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 4 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 5 | Kirton-in-Lindsey | Lincolnshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Rhoads 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 Rhoads, 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 Rhoads surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Rhoads 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, Rhoads 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 Rhoads is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Rhoads, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname RHOADS is of English origin, derived from the Old English word "rod," which meant a clearing or a path through the woods. It was originally an occupational name for someone who lived near a rode or forest clearing.
The name first appeared in historical records in the late 11th century, shortly after the Norman Conquest of England in 1066. One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname is found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is spelled "Rodis."
In the 12th century, the name began to appear in various spellings such as Rodes, Rodes, and Rohdes, reflecting the regional dialects of different parts of England. The spelling "RHOADS" emerged in the 16th century and became the predominant form in some areas.
The RHOADS surname has been associated with several notable historical figures over the centuries. One of the earliest was Sir John Rhoads (c. 1330-1405), a prominent English landowner and knight who served under King Edward III during the Hundred Years' War.
Another notable bearer of the name was John RHOADS (1673-1743), a Quaker leader and early settler in Pennsylvania who founded the town of Rhoads Ford, now known as Downingtown.
In the 18th century, Benjamin RHOADS (1738-1820) was a prominent American businessman and philanthropist who helped establish the Pennsylvania Hospital in Philadelphia.
During the American Civil War, Samuel Rhoads (1838-1917) served as a Union Army officer and later became a successful businessman and politician in Ohio.
More recently, Harlan RHOADS (1899-1982) was an American physicist and inventor who made significant contributions to the development of radar technology during World War II.
These are just a few examples of the many notable individuals who have borne the RHOADS surname throughout history, reflecting its enduring legacy across various fields and locations.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Rhoads 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. Lincolnshire leads with 11 Rhoads' recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.53x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lincolnshire | 11 | 9.53x |
| Sussex | 11 | 9.04x |
| Cheshire | 8 | 5.02x |
| Staffordshire | 8 | 3.28x |
| Northamptonshire | 7 | 10.31x |
| Yorkshire | 6 | 0.84x |
| Middlesex | 5 | 0.69x |
| Warwickshire | 4 | 2.20x |
| Berkshire | 3 | 5.54x |
| Nottinghamshire | 3 | 3.08x |
| Cambridgeshire | 2 | 4.38x |
| Derbyshire | 2 | 1.77x |
| Buckinghamshire | 1 | 2.29x |
| Essex | 1 | 0.70x |
| Gloucestershire | 1 | 0.71x |
| Oxfordshire | 1 | 2.24x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Eastbourne in Sussex leads with 9 Rhoads' recorded in 1881 and an index of 160.71x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Eastbourne | 9 | 160.71x |
| Holton Le Clay | 8 | 11428.57x |
| Monks Coppenhall | 8 | 133.11x |
| Tipton | 8 | 107.24x |
| Daventry | 7 | 729.17x |
| Frankton | 4 | 8000.00x |
| Heston | 4 | 166.67x |
| Clewer | 3 | 135.14x |
| Headon Cum Upton | 3 | 5000.00x |
| Cliffe | 2 | 487.80x |
| Cottenham | 2 | 327.87x |
| Morton In Keighley | 2 | 357.14x |
| Shirland | 2 | 238.10x |
| Aylesbury | 1 | 51.81x |
| Bardney | 1 | 294.12x |
| Carlton In Wharfedale | 1 | 5000.00x |
| Caversham | 1 | 112.36x |
| Cheltenham | 1 | 9.16x |
| Forest Gate | 1 | 500.00x |
| Kirmington | 1 | 1000.00x |
| Ossett Cum Gawthorpe | 1 | 39.22x |
| Preston | 1 | 256.41x |
| St Stephen Coleman | 1 | 526.32x |
| Tumby | 1 | 1111.11x |
| Wortley In Wortley | 1 | 357.14x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Rhoads 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 Rhoads 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 Rhoads households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 16 |
| Labourers Son | 3 |
| General Serv Domestic | 2 |
| Ag Lab | 1 |
| Ag Lab Wife | 1 |
| Barman | 1 |
| Charwoman | 1 |
| Coachman (N) | 1 |
| Coal Miner | 1 |
| Colliery Labourer | 1 |
| Cook | 1 |
| Cottager 9 Acres (Farmer) | 1 |
| Farm Laborer | 1 |
| Farm Laborer Wife | 1 |
| Fitter | 1 |
| Gardener | 1 |
| Gen Labourer | 1 |
| General Serv Dom | 1 |
| Genl Serv | 1 |
| Housekeeper | 1 |
| Housemaid | 1 |
| Ind | 1 |
| Joiners Wife | 1 |
| Labourer Ag | 1 |
| Labourers Daur | 1 |
| Labourers Wife | 1 |
| Lodging House Keeper | 1 |
| Munga Packer (W) | 1 |
| Nurse | 1 |
| Painter | 1 |
| Publican | 1 |
| Puddler | 1 |
| Sergt In Militia | 1 |
| Thrashing Machine Labourer | 1 |
| Wightsmith | 1 |
| Worsted Spinner | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 74 people were recorded with the Rhoads surname. That placed it at #23,062 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 21 in 2016. That gives Rhoads a modern rank of #36,596.
An English toponymic surname indicating someone who lived near a road, often derived from the Old English "rod."
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Rhoads 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.