UK surname
A locational surname derived from a place name, likely referring to someone from the Greek island of Rhodes.
In the 1881 census there were 43 people recorded with the Rhode surname, ranking it #27,575 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 50, ranked #34,889, down from #27,575 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Stockport, Wolstanton and Ardsley, West. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Rhode is 182 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 16.3%.
1881 census count
43
Ranked #27,575
Modern count
50
2016, ranked #34,889
Peak year
1891
182 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Rhode surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Rhode surname density by area, 1891 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 | 66 | #21,617 |
| 1861 | historical | 161 | #14,392 |
| 1881 | historical | 43 | #27,575 |
| 1891 | historical | 182 | #15,983 |
| 1901 | historical | 40 | #29,678 |
| 1911 | historical | 92 | #23,580 |
| 1997 | modern | 60 | #31,629 |
| 1998 | modern | 58 | #32,138 |
| 1999 | modern | 54 | #32,660 |
| 2000 | modern | 60 | #32,124 |
| 2001 | modern | 57 | #32,275 |
| 2002 | modern | 54 | #32,927 |
| 2003 | modern | 59 | #32,530 |
| 2004 | modern | 57 | #32,968 |
| 2005 | modern | 56 | #33,264 |
| 2006 | modern | 52 | #33,923 |
| 2007 | modern | 55 | #33,965 |
| 2008 | modern | 51 | #34,439 |
| 2009 | modern | 56 | #34,278 |
| 2010 | modern | 60 | #34,205 |
| 2011 | modern | 57 | #34,393 |
| 2012 | modern | 53 | #34,657 |
| 2013 | modern | 54 | #34,666 |
| 2014 | modern | 53 | #34,753 |
| 2015 | modern | 51 | #34,834 |
| 2016 | modern | 50 | #34,889 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Stockport, Wolstanton, Ardsley, West, Chesterfield and Bradford. 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 | Stockport | Cheshire |
| 2 | Wolstanton | Staffordshire |
| 3 | Ardsley, West | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 4 | Chesterfield | Derbyshire |
| 5 | Bradford | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Rhode 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 Rhode, 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 Rhode surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Rhode 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, Rhode 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 Rhode is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Rhode, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Rhode has its origins in England and dates back to the 11th century. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word 'rod', meaning a clearing or rode in a forest. The earliest records of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as 'Rode'.
In the Middle Ages, the name was often associated with those who lived near a clearing or rode in a forest. It is believed that some early bearers of the name may have been woodsmen or foresters. The name was also occasionally used as a topographic surname, referring to someone who lived near a road or path.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Rhode was John Rode, a landowner in Gloucestershire, England, who was mentioned in documents from the early 13th century. Another notable bearer of the name was Roger Rode, a monk and chronicler who lived in the late 14th century and wrote about the history of his monastery in Gloucestershire.
The name Rhode also has variations in spelling, such as Rhoades, Roades, and Rodes. These variations can be found in historical records from various parts of England, particularly in the counties of Somerset, Wiltshire, and Gloucestershire.
In the 16th century, a prominent figure with the surname Rhode was Sir John Rhoades, a wealthy merchant and Lord Mayor of London in 1561. He was known for his philanthropic efforts and endowed several charitable institutions in the city.
Another notable bearer of the name was Walter Rodes, a 17th-century English lawyer and judge who served as Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench from 1663 to 1665.
In the 18th century, Sir John Rhoades (1701-1770) was a British naval officer and Member of Parliament. He served as a Captain in the Royal Navy and was later elected to the House of Commons, representing the borough of Queenborough.
Samuel Rhoades (1783-1838) was a British Nonconformist minister and author who wrote several theological works and served as a pastor in various churches in England.
The surname Rhode has also been associated with several place names in England, such as Rhodes Farm in Oxfordshire and Rhodes Green in Hertfordshire, further indicating its topographic origins.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Rhode 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. Surrey leads with 9 Rhodes recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.41x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Surrey | 9 | 4.41x |
| Yorkshire | 7 | 1.69x |
| Middlesex | 6 | 1.43x |
| Northumberland | 6 | 9.62x |
| Sussex | 3 | 4.24x |
| Pembrokeshire | 2 | 15.02x |
| Staffordshire | 2 | 1.41x |
| Cheshire | 1 | 1.08x |
| Cornwall | 1 | 2.11x |
| Durham | 1 | 0.80x |
| Lancashire | 1 | 0.20x |
| Midlothian | 1 | 1.78x |
| Norfolk | 1 | 1.55x |
| Warwickshire | 1 | 0.95x |
| Wiltshire | 1 | 2.70x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bermondsey in Surrey leads with 6 Rhodes recorded in 1881 and an index of 48.08x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Bermondsey | 6 | 48.08x |
| Tynemouth | 6 | 179.64x |
| Goole | 4 | 571.43x |
| Eastbourne | 3 | 92.31x |
| St Pancras London | 3 | 8.89x |
| Whitechapel London | 2 | 48.43x |
| Aston | 1 | 3.44x |
| Audley | 1 | 71.43x |
| Baildon | 1 | 128.21x |
| Chester St Peter St | 1 | 1000.00x |
| Clerkenwell London | 1 | 10.10x |
| Croydon | 1 | 8.82x |
| Falmouth | 1 | 59.52x |
| Hulme | 1 | 9.62x |
| Johnston | 1 | 3333.33x |
| Kings Bromley | 1 | 1250.00x |
| Liddiard Tregooze | 1 | 1111.11x |
| North Leith | 1 | 38.46x |
| Rotherhithe | 1 | 19.31x |
| Ruswarp | 1 | 217.39x |
| Steynton | 1 | 232.56x |
| Streatham | 1 | 32.15x |
| Tanfield | 1 | 67.57x |
| Wells Next Sea | 1 | 263.16x |
| Yeadon | 1 | 106.38x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Rhode 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 Rhode 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 Rhode households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 5 |
| Teacher | 2 |
| ... | 1 |
| A B Sailor | 1 |
| Accountant | 1 |
| Annuitant | 1 |
| Clerk (Export) | 1 |
| Cotton Warp Dresser | 1 |
| Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Dressmaker | 1 |
| Engine Fitter | 1 |
| Gas Works Laborer | 1 |
| General Laborer | 1 |
| Governess | 1 |
| Grocer Ect | 1 |
| Machinist (Tailor) | 1 |
| Master Mariner | 1 |
| Messenger | 1 |
| Milliner | 1 |
| No Occupation | 1 |
| Nurse Domestic | 1 |
| Potman | 1 |
| Pupil Teacher | 1 |
| Sailmaker | 1 |
| Shop Keeper | 1 |
| Tailor Unemployed | 1 |
| Umbrella (Furniture) | 1 |
| Woollen Piecer | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 43 people were recorded with the Rhode surname. That placed it at #27,575 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 50 in 2016. That gives Rhode a modern rank of #34,889.
A locational surname derived from a place name, likely referring to someone from the Greek island of Rhodes.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Rhode 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.