NameCensus.

UK surname

Riby

In the 1881 census there were 123 people recorded with the Riby surname, ranking it #17,506 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 231, ranked #17,764, down from #17,506 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wykeham, Hull Holy Trinity and Drypool. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Riding of Yorkshire and Powys.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Riby is 283 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 87.8%.

1881 census count

123

Ranked #17,506

Modern count

231

2016, ranked #17,764

Peak year

1861

283 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Riby had 123 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #17,506 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 231 in 2016, ranked #17,764.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 283 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Riby surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Riby surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Riby 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 157 #12,504
1861 historical 283 #8,866
1881 historical 123 #17,506
1891 historical 252 #12,685
1901 historical 153 #17,844
1911 historical 210 #14,515
1997 modern 258 #14,949
1998 modern 252 #15,584
1999 modern 232 #16,594
2000 modern 243 #16,053
2001 modern 230 #16,415
2002 modern 238 #16,378
2003 modern 242 #15,960
2004 modern 245 #15,894
2005 modern 250 #15,639
2006 modern 243 #16,052
2007 modern 238 #16,505
2008 modern 234 #16,827
2009 modern 244 #16,706
2010 modern 240 #17,230
2011 modern 237 #17,235
2012 modern 232 #17,401
2013 modern 223 #18,135
2014 modern 227 #18,029
2015 modern 230 #17,795
2016 modern 231 #17,764

Geography

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Where Ribys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wykeham, Hull Holy Trinity, Drypool, Scarborough and Brompton, Ebberston. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Riding of Yorkshire and Powys. 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 Wykeham Yorkshire, North Riding
2 Hull Holy Trinity Yorkshire, East Riding
3 Drypool Yorkshire, East Riding
4 Scarborough Yorkshire, North Riding
5 Brompton, Ebberston Yorkshire, North Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Riding of Yorkshire 017 East Riding of Yorkshire
2 Powys 021 Powys
3 East Riding of Yorkshire 006 East Riding of Yorkshire
4 East Riding of Yorkshire 012 East Riding of Yorkshire
5 East Riding of Yorkshire 019 East Riding of Yorkshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Riby

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Riby

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

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Riby surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Riby 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 comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

City Support Workers

Within London, Riby is most associated with areas classed as City Support Workers, part of Central Connected Professionals and Managers. 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

Scattered throughout Inner London, these areas house relatively few workers in the most senior roles within organisations, and greater prevalence of administrative roles relative to the Supergroup mean. Residents are less likely to be of Chinese ethnicity and are more likely to have been born in Africa. Relative to the Supergroup average, residents are also more likely to live in social housing and live in overcrowded conditions.

Wider London pattern

Adult residents of these neighbourhoods are typically aged 25 to 44, working full-time in professional, managerial or associate professional occupations. There are few families with dependent children. The predominantly Inner London neighbourhoods have an international character, including many residents born elsewhere in Europe alongside high numbers of individuals identifying as of Chinese ethnicity. Many individuals are never married, childless and/or living alone. Above average numbers of individuals, likely to be full-time students, live in communal establishments. Elsewhere, privately rented flats are the dominant housing type. Residents of these areas are well-qualified, with a significant number holding Level 4 or above qualifications. There is a correspondingly high level of individuals employed full-time in professional, managerial and associated professional or technical occupations. Employing industries are financial, real estate, professional, administration, and, to a lesser degree, transport and communications. Unemployment is uncommon.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Riby is most concentrated in decile 6 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Riby 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 Riby 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 Riby, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

1881 census detail

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Riby families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Riby 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. Yorkshire leads with 100 Ribys recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.69x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 100 8.69x
Lancashire 7 0.51x
Glamorgan 4 1.98x
Middlesex 4 0.34x
Lincolnshire 3 1.62x
Surrey 1 0.18x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Wykeham in Yorkshire leads with 18 Ribys recorded in 1881 and an index of 7826.09x.

Place Total Index
Wykeham 18 7826.09x
Scarborough 17 162.68x
Southcoates 9 140.85x
Patrington 6 1111.11x
Billinge Chapel End 5 649.35x
Linthorpe 5 72.89x
North Ferriby 5 2631.58x
Sutton Stoneferry 5 151.98x
Beverley St Mary 4 238.10x
Brompton In Scarborough 4 1481.48x
Holy Trinity St Mary 4 228.57x
Llanguick 4 110.50x
Clee With Weelsby 3 73.89x
Hutton Bushell 3 1500.00x
Islington London 3 2.67x
Middlesbrough 3 20.03x
Falsgrave 2 118.34x
Fxhls Bythrp Btrwch 2 1176.47x
North Skirlaugh 2 1818.18x
Prescot 2 80.32x
Sculcoates 2 10.97x
Aldbrough In Skirlaugh 1 476.19x
Battersea 1 2.34x
Bilton Cum Harrogate 1 25.45x
Bridlington 1 38.02x
Fitling 1 2000.00x
Flamborough 1 178.57x
Great Driffield 1 42.37x
Huddersfield 1 5.97x
South Skirlaugh 1 833.33x
St Ethelburga London 1 1250.00x
York St Martin Mklgt W 1 384.62x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 9
Jane 5
Sarah 4
Alice 3
Elizabeth 3
Hannah 3
Annie 2
Emily 2
Esther 2
Lucy 2
Susannah 2
A. 1
Ada 1
Agnes 1
Amelia 1
Ann 1
Anne 1
Bertha 1
Betsy 1
Betty 1
Edith 1
Eliza 1
Ellen 1
Ethel 1
Ezabella 1
Fanny 1
Florance 1
Frances 1
Francess 1
Francis 1
Harriet 1
Katie 1
Lillie 1
Lilly 1
Lily 1
Lucenda 1
M. 1
Margaret 1
Rachall 1
Rose 1
Roshannah 1
Sophia 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 11
William 7
George 4
Thomas 4
Alfred 3
James 3
Robert 3
Fred 2
Albert 1
Charles 1
Clement 1
Earnest 1
Edward 1
Francis 1
Harry 1
Henry 1
Herbert 1
Thos.S. 1
Walter 1
Webster 1

FAQ

Riby surname: questions and answers

How common was the Riby surname in 1881?

In 1881, 123 people were recorded with the Riby surname. That placed it at #17,506 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Riby surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 231 in 2016. That gives Riby a modern rank of #17,764.

What does the Riby map show?

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