NameCensus.

UK surname

Rich

An English surname referring to someone who was wealthy or a person from a place called Rich.

In the 1881 census there were 3,737 people recorded with the Rich surname, ranking it #1,222 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 4,900, ranked #1,381, down from #1,222 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Bedminster and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include West Devon, Bassetlaw and Sedgemoor.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Rich is 5,158 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 31.1%.

1881 census count

3,737

Ranked #1,222

Modern count

4,900

2016, ranked #1,381

Peak year

1999

5,158 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Rich had 3,737 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,222 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 4,900 in 2016, ranked #1,381.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 4,858 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Rich surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Rich surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Rich 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 2,624 #1,125
1861 historical 2,692 #1,094
1881 historical 3,737 #1,222
1891 historical 3,924 #1,224
1901 historical 4,558 #1,248
1911 historical 4,858 #1,071
1997 modern 4,977 #1,320
1998 modern 5,117 #1,330
1999 modern 5,158 #1,327
2000 modern 5,084 #1,341
2001 modern 4,934 #1,348
2002 modern 5,014 #1,352
2003 modern 4,875 #1,357
2004 modern 4,871 #1,353
2005 modern 4,836 #1,346
2006 modern 4,787 #1,368
2007 modern 4,805 #1,377
2008 modern 4,809 #1,382
2009 modern 4,950 #1,373
2010 modern 4,978 #1,398
2011 modern 4,949 #1,387
2012 modern 4,856 #1,381
2013 modern 4,955 #1,380
2014 modern 4,987 #1,377
2015 modern 4,928 #1,382
2016 modern 4,900 #1,381

Geography

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Where Richs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Bedminster, London parishes and Brighton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to West Devon, Bassetlaw, Sedgemoor and Barnsley. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 Bedminster Somerset
3 London parishes London 1
4 London parishes London 3
5 Brighton Sussex

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 West Devon 005 West Devon
2 Bassetlaw 015 Bassetlaw
3 Sedgemoor 009 Sedgemoor
4 Barnsley 014 Barnsley
5 Sedgemoor 007 Sedgemoor

Forenames

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First names often paired with Rich

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Rich

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Rich, 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 Rich surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Rich 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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Rich is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Rich is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Rich

The surname Rich is of English origin, deriving from the Old English word "rice" or "riche," meaning wealthy or powerful. It was initially used as a descriptive nickname for someone who was affluent or held a position of authority within their community.

The earliest recorded instances of the Rich surname can be traced back to the late 11th century, shortly after the Norman Conquest of England in 1066. One of the earliest known references appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, which documented landholders and tenants across England at the time.

During the Middle Ages, the Rich surname was particularly prevalent in the counties of Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, and Berkshire, where many individuals bearing the name were documented in various records and charters. Some notable examples include Richard le Rich, a landowner in Oxfordshire mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of 1197, and Osbert le Rich, a resident of Berkshire noted in the Curia Regis Rolls of 1201.

As the surname spread across England, it also gave rise to various place names, such as Richborough in Kent, derived from the Old English "rice" meaning wealthy, and the village of Richmondshire in North Yorkshire, which was originally known as "Richmundwic" or "the wealthy monastery town."

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the Rich surname. One of the most prominent was Sir Richard Rich (1496-1567), a lawyer and politician who served as Lord Chancellor of England under Edward VI. Another was Christopher Rich (1567-1619), an English actor and entrepreneur who established one of the first purpose-built theatres in London, known as the Red Bull Theatre.

In the 18th century, Sir Claudius Rich (1708-1786) was a prominent British merchant and politician who played a significant role in establishing the East India Company's trade in the Persian Gulf region. His son, Sir Robert Rich (1742-1804), was a notable naval officer who served in the American Revolutionary War.

During the 19th century, Jeremiah Rich (1795-1868) was a prominent American businessman and abolitionist who co-founded the Boston-based firm of Rich & Co., one of the largest hide and leather firms in the United States at the time.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Rich families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Rich 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. Middlesex leads with 481 Richs recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.31x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 481 1.31x
Somerset 421 7.14x
Devon 388 5.09x
Sussex 305 4.94x
Surrey 266 1.49x
Kent 211 1.69x
Gloucestershire 196 2.73x
Yorkshire 156 0.43x
Cornwall 148 3.57x
Wiltshire 146 4.51x
Lancashire 122 0.28x
Essex 89 1.23x
Hampshire 88 1.17x
Glamorgan 87 1.36x
Bedfordshire 82 4.33x
Staffordshire 69 0.56x
Monmouthshire 58 2.19x
Cambridgeshire 54 2.33x
Cumberland 42 1.33x
Worcestershire 36 0.75x
Nottinghamshire 34 0.69x
Durham 26 0.24x
Suffolk 25 0.56x
Berkshire 21 0.76x
Warwickshire 21 0.23x
Norfolk 19 0.34x
Cheshire 16 0.20x
Northumberland 13 0.24x
Buckinghamshire 11 0.50x
Channel Islands 11 1.01x
Northamptonshire 11 0.32x
Lincolnshire 10 0.17x
Royal Navy 10 2.29x
Flintshire 8 0.81x
Brecknockshire 7 0.96x
Isle of Man 7 1.03x
Carmarthenshire 6 0.39x
Hertfordshire 6 0.24x
Montgomeryshire 6 0.72x
Shropshire 6 0.19x
Lanarkshire 5 0.04x
Huntingdonshire 4 0.55x
Denbighshire 3 0.22x
Dorset 3 0.12x
Leicestershire 3 0.07x
Orkney 3 0.74x
Derbyshire 2 0.03x
Oxfordshire 2 0.09x
Pembrokeshire 2 0.17x
Anglesey 1 0.15x
Argyllshire 1 0.10x
Caernarfonshire 1 0.07x
Herefordshire 1 0.07x
Midlothian 1 0.02x
Renfrewshire 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. Brighton in Sussex leads with 81 Richs recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.50x.

Place Total Index
Brighton 81 6.50x
Bedminster 70 12.64x
Lambeth 53 1.66x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 49 7.25x
Islington London 49 1.38x
Camberwell 41 1.75x
Mile End Old Town 38 6.58x
Hackney London 34 1.66x
Millom 34 35.20x
Tipton 32 8.46x
Romford 29 25.39x
Eastbourne 28 9.86x
Plymouth St Andrew 28 4.77x
Bristol St George 27 8.13x
Cardiff St Mary 27 7.69x
Okehampton 26 90.47x
West Bagborough 26 436.97x
Bridgewater 25 15.63x
East Peckham 25 96.38x
Malmesbury St Paul 24 86.18x
Broadwoodwidger 23 265.90x
Chippenham 23 33.87x
Croydon 23 2.32x
Shoreditch London 23 1.45x
Stoke Damerel 23 4.31x
Kensington London 22 1.08x
Clifton 21 5.79x
Dudley 21 3.61x
Blisland 20 286.94x
Broadwater 20 14.13x
Nether Stowey 20 216.45x
Clevedon 19 31.01x
East Hoathly 19 176.91x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 18 5.33x
Chatham 18 5.24x
Southwick 18 55.13x
St Pancras London 18 0.61x
Beerferris 17 114.48x
Bethnal Green London 17 1.07x
Hendon 17 12.91x
Portsea 17 1.16x
Tormoham 17 5.27x
Clerkenwell London 16 1.85x
Ecclesfield 16 6.02x
Hammersmith London 16 1.77x
Kingsbridge 16 83.51x
Newington 16 1.18x
Silsoe 16 187.79x
St Marylebone London 16 0.82x
Stoke Upon Trent 16 1.22x
Walcot 16 5.10x
Bishopwearmouth 15 1.60x
Bromley London 15 1.86x
Enfield 15 6.24x
Llandaff 15 7.07x
Madron 15 44.80x
Over Stowey 15 228.31x
Rotherhithe 15 3.32x
Southwark St George Martyr 15 2.04x
Surlingham 15 246.31x
Westminster St James 15 3.99x
Ashwick 14 147.06x
Souldrop 14 469.80x
St Cleer 14 38.95x
Tonbridge 14 3.11x
Battersea 13 0.97x
Bermondsey 13 1.19x
Bradford On Avon 13 12.54x
Bristol St Mary Redcliff 13 19.88x
Farnborough 13 71.39x
Holy Trinity 13 1.49x
Inwardleigh 13 201.86x
North Petherton 13 27.35x
Roath 13 4.49x
Toxteth Park 13 0.88x
Bedwellty 12 2.57x
Girton 12 197.69x
Paddington London 12 0.89x
Stogursey 12 75.85x
Walthamstow 12 4.61x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 245
Elizabeth 163
Sarah 112
Jane 72
Ann 63
Eliza 63
Emma 60
Alice 51
Emily 47
Ellen 46
Annie 40
Edith 35
Louisa 31
Margaret 28
Florence 26
Fanny 25
Maria 25
Susan 25
Clara 24
Martha 24
Kate 23
Lucy 23
Caroline 22
Catherine 22
Charlotte 22
Anne 17
Ada 15
Amelia 15
Hannah 15
Matilda 15
Harriet 14
Amy 13
Harriett 13
Minnie 13
Julia 12
Esther 11
Frances 11
Rose 11
Bessie 9
Mabel 9
Agnes 8
Henrietta 8
Jessie 8
Rosa 8
Beatrice 7
Georgina 7
Gertrude 7
Grace 7
Helen 7
Laura 7

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 235
John 194
George 147
James 115
Thomas 101
Henry 99
Charles 92
Alfred 57
Arthur 50
Edward 50
Joseph 46
Albert 44
Richard 40
Frederick 33
Samuel 33
Francis 28
Walter 27
Robert 23
Frank 22
Ernest 19
Harry 18
Herbert 15
Edwin 14
Isaac 13
Edmund 10
Wm. 10
Fredrick 9
Benjamin 8
Geo. 8
Sidney 7
Alexander 6
Chas. 6
David 6
Fred 6
Horace 6
Sydney 6
Mark 5
Percy 5
Philip 5
Thos. 5
Tom 5
Daniel 4
Fredk. 4
Stiles 4
Allen 3
Jesse 3
Jonathan 3
Joshua 3
Louis 3
Solomon 3

FAQ

Rich surname: questions and answers

How common was the Rich surname in 1881?

In 1881, 3,737 people were recorded with the Rich surname. That placed it at #1,222 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Rich surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 4,900 in 2016. That gives Rich a modern rank of #1,381.

What does the Rich surname mean?

An English surname referring to someone who was wealthy or a person from a place called Rich.

What does the Rich map show?

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