NameCensus.

UK surname

Richard

A French surname derived from the Germanic first name "Ricohard," meaning "brave ruler" or "powerful leader."

In the 1881 census there were 2,549 people recorded with the Richard surname, ranking it #1,752 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,542, ranked #4,009, down from #1,752 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), London parishes and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Caithness North East, Wick North and Portsmouth.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Richard is 11,166 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 39.5%.

1881 census count

2,549

Ranked #1,752

Modern count

1,542

2016, ranked #4,009

Peak year

1861

11,166 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Richard had 2,549 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,752 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,542 in 2016, ranked #4,009.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 11,166 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Richard surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Richard surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Richard 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 5,666 #489
1861 historical 11,166 #220
1881 historical 2,549 #1,752
1891 historical 6,017 #775
1901 historical 1,910 #2,764
1911 historical 3,755 #1,381
1997 modern 1,088 #5,119
1998 modern 1,032 #5,536
1999 modern 1,059 #5,445
2000 modern 1,000 #5,686
2001 modern 948 #5,828
2002 modern 1,021 #5,603
2003 modern 1,033 #5,452
2004 modern 1,043 #5,423
2005 modern 1,073 #5,247
2006 modern 1,178 #4,852
2007 modern 1,208 #4,787
2008 modern 1,244 #4,699
2009 modern 1,312 #4,567
2010 modern 1,368 #4,492
2011 modern 1,375 #4,421
2012 modern 1,413 #4,274
2013 modern 1,463 #4,224
2014 modern 1,515 #4,144
2015 modern 1,503 #4,129
2016 modern 1,542 #4,009

Geography

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Where Richards are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), London parishes, St Pancras, Merthyr Tydfil and Llangafelach. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Caithness North East, Wick North, Portsmouth, Woking and Rother. 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 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 London parishes London 3
3 St Pancras London (North Districts)
4 Merthyr Tydfil Glamorganshire
5 Llangafelach Glamorganshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Caithness North East Highland
2 Wick North Highland
3 Portsmouth 022 Portsmouth
4 Woking 012 Woking
5 Rother 011 Rother

Forenames

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First names often paired with Richard

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Richard

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Richard surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Richard 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 includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Richard 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

Richard is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Richard falls in decile 3 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Richard is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
Other Ethnic Group

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

Meaning and origin of Richard

The surname Richard is of Germanic origin, derived from the Old German name "Rikharu" which means powerful or brave ruler. It is believed to have emerged in the 8th century AD in areas that are now modern-day Germany and the Netherlands.

The name gained prominence during the Middle Ages, particularly in England after the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Normans brought the name to Britain, and it became a popular surname among the nobility and gentry. One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Richard can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a survey of landowners in England commissioned by William the Conqueror.

During the 12th and 13th centuries, the surname Richard was found in various places across England, including Yorkshire, Gloucestershire, and Suffolk. The name was sometimes spelled differently, such as Richart, Richerd, or Rycharde, reflecting the variations in pronunciation and spelling at the time.

One notable bearer of the surname Richard was Sir Robert Richard, a 14th-century English knight who fought in the Hundred Years' War against France. He was born around 1320 and died in 1375. Another famous Richard was John Richard, a 15th-century English politician and member of Parliament who served as the Speaker of the House of Commons from 1478 to 1483.

In the 16th century, the surname Richard was associated with several prominent figures, including Sir Richard Grenville (1542-1591), an English naval commander and explorer who was celebrated for his bravery during the Anglo-Spanish War. Another notable bearer was Sir Richard Saltonstall (1517-1601), an English lord and politician who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1597.

During the 17th century, the name Richard was found among the early settlers of colonial America. One example is Richard Dexter (1590-1670), an English Puritan settler who arrived in Massachusetts in 1643 and became a prominent figure in the town of Providence, Rhode Island.

Throughout history, the surname Richard has been carried by many individuals across various fields, including literature, arts, and sciences. These examples illustrate the rich heritage and widespread distribution of this surname, which has its roots in the Germanic languages and was popularized during the Middle Ages in England and other parts of Europe.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Richard families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Richard 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. Glamorgan leads with 495 Richards recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.29x.

County Total Index
Glamorgan 495 11.29x
Middlesex 309 1.23x
Surrey 146 1.19x
Lancashire 144 0.48x
Carmarthenshire 136 12.81x
Devon 93 1.77x
Cardiganshire 74 12.04x
Merionethshire 59 12.80x
Nottinghamshire 58 1.71x
Worcestershire 57 1.73x
Yorkshire 55 0.22x
Pembrokeshire 52 6.50x
Lanarkshire 49 0.60x
Hampshire 46 0.89x
Staffordshire 46 0.54x
Kent 45 0.52x
Monmouthshire 45 2.47x
Channel Islands 44 5.90x
Cornwall 43 1.51x
Sussex 42 0.99x
Warwickshire 38 0.60x
Derbyshire 37 0.94x
Caernarfonshire 36 3.53x
Montgomeryshire 31 5.37x
Midlothian 29 0.86x
Northumberland 28 0.75x
Durham 27 0.36x
Shropshire 27 1.24x
Angus 25 1.07x
Essex 24 0.48x
Somerset 22 0.54x
Northamptonshire 20 0.84x
Perthshire 20 1.77x
Ayrshire 18 0.95x
Gloucestershire 15 0.30x
Dorset 13 0.79x
Norfolk 13 0.34x
Bedfordshire 12 0.92x
Leicestershire 11 0.39x
Westmorland 11 1.99x
Berkshire 10 0.53x
Brecknockshire 10 1.99x
Denbighshire 10 1.05x
Renfrewshire 8 0.41x
Cambridgeshire 6 0.38x
Cheshire 5 0.09x
Herefordshire 5 0.48x
Isle of Man 5 1.07x
Dunbartonshire 4 0.59x
Oxfordshire 4 0.26x
Radnorshire 4 1.97x
Anglesey 3 0.67x
Hertfordshire 3 0.17x
Royal Navy 3 1.00x
Rutland 2 1.08x
Argyllshire 1 0.14x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.07x
Fife 1 0.07x
Huntingdonshire 1 0.20x
Wiltshire 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. Aberdare in Glamorgan leads with 67 Richards recorded in 1881 and an index of 22.25x.

Place Total Index
Aberdare 67 22.25x
Llandebie 48 155.89x
Clase 46 28.21x
St Marylebone London 36 2.68x
Paddington London 35 3.78x
Pyle 31 383.19x
Govan 28 1.39x
Bermondsey 27 3.60x
Ystradyfodwg 27 7.02x
St Pancras London 25 1.23x
Swansea Town 24 6.67x
West Derby 24 2.74x
Camberwell 23 1.43x
Ilkeston 23 20.80x
Forfar 22 17.41x
Islington London 22 0.90x
Kidwelly 22 101.52x
Merthyr Tydfil 22 5.22x
Portsea 22 2.17x
Hackney London 21 1.49x
St Martin 21 45.93x
Tythegston Higher 20 150.26x
Bedwellty 19 5.91x
Bethnal Green London 19 1.74x
Llanhary 19 852.02x
South Leith 19 5.00x
Llangeinor 17 65.84x
Llansamlet Higher 17 51.96x
Dudley 16 4.00x
Lambeth 16 0.73x
Manchester 16 1.19x
Neath Lower 15 666.67x
Stoke Damerel 15 4.09x
Brighton 14 1.63x
Hammersmith London 14 2.26x
Kings Norton 14 4.75x
Llanrhidian Higher 14 50.25x
Parcel Canol 14 288.07x
Aston 13 0.74x
Llandanwg 13 147.73x
Pencoed 13 192.31x
St George Hanover 13 3.95x
St Helier 13 5.35x
West Ham 13 1.18x
Llandyfodwg 12 48.27x
Mile End Old Town 12 3.02x
Sedgley 12 3.80x
Blackburn 11 1.38x
Festiniog 11 11.31x
Narberth South 11 187.07x
Nottingham St Mary 11 1.25x
Battersea 10 1.08x
Birmingham 10 0.47x
Bryncroes 10 138.50x
Chadderton 10 6.84x
Colston Bassett 10 374.53x
Derby All Sts 10 30.37x
Liverpool 10 0.55x
Llancrwys 10 273.22x
Llanelly 10 4.18x
Llanfihangel Y Traethau 10 38.17x
Margam 10 20.45x
Tamerton Foliott 10 99.11x
Tansor 10 460.83x
Wolverhampton 10 1.53x
Cardiff St Mary 9 3.73x
Cemmes 9 110.29x
Clerkenwell London 9 1.51x
Cwmdu 9 16.84x
Ilfracombe 9 16.68x
Kingston On Thames 9 3.05x
Llannon 9 61.86x
Loughor 9 38.64x
Mauchline 9 41.53x
Bulwell 8 10.84x
Dorchester St Peter 8 66.78x
Dover St Mary Virgin 8 9.62x
Plymouth St Andrew 8 1.98x
Portsmouth 8 6.73x
Swansea Higher 8 17.51x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 195
Elizabeth 111
Jane 70
Sarah 69
Margaret 56
Ann 49
Hannah 40
Catherine 35
Eliza 33
Anne 28
Ellen 26
Alice 21
Annie 21
Emma 19
Emily 18
Martha 18
Caroline 15
Rachel 15
Louisa 14
Harriet 13
Maria 13
Charlotte 11
Frances 11
Marie 10
Agnes 9
Clara 9
Anna 8
Florence 8
Lucy 8
Edith 7
Eleanor 7
Fanny 7
Grace 7
Susan 7
Esther 6
Harriett 6
Isabella 6
Kate 6
Susannah 6
Ada 5
Elizth. 5
Lizzie 5
Margret 5
Maud 5
Beatrice 4
Gwen 4
Jennet 4
Jessie 4
Minnie 4
Selina 4

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 170
John 139
Thomas 98
David 66
James 49
George 42
Henry 40
Edward 38
Charles 32
Daniel 23
Robert 21
Joseph 20
Alfred 19
Arthur 18
Richard 18
Evan 16
Samuel 13
Walter 13
Lewis 12
Edwin 11
Morgan 10
Frederick 9
Albert 8
Francis 8
Frank 8
Ernest 7
Harry 7
Isaac 6
Wm. 6
Martin 5
Rees 5
Benjamin 4
Philip 4
Stephen 4
Victor 4
Willie 4
Abraham 3
Herbert 3
Jean 3
Owen 3
Robt. 3
Sidney 3
Thos. 3
Alexander 2
Llewellyn 2
Mark 2
Matthew 2
Maurice 2
Peter 2
Pierre 2

FAQ

Richard surname: questions and answers

How common was the Richard surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,549 people were recorded with the Richard surname. That placed it at #1,752 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Richard surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,542 in 2016. That gives Richard a modern rank of #4,009.

What does the Richard surname mean?

A French surname derived from the Germanic first name "Ricohard," meaning "brave ruler" or "powerful leader."

What does the Richard map show?

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