NameCensus.

UK surname

Richards

An English patronymic surname derived from the given name Richard, meaning "powerful leader" or "brave ruler."

In the 1881 census there were 45,120 people recorded with the Richards surname, ranking it #65 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 62,807, ranked #75, down from #65 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall, Neath Port Talbot and Swansea.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Richards is 64,666 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 39.2%.

1881 census count

45,120

Ranked #65

Modern count

62,807

2016, ranked #75

Peak year

2010

64,666 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Richards had 45,120 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #65 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 62,807 in 2016, ranked #75.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 58,584 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Richards surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Richards surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Richards 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 30,452 #63
1861 historical 29,655 #67
1881 historical 45,120 #65
1891 historical 46,582 #68
1901 historical 54,737 #67
1911 historical 58,584 #57
1997 modern 61,005 #69
1998 modern 63,287 #68
1999 modern 63,921 #68
2000 modern 63,548 #69
2001 modern 61,778 #69
2002 modern 63,215 #69
2003 modern 61,567 #69
2004 modern 61,524 #69
2005 modern 60,426 #72
2006 modern 60,590 #71
2007 modern 61,144 #71
2008 modern 61,755 #71
2009 modern 63,559 #71
2010 modern 64,666 #73
2011 modern 63,471 #73
2012 modern 62,462 #73
2013 modern 63,664 #74
2014 modern 64,018 #74
2015 modern 63,227 #74
2016 modern 62,807 #75

Geography

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Where Richards' are most common

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

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall, Neath Port Talbot and Swansea. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
3 London parishes London 1
4 London parishes London 3
5 Merthyr Tydfil Glamorganshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 067 Cornwall
2 Cornwall 057 Cornwall
3 Neath Port Talbot 004 Neath Port Talbot
4 Swansea 024 Swansea
5 Swansea 016 Swansea

Forenames

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First names often paired with Richards

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Richards

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

Richards 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

Richards falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Richards 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 Richards, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Richards

The surname Richards is of English origin, derived from the given name Richard, which is an ancient Germanic name composed of the elements "ric" (meaning power or rule) and "hard" (meaning hardy, brave, or strong). The name is thought to have emerged in England during the Norman Conquest in the 11th century.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Richards surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Richardes" and "Richarz." This historic document, commissioned by William the Conqueror, records the names of landowners in England at the time.

The Richards surname was particularly prevalent in the counties of Somerset, Gloucestershire, and Wiltshire in the southwestern part of England. It is believed that the name may have originated in these regions, as many early bearers of the surname can be traced back to these areas.

During the Middle Ages, the Richards surname appeared in various spellings, including Richardes, Richarz, Richardes, and Ricards, reflecting the inconsistencies in spelling and pronunciation at that time.

One notable early bearer of the Richards surname was William Richards, a Welsh soldier and landowner who lived in the late 13th century. He fought alongside Edward I during the Welsh Wars and was granted lands in Carmarthenshire for his service.

In the 16th century, John Richards (c. 1537-1623) was a prominent English writer and clergyman who served as the rector of St. Anne's Church in Aldersgate, London. He authored several influential religious works, including "A Summons to the Lord's Supper" and "A Consolatory Epistle to the Distressed Brethren."

Another prominent figure with the Richards surname was Michael Richards (1673-1737), an English botanist and author of "The Plantarum Genera," an early attempt at classifying plants based on their floral structures.

In the literary world, Samuel Richards (1720-1803) was an English poet and clergyman known for his work "The Ratcliffiad," a satirical poem about the village of Ratcliffe-on-Soar in Nottinghamshire.

During the American Revolutionary War, John Richards (1744-1824) was a British soldier and loyalist who served as a captain in the King's American Dragoons. After the war, he emigrated to Nova Scotia, where he became a prominent landowner and politician.

These are just a few examples of notable individuals who have borne the Richards surname throughout history, demonstrating its long-standing presence and significance in various fields and regions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Richards families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Richards 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 5,758 Richards' recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.50x.

County Total Index
Glamorgan 5,758 7.50x
Cornwall 4,269 8.55x
Middlesex 3,670 0.83x
Staffordshire 2,568 1.72x
Devon 2,229 2.43x
Lancashire 1,957 0.37x
Carmarthenshire 1,762 9.48x
Monmouthshire 1,638 5.14x
Surrey 1,492 0.69x
Warwickshire 1,341 1.21x
Shropshire 1,307 3.43x
Kent 1,274 0.85x
Somerset 1,271 1.79x
Yorkshire 1,092 0.25x
Pembrokeshire 1,077 7.68x
Hampshire 1,072 1.19x
Cardiganshire 1,069 9.93x
Gloucestershire 919 1.06x
Nottinghamshire 878 1.48x
Worcestershire 724 1.26x
Merionethshire 672 8.32x
Montgomeryshire 666 6.59x
Leicestershire 476 0.97x
Sussex 475 0.64x
Derbyshire 425 0.62x
Denbighshire 422 2.53x
Durham 413 0.31x
Cheshire 406 0.42x
Brecknockshire 374 4.24x
Northamptonshire 365 0.88x
Dorset 356 1.23x
Essex 301 0.35x
Herefordshire 245 1.35x
Caernarfonshire 231 1.29x
Wiltshire 207 0.53x
Lincolnshire 193 0.27x
Berkshire 161 0.49x
Northumberland 115 0.18x
Cumberland 112 0.29x
Bedfordshire 108 0.47x
Oxfordshire 104 0.38x
Suffolk 84 0.16x
Norfolk 81 0.12x
Huntingdonshire 75 0.86x
Cambridgeshire 74 0.26x
Flintshire 74 0.62x
Hertfordshire 72 0.24x
Buckinghamshire 69 0.26x
Radnorshire 68 1.91x
Royal Navy 62 1.18x
Anglesey 59 0.75x
Midlothian 59 0.10x
Lanarkshire 52 0.04x
Channel Islands 45 0.34x
Isle of Man 32 0.39x
Rutland 20 0.62x
Aberdeenshire 15 0.04x
Fife 14 0.05x
Dumfriesshire 12 0.12x
Westmorland 12 0.12x
Angus 10 0.02x
Renfrewshire 9 0.03x
Perthshire 8 0.04x
Wigtownshire 8 0.14x
Berwickshire 5 0.09x
Stirlingshire 5 0.03x
Kirkcudbrightshire 3 0.05x
Peeblesshire 3 0.14x
Ayrshire 1 0.00x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Birmingham in Warwickshire leads with 604 Richards' recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.63x.

Place Total Index
Birmingham 604 1.63x
Ystradyfodwg 603 8.95x
Merthyr Tydfil 580 7.86x
Llanelly 510 12.18x
Swansea Town 423 6.72x
Aberdare 412 7.81x
Islington London 387 0.91x
West Bromwich 338 3.96x
Aston 333 1.09x
Bedwellty 330 5.86x
St Pancras London 316 0.89x
Lambeth 299 0.78x
Wolverhampton 286 2.50x
Camborne 275 13.36x
Portsea 271 1.53x
Sedgley 267 4.83x
Illogan 262 19.81x
Clase 254 8.89x
Paul 247 27.22x
Llanwonno 225 8.15x
Nottingham St Mary 223 1.45x
Llantrisant 218 11.26x
Bethnal Green London 214 1.12x
Madron Penzance 206 11.34x
Kensington London 201 0.82x
Paddington London 201 1.24x
Breage 196 42.99x
Hackney London 190 0.77x
Carmarthen St Peter 184 11.58x
Camberwell 183 0.65x
St Marylebone London 178 0.76x
Gelligaer 171 9.75x
Liverpool 166 0.52x
Eglwysilan 159 11.93x
Stoke Damerel 159 2.47x
Everton 157 0.94x
Newington 156 0.96x
Ruabon 155 6.76x
Shoreditch London 152 0.79x
Bedminster 149 2.23x
Harborne 148 3.10x
Cardiff St Mary 146 3.45x
St Ives 145 14.84x
St Stephen In Brannel 145 31.82x
West Ham 143 0.74x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 142 1.74x
Phillack 137 21.25x
St Woollos 133 3.74x
Wendron 133 19.18x
Cardiff St John 129 5.14x
Toxteth Park 127 0.72x
Walsall Foreign 127 1.65x
Plymouth St Andrew 126 1.78x
Leicester St Margaret 125 1.05x
St Austell 125 7.32x
Trevethin 125 4.15x
Swansea Higher 124 15.50x
Kings Norton 123 2.38x
Gwennap 122 12.95x
Greenwich 121 1.72x
Llandaff 121 4.73x
St George Hanover 121 2.10x
Aberystwith 120 12.95x
Southwark St George Martyr 120 1.35x
Aberystruth 118 4.20x
Bilston 117 4.05x
Hammersmith London 116 1.07x
Michaelstone Super Avon 116 13.95x
St John Near Swansea 116 12.21x
Battersea 115 0.71x
Festiniog 113 6.63x
Redruth 112 7.93x
Neath 111 7.10x
Roath 106 3.04x
Clerkenwell London 105 1.01x
Tipton 104 2.28x
Willenhall 104 3.73x
Cwmdu 103 11.01x
Deptford St Paul 103 0.89x
Bermondsey 101 0.77x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 3,488
Elizabeth 2,115
Sarah 1,488
Jane 1,088
Ann 1,013
Margaret 750
Eliza 658
Ellen 579
Emma 560
Annie 550
Alice 464
Hannah 438
Emily 431
Catherine 408
Martha 385
Anne 342
Louisa 273
Harriet 255
Edith 252
Maria 234
Caroline 220
Charlotte 213
Fanny 199
Ada 196
Florence 196
Kate 180
Susan 168
Clara 147
Frances 137
Lucy 131
Rachel 129
Amelia 125
Esther 125
Agnes 110
Grace 109
Harriett 104
Bessie 99
Eleanor 99
Elizth. 94
Matilda 91
Sophia 91
Rose 84
Amy 83
Laura 80
Rebecca 78
Minnie 77
Jessie 73
Anna 70
Julia 70
Lydia 67

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 3,062
William 2,904
Thomas 1,923
George 1,071
James 1,040
David 900
Henry 803
Charles 651
Joseph 650
Richard 573
Edward 557
Samuel 418
Alfred 393
Robert 356
Frederick 300
Arthur 296
Albert 216
Walter 209
Evan 208
Daniel 185
Benjamin 168
Harry 162
Edwin 159
Frank 142
Ernest 140
Francis 128
Wm. 125
Herbert 113
Isaac 98
Lewis 98
Thos. 97
Stephen 70
Hugh 69
Morgan 67
Tom 61
Philip 57
Rees 57
Geo. 55
Nicholas 49
Sidney 49
Fred 48
Fredrick 48
Owen 47
Edmund 42
Chas. 38
Phillip 36
Josiah 34
Mark 34
Fredk. 33
Jno. 32

Top occupations

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 Richards households.

FAQ

Richards surname: questions and answers

How common was the Richards surname in 1881?

In 1881, 45,120 people were recorded with the Richards surname. That placed it at #65 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Richards surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 62,807 in 2016. That gives Richards a modern rank of #75.

What does the Richards surname mean?

An English patronymic surname derived from the given name Richard, meaning "powerful leader" or "brave ruler."

What does the Richards map show?

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