NameCensus.

UK surname

Richardson

Derived from the given name Richard, meaning "brave power," combined with the patronymic suffix "-son," indicating "son of Richard."

In the 1881 census there were 50,857 people recorded with the Richardson surname, ranking it #54 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 71,177, ranked #61, down from #54 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, London parishes and Gateshead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Eden, Northumberland and Ryedale.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Richardson is 73,459 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 40.0%.

1881 census count

50,857

Ranked #54

Modern count

71,177

2016, ranked #61

Peak year

2010

73,459 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Richardson had 50,857 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #54 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 71,177 in 2016, ranked #61.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 65,448 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Richardson surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Richardson surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Richardson 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 33,657 #57
1861 historical 37,401 #53
1881 historical 50,857 #54
1891 historical 56,594 #53
1901 historical 63,787 #55
1911 historical 65,448 #50
1997 modern 70,238 #58
1998 modern 72,818 #58
1999 modern 73,418 #59
2000 modern 72,966 #58
2001 modern 71,195 #59
2002 modern 72,732 #59
2003 modern 70,930 #59
2004 modern 70,770 #59
2005 modern 69,475 #60
2006 modern 69,393 #60
2007 modern 69,921 #60
2008 modern 70,125 #61
2009 modern 71,905 #61
2010 modern 73,459 #61
2011 modern 72,334 #60
2012 modern 70,874 #60
2013 modern 72,140 #60
2014 modern 72,519 #61
2015 modern 71,557 #61
2016 modern 71,177 #61

Geography

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Where Richardsons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, London parishes, Gateshead and Edinburgh. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Eden, Northumberland, Ryedale and County Durham. 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 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Gateshead Durham
5 Edinburgh Edinburgh

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Eden 006 Eden
2 Northumberland 020 Northumberland
3 Ryedale 003 Ryedale
4 Ryedale 007 Ryedale
5 County Durham 010 County Durham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Richardson

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Richardson

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

Richardson is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Richardson falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Richardson

The surname Richardson has its origins in the northern regions of England, particularly in Yorkshire and Northumberland, where it first emerged during the 12th century. The name is derived from the Old English words "ric" meaning powerful or wealthy and "harding" meaning hardy or firm, suggesting that the earliest bearers of this surname were influential or hardy individuals.

The Richardson name can be traced back to several early records, including the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears in various spellings such as Richardsone and Rychardson. These early variations reflect the regional dialects and the lack of standardized spelling during that era.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Richardson surname is found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1166, where a certain Willelmus Richardsone is mentioned. Another early reference is found in the Assize Rolls of Northumberland from 1279, which mentions a Johannes Richardeson.

Several notable individuals have borne the Richardson surname throughout history. Sir Thomas Richardson (1569-1635) was an English judge and Chief Justice of the King's Bench during the reign of King Charles I. Another notable figure was Samuel Richardson (1689-1761), an English novelist and one of the earliest practitioners of the epistolary novel genre, best known for his works "Pamela" and "Clarissa."

The Richardson name has also been associated with several place names, such as Richardson's Cross in Yorkshire, which dates back to the 13th century, and Richardson's Booth in Lancashire, which was mentioned in records from the 16th century.

Other notable individuals with the Richardson surname include Sir Ralph Richardson (1902-1983), a renowned English actor known for his stage and film performances, and Sir Lewis Richardson (1881-1953), a mathematician and meteorologist who made significant contributions to the study of fractals and chaos theory.

The Richardson surname has endured through the centuries, with numerous bearers leaving their mark across various fields, from law and literature to the performing arts and sciences. Its rich history and varied origins reflect the diverse and influential nature of those who have carried this name throughout the ages.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Richardson families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Richardson 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 8,146 Richardsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.65x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 8,146 1.65x
Lancashire 5,410 0.92x
Durham 4,895 3.31x
Middlesex 4,478 0.90x
Northumberland 2,739 3.70x
Surrey 2,114 0.87x
Lincolnshire 1,651 2.08x
Sussex 1,543 1.84x
Kent 1,468 0.87x
Cumberland 1,464 3.42x
Essex 1,208 1.23x
Nottinghamshire 1,066 1.59x
Cheshire 961 0.88x
Staffordshire 938 0.56x
Derbyshire 936 1.20x
Warwickshire 908 0.72x
Lanarkshire 710 0.44x
Midlothian 652 0.98x
Dumfriesshire 638 5.81x
Leicestershire 610 1.11x
Northamptonshire 603 1.29x
Hampshire 580 0.57x
Westmorland 540 4.94x
Norfolk 476 0.62x
Bedfordshire 459 1.78x
Suffolk 410 0.68x
Worcestershire 377 0.58x
Cambridgeshire 361 1.15x
Roxburghshire 345 3.83x
Berkshire 294 0.79x
Buckinghamshire 293 0.97x
Gloucestershire 289 0.30x
Huntingdonshire 277 2.81x
Stirlingshire 209 1.14x
Hertfordshire 182 0.53x
Devon 174 0.17x
Oxfordshire 174 0.57x
Renfrewshire 156 0.40x
Somerset 149 0.19x
Ayrshire 130 0.35x
Berwickshire 129 2.14x
Monmouthshire 127 0.35x
Perthshire 125 0.56x
Wiltshire 112 0.25x
Channel Islands 102 0.69x
Glamorgan 99 0.11x
Fife 98 0.33x
Angus 95 0.21x
East Lothian 91 1.38x
Selkirkshire 88 1.96x
Kirkcudbrightshire 80 1.11x
Shropshire 77 0.18x
Flintshire 75 0.56x
Herefordshire 68 0.33x
West Lothian 51 0.68x
Dunbartonshire 48 0.36x
Cornwall 43 0.08x
Denbighshire 43 0.23x
Wigtownshire 42 0.64x
Dorset 38 0.12x
Royal Navy 38 0.64x
Aberdeenshire 33 0.07x
Caernarfonshire 32 0.16x
Peeblesshire 32 1.37x
Pembrokeshire 25 0.16x
Banffshire 24 0.23x
Isle of Man 23 0.25x
Rutland 22 0.60x
Kinross-shire 20 1.59x
Clackmannanshire 14 0.34x
Montgomeryshire 10 0.09x
Buteshire 9 0.30x
Morayshire 9 0.12x
Radnorshire 9 0.22x
Argyllshire 6 0.04x
Cardiganshire 6 0.05x
Carmarthenshire 6 0.03x
Anglesey 4 0.05x
Kincardineshire 3 0.05x
Merionethshire 3 0.03x
Brecknockshire 2 0.02x
Caithness 2 0.03x
Sutherland 2 0.05x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Leeds in Yorkshire leads with 512 Richardsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.84x.

Place Total Index
Leeds 512 1.84x
Islington London 476 0.99x
Gateshead 388 3.50x
St Pancras London 375 0.94x
Bishopwearmouth 354 2.79x
Lambeth 336 0.77x
Holy Trinity 326 2.75x
Brighton 316 1.87x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 314 1.17x
Camberwell 312 0.98x
Hackney London 293 1.05x
Westoe 285 3.40x
St Marylebone London 249 0.94x
Manchester 245 0.92x
Nottingham St Mary 243 1.40x
Govan 238 0.60x
Salford 238 1.37x
Liverpool 237 0.66x
West Derby 236 1.37x
Birmingham 228 0.55x
Elswick 214 3.62x
Preston 213 1.35x
Warrington 207 2.96x
Mile End Old Town 202 2.57x
Shoreditch London 196 0.91x
Toxteth Park 195 0.98x
Kensington London 193 0.70x
Stockton On Tees 193 2.71x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 192 4.34x
Aston 186 0.54x
Battersea 184 1.01x
Hunslet 180 2.34x
West Ham 176 0.81x
Byker 170 4.65x
Barony 168 0.41x
Bethnal Green London 168 0.78x
Croydon 166 1.23x
Everton 164 0.87x
Westgate 164 3.58x
Deptford St Paul 162 1.24x
Newington 156 0.85x
Sculcoates 155 1.98x
Oldham 152 0.80x
Middlesbrough 150 2.34x
Hulme 149 1.21x
Hawick 148 7.34x
Bedlington 147 5.95x
Chelsea London 147 0.98x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 144 2.25x
Ecclesall Bierlow 143 1.43x
Paddington London 141 0.77x
Crook Billy Row 139 7.34x
Hammersmith London 139 1.13x
Lochmaben 138 28.67x
Dewsbury 137 2.71x
Lewisham 136 1.50x
Newcastle On Tyne St 131 3.42x
Tynemouth 131 3.31x
Chorlton On Medlock 128 1.37x
Tottenham 126 1.59x
Sheffield 123 0.78x
Alston 122 15.46x
Longbenton 115 3.67x
Glasgow 114 0.40x
Tonbridge 114 1.86x
Ashton Under Lyne 112 0.87x
Barrow In Furness 112 1.40x
Brightside Bierlow 112 1.16x
Stranton 112 2.25x
Huddersfield 111 1.55x
Bromley London 110 1.01x
St George Hanover 109 1.68x
Penrith 108 6.83x
Heworth 104 3.57x
Scarborough 103 2.30x
Barnsley 101 1.99x
Portsea 100 0.50x
Clerkenwell London 99 0.84x
Southcoates 99 3.62x
Leicester St Margaret 98 0.73x
Bermondsey 97 0.66x
Darlington 97 1.70x
Ryhope 96 9.35x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 3,304
Elizabeth 1,924
Sarah 1,695
Jane 1,213
Ann 1,063
Annie 741
Margaret 735
Eliza 656
Emma 639
Ellen 635
Hannah 626
Alice 616
Emily 445
Martha 399
Isabella 372
Louisa 269
Edith 255
Fanny 252
Ada 239
Harriet 239
Charlotte 230
Frances 227
Catherine 222
Maria 220
Florence 219
Kate 210
Caroline 208
Clara 196
Agnes 179
Anne 165
Lucy 159
Eleanor 131
Susan 126
Harriett 123
Rose 120
Rebecca 116
Esther 114
Elizth. 102
Susannah 92
Amelia 89
Amy 89
Minnie 88
Ethel 82
Jessie 78
Matilda 78
Sophia 77
Gertrude 76
Rachel 73
Ruth 73
Lydia 67

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 3,119
William 2,823
Thomas 1,828
George 1,751
James 1,392
Joseph 1,010
Charles 867
Robert 821
Henry 789
Arthur 468
Edward 452
Alfred 410
Samuel 328
Frederick 322
Walter 309
Richard 295
Albert 228
Harry 221
Wm. 198
Herbert 193
Frank 185
David 177
Ernest 153
Francis 133
Benjamin 129
Edwin 121
Thos. 118
Fred 116
Peter 103
Isaac 98
Ralph 94
Matthew 89
Geo. 87
Tom 69
Stephen 68
Willm. 61
Andrew 59
Daniel 59
Alexander 58
Christopher 51
Mark 51
Percy 49
Robt. 47
Fredrick 46
Fredk. 42
Chas. 40
Anthony 39
Edmund 38
Philip 37
Jonathan 36

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 Richardson households.

FAQ

Richardson surname: questions and answers

How common was the Richardson surname in 1881?

In 1881, 50,857 people were recorded with the Richardson surname. That placed it at #54 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Richardson surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 71,177 in 2016. That gives Richardson a modern rank of #61.

What does the Richardson surname mean?

Derived from the given name Richard, meaning "brave power," combined with the patronymic suffix "-son," indicating "son of Richard."

What does the Richardson map show?

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