UK surname
A Germanic name meaning "wealthy" or "rich."
In the 1881 census there were 114 people recorded with the Riche surname, ranking it #18,324 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 88, ranked #32,396, down from #18,324 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St Pancras and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Riche is 134 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 22.8%.
1881 census count
114
Ranked #18,324
Modern count
88
2016, ranked #32,396
Peak year
1911
134 bearers
Map years
5
1861 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Riche surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Riche surname density by area, 1881 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 75 | #20,268 |
| 1861 | historical | 113 | #19,151 |
| 1881 | historical | 114 | #18,324 |
| 1891 | historical | 126 | #20,604 |
| 1901 | historical | 126 | #19,970 |
| 1911 | historical | 134 | #19,131 |
| 1997 | modern | 86 | #28,876 |
| 1998 | modern | 83 | #29,638 |
| 1999 | modern | 86 | #29,496 |
| 2000 | modern | 80 | #30,139 |
| 2001 | modern | 77 | #30,277 |
| 2002 | modern | 79 | #30,499 |
| 2003 | modern | 77 | #30,762 |
| 2004 | modern | 69 | #31,784 |
| 2005 | modern | 68 | #32,097 |
| 2006 | modern | 70 | #32,240 |
| 2007 | modern | 75 | #32,079 |
| 2008 | modern | 80 | #31,833 |
| 2009 | modern | 79 | #32,372 |
| 2010 | modern | 83 | #32,396 |
| 2011 | modern | 81 | #32,558 |
| 2012 | modern | 87 | #32,180 |
| 2013 | modern | 82 | #32,903 |
| 2014 | modern | 85 | #32,743 |
| 2015 | modern | 85 | #32,693 |
| 2016 | modern | 88 | #32,396 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St Pancras, Manchester, Lambeth and Cambridge: St Andrew the Less, St Andrew the Great, Holy Trinity, St Benedict. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 2 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| 3 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 4 | Lambeth | London (South Districts) |
| 5 | Cambridge: St Andrew the Less, St Andrew the Great, Holy Trinity, St Benedict | Cambridgeshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Riche surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Riche, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Riche surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Riche household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Riche is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Riche is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Riche, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Riche originates from France and can be traced back to the 11th century. It is thought to derive from the Old French word "riche", meaning wealthy or rich. This suggests that the name was initially given as a descriptive surname to someone who was prosperous or of high social standing.
Early recordings of the name can be found in documents such as the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "le Riche" and "Riche". These entries suggest that the name was present in parts of Normandy and northern France during the Norman conquest of England in the 11th century.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name is that of Robert le Riche, a Norman landowner who is mentioned in the Domesday Book as holding estates in Wiltshire, England, after the Norman conquest. Another early bearer of the name was Walter le Riche, who lived in Oxfordshire, England, in the late 12th century.
The name Riche has also been associated with various place names, such as Richeville in Normandy, France, and Richecourt in the Pas-de-Calais region of northern France. These place names likely originated from individuals with the surname Riche who owned or resided in those areas.
Notable historical figures with the surname Riche include:
1. Sir Thomas Riche (1490-1568), an English courtier and diplomat who served under King Henry VIII. 2. Edmond Riche (1559-1637), an English clergyman and scholar who became the Bishop of Winchester. 3. Barnabe Riche (1542-1617), an English soldier and writer who is best known for his works "Riche His Farewell to Military Profession" and "A Souldiers Wishe to Britons Welfare." 4. Claude Riche (1639-1696), a French playwright and actor who wrote several successful comedies in the 17th century. 5. Charles Alexander Riche (1762-1838), a French military officer who served under Napoleon Bonaparte and rose to the rank of general.
While the surname Riche has French origins, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly through emigration and migration. However, this report focuses solely on the historical roots and early bearers of the surname within its country of origin.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Riche surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 31 Riches recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.79x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 31 | 2.79x |
| Surrey | 20 | 3.69x |
| Durham | 8 | 2.42x |
| Cambridgeshire | 7 | 9.94x |
| Essex | 7 | 3.19x |
| Lancashire | 7 | 0.53x |
| Northamptonshire | 6 | 5.74x |
| Derbyshire | 5 | 2.87x |
| Northumberland | 4 | 2.42x |
| Wiltshire | 4 | 4.07x |
| Gloucestershire | 2 | 0.92x |
| Midlothian | 2 | 1.34x |
| Norfolk | 2 | 1.17x |
| Suffolk | 2 | 1.48x |
| Warwickshire | 2 | 0.71x |
| Devon | 1 | 0.43x |
| Hertfordshire | 1 | 1.30x |
| Kent | 1 | 0.26x |
| Sussex | 1 | 0.53x |
| Yorkshire | 1 | 0.09x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Lambeth in Surrey leads with 8 Riches recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.25x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lambeth | 8 | 8.25x |
| Newington | 8 | 19.48x |
| St Andrewthe Less | 7 | 86.96x |
| West Ham | 7 | 14.44x |
| Northampton St Sepulchre | 6 | 112.78x |
| Pendlebury | 6 | 215.05x |
| St George In East | 6 | 79.37x |
| Kensington London | 5 | 8.09x |
| Litchurch | 5 | 71.33x |
| St Marylebone London | 5 | 8.42x |
| St Pancras London | 4 | 4.47x |
| Sunderland | 4 | 68.49x |
| Tynemouth | 4 | 45.15x |
| Islington London | 3 | 2.78x |
| St Andrew Holborn | 3 | 79.58x |
| Anstey | 2 | 1818.18x |
| Cheltenham | 2 | 11.89x |
| Clerkenwell London | 2 | 7.62x |
| Lowestoft | 2 | 31.25x |
| Netheravon | 2 | 909.09x |
| Westoe | 2 | 10.67x |
| Wimbledon | 2 | 32.89x |
| Witton Gilbert | 2 | 152.67x |
| Aston | 1 | 1.30x |
| Bridewell Precinct | 1 | 1111.11x |
| Camberwell | 1 | 1.41x |
| Cheshunt | 1 | 37.31x |
| Edinburgh St Cuthberts | 1 | 1.67x |
| Edinburgh St Johns | 1 | 106.38x |
| Greenwich | 1 | 5.65x |
| Hampstead London | 1 | 5.77x |
| Heigham | 1 | 10.89x |
| Hove | 1 | 12.15x |
| Huddersfield | 1 | 6.23x |
| Liverpool | 1 | 1.25x |
| Loddon | 1 | 227.27x |
| Plymouth St Andrew | 1 | 5.61x |
| Putney | 1 | 19.72x |
| St George Hanover | 1 | 6.89x |
| Warwick St Nicholas | 1 | 48.54x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Riche surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Mary | 7 |
| Elizabeth | 6 |
| Caroline | 3 |
| Emily | 3 |
| Maria | 3 |
| Susan | 3 |
| Alice | 2 |
| Emma | 2 |
| Louisa | 2 |
| Mildred | 2 |
| Ann | 1 |
| Anna | 1 |
| Annbella | 1 |
| Bella | 1 |
| Catherine | 1 |
| Charlotte | 1 |
| Clara | 1 |
| Edith | 1 |
| Eliza | 1 |
| Elizth. | 1 |
| Esther | 1 |
| Fannie | 1 |
| Fanny | 1 |
| Georgina | 1 |
| Hannah | 1 |
| Jessie | 1 |
| Lily | 1 |
| M.E. | 1 |
| Margaret | 1 |
| Margt. | 1 |
| Maudie | 1 |
| Prudence | 1 |
| Sarah | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Riche surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Riche households.
FAQ
In 1881, 114 people were recorded with the Riche surname. That placed it at #18,324 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 88 in 2016. That gives Riche a modern rank of #32,396.
A Germanic name meaning "wealthy" or "rich."
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Riche bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.