NameCensus.

UK surname

Richer

An occupational surname referring to a wealthy or powerful person, or one who worked as a money lender.

In the 1881 census there were 428 people recorded with the Richer surname, ranking it #7,587 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 482, ranked #10,255, down from #7,587 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Rattlesden, London parishes and Colchester St Botolph, St Mary at the Walls, St Giles, St Mary Magdalen, Holy Trinity, St Runwald, a. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Colchester, Mid Devon and Harlow.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Richer is 667 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 12.6%.

1881 census count

428

Ranked #7,587

Modern count

482

2016, ranked #10,255

Peak year

1891

667 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Richer had 428 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,587 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 482 in 2016, ranked #10,255.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 667 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Richer surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Richer surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Richer 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 364 #6,509
1861 historical 484 #5,397
1881 historical 428 #7,587
1891 historical 667 #5,835
1901 historical 555 #7,489
1911 historical 653 #6,424
1997 modern 486 #9,500
1998 modern 504 #9,531
1999 modern 515 #9,451
2000 modern 537 #9,118
2001 modern 508 #9,344
2002 modern 518 #9,400
2003 modern 503 #9,446
2004 modern 505 #9,453
2005 modern 487 #9,621
2006 modern 496 #9,535
2007 modern 485 #9,780
2008 modern 487 #9,840
2009 modern 493 #9,968
2010 modern 492 #10,178
2011 modern 501 #9,938
2012 modern 500 #9,856
2013 modern 500 #10,023
2014 modern 495 #10,145
2015 modern 492 #10,117
2016 modern 482 #10,255

Geography

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Where Richers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Rattlesden, London parishes, Colchester St Botolph, St Mary at the Walls, St Giles, St Mary Magdalen, Holy Trinity, St Runwald, a and Downham Market, Stow Bardolph, Wimbotsham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Colchester, Mid Devon, Harlow and Chelmsford. 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 Rattlesden Suffolk
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Colchester St Botolph, St Mary at the Walls, St Giles, St Mary Magdalen, Holy Trinity, St Runwald, a Essex
5 Downham Market, Stow Bardolph, Wimbotsham Norfolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Colchester 015 Colchester
2 Mid Devon 011 Mid Devon
3 Harlow 010 Harlow
4 Chelmsford 017 Chelmsford
5 Colchester 014 Colchester

Forenames

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First names often paired with Richer

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Richer

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Richer surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Richer household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Richer is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Richer is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Richer falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Richer

The surname Richer is of French origin, derived from the Old French word "riche," meaning "rich" or "wealthy." It was initially used as a descriptive surname to denote someone who was affluent or possessed significant wealth.

The earliest recorded instances of the Richer surname can be traced back to the 12th century in the regions of Normandy and Brittany, France. During this time, many French surnames emerged, often reflecting occupations, physical characteristics, or places of origin.

In the Domesday Book, a comprehensive record of landowners and tenants compiled in 1086 by order of William the Conqueror, several entries mention individuals with the surname Richer, suggesting its presence in medieval England following the Norman Conquest.

One notable early bearer of the Richer surname was Edmond Richer (1559-1631), a French theologian and Gallican theorist who played a significant role in the controversies surrounding the doctrine of papal infallibility. His writings and teachings had a lasting impact on the debates over the relationship between Church and State in France.

Jean Richer (1630-1696), a French astronomer and mathematician, made important contributions to the study of geodesy and the measurement of the Earth's shape. He was elected to the French Academy of Sciences in 1689.

In the 18th century, François Richer (1726-1798) was a French painter and engraver known for his portraits and historical scenes. His works are held in various museums, including the Louvre in Paris.

The Richer name also appeared in literary circles with Charles François Richer (1780-1849), a French playwright and dramatist who wrote several popular comedies and vaudevilles during his career.

During the 19th century, Louis Richer (1804-1891) was a renowned French architect responsible for designing several notable buildings in Paris, including the Gare de l'Est railway station and the Church of Saint-Augustin.

While the Richer surname is primarily French in origin, it has since spread to other parts of the world due to migration and settlement patterns. However, its earliest recorded instances and historical significance remain rooted in the regions of France, particularly Normandy and Brittany.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Richer families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Richer 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. Essex leads with 101 Richers recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.14x.

County Total Index
Essex 101 12.14x
Suffolk 94 18.31x
Surrey 55 2.68x
Norfolk 44 6.79x
Middlesex 39 0.93x
Yorkshire 14 0.34x
Sussex 12 1.69x
Cambridgeshire 11 4.12x
Gloucestershire 11 1.33x
Lincolnshire 11 1.63x
Lancashire 10 0.20x
Northamptonshire 8 2.02x
Hertfordshire 4 1.38x
Northumberland 4 0.64x
Nottinghamshire 4 0.70x
Warwickshire 3 0.28x
Channel Islands 2 1.60x
Hampshire 1 0.12x
Huntingdonshire 1 1.20x
Kent 1 0.07x
Royal Navy 1 1.99x
Wiltshire 1 0.27x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Welney in Norfolk leads with 12 Richers recorded in 1881 and an index of 810.81x.

Place Total Index
Welney 12 810.81x
Barking 11 45.19x
Effingham 10 1176.47x
Lambeth 10 2.72x
Newington 10 6.42x
Thorpe Le Soken 10 1449.28x
Brantham 9 1551.72x
Coddenham 9 762.71x
Colchester St Leonard 9 335.82x
East Donyland 9 450.00x
Hemingstone 9 2093.02x
Kelvedon 9 405.41x
Leyton 9 62.81x
Sutterton 9 671.64x
Thetford St Mary 9 511.36x
Downham Market 8 179.78x
Ipswich St Margaret 8 45.92x
Rattlesden 8 533.33x
Sherburn 8 233.24x
Walthamstow 8 26.72x
Whittlesey St Mary St 8 85.84x
Hastings St Leonards 7 67.05x
Bristol St James In 6 49.38x
Ipswich St Mary Key 6 451.13x
Ipswich St Mathew 6 41.72x
Islington London 6 1.47x
Richmond 6 20.86x
Colchester St Botolph 5 70.62x
Dedham 5 198.41x
Heigham 5 14.38x
Kensington London 5 2.13x
Kirkdale 5 5.94x
Ashbocking 4 869.57x
Blackburn 4 3.01x
Bury St Edmunds St James 4 29.18x
Camberwell 4 1.49x
Colchester St Giles 4 48.66x
Croydon 4 3.51x
East Barnet 4 69.44x
Fulham London 4 6.54x
Gorleston 4 30.67x
Hackney London 4 1.69x
Hucknall Torkard 4 27.78x
Norton 4 370.37x
Penge 4 14.86x
Peterborough 4 13.94x
Preston In Tynemouth 4 161.94x
Standground 4 210.53x
Wickham Market 4 188.68x
Aston 3 1.03x
Bermondsey 3 2.39x
Buxhall 3 434.78x
Chelsea London 3 2.36x
Colchester St Mary At 3 101.69x
Dovercourt 3 102.39x
Gloucester Barton St 3 61.98x
Haughley 3 234.38x
Ipswich St Clement 3 22.99x
Sco Ruston 3 2307.69x
St Andrew Holborn 3 20.99x
St Pancras London 3 0.88x
Walsham Le Willows 3 175.44x
Wimbotsham 3 365.85x
Wisbech St Peter 3 22.42x
Chapel Allerton 2 32.00x
Clerkenwell London 2 2.01x
Combs 2 116.96x
Elmstead 2 149.25x
Godalming 2 15.47x
Great Welnetham 2 312.50x
Hastings St Mary In The 2 13.19x
Isleworth 2 10.67x
Leyton Low 2 11.83x
Pinchbeck 2 46.30x
St Helier 2 4.92x
St Osyth 2 99.01x
Stainland Cum Old 2 27.97x
Tottenham 2 2.98x
Beddington 1 12.59x
Paddington London 1 0.65x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 23
William 20
George 18
John 17
Robert 15
Henry 13
Thomas 11
Charles 9
Walter 9
Arthur 7
Edward 7
Alfred 6
Frederick 5
Samuel 5
Francis 4
Frank 4
Harry 4
Albert 3
Isaac 3
Daniel 2
Edmund 2
Ernest 2
Ezekiel 2
Fredk. 2
Fredrick 2
Herbert 2
Jno. 2
Joseph 2
Andrew 1
David 1
Earnest 1
Elijah 1
Elisha 1
Geo. 1
Gilbert 1
J.H.Breedon 1
Josiah 1
Lionel 1
Mark 1
Oscar 1
Percy 1
Philip 1
R. 1
Robt 1
Victor 1
Willey 1
Willie 1
Wm.J. 1

FAQ

Richer surname: questions and answers

How common was the Richer surname in 1881?

In 1881, 428 people were recorded with the Richer surname. That placed it at #7,587 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Richer surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 482 in 2016. That gives Richer a modern rank of #10,255.

What does the Richer surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to a wealthy or powerful person, or one who worked as a money lender.

What does the Richer map show?

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