UK surname
A surname derived from the personal name Richard combined with the patronymic suffix "-son".
In the 1881 census there were 36 people recorded with the Richerdson surname, ranking it #28,559 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 5, ranked #38,264, down from #28,559 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to St James and St Paul, Litchfield and Rutherglen. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Richerdson is 159 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 86.1%.
1881 census count
36
Ranked #28,559
Modern count
5
2016, ranked #38,264
Peak year
1891
159 bearers
Map years
1
1891 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Richerdson surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Richerdson surname density by area, 1891 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 | 65 | #21,747 |
| 1861 | historical | 20 | #31,364 |
| 1881 | historical | 36 | #28,559 |
| 1891 | historical | 159 | #17,636 |
| 1901 | historical | 49 | #28,696 |
| 1911 | historical | 13 | #32,172 |
| 1997 | modern | 1 | #38,839 |
| 1998 | modern | 3 | #38,304 |
| 1999 | modern | 3 | #38,318 |
| 2000 | modern | 2 | #38,472 |
| 2001 | modern | 2 | #38,335 |
| 2002 | modern | 1 | #38,709 |
| 2003 | modern | 2 | #38,424 |
| 2004 | modern | 2 | #38,464 |
| 2005 | modern | 2 | #38,532 |
| 2006 | modern | 1 | #38,879 |
| 2007 | modern | 1 | #38,907 |
| 2008 | modern | 2 | #38,673 |
| 2009 | modern | 4 | #38,287 |
| 2010 | modern | 4 | #38,371 |
| 2011 | modern | 1 | #39,015 |
| 2012 | modern | 3 | #38,530 |
| 2013 | modern | 2 | #38,761 |
| 2014 | modern | 3 | #38,552 |
| 2015 | modern | 5 | #38,221 |
| 2016 | modern | 5 | #38,264 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around St James and St Paul, Litchfield, Rutherglen, Gidding, Great and Auckland St Andrew. 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 | St James and St Paul | Gloucestershire |
| 2 | Litchfield | Hampshire |
| 3 | Rutherglen | Lanark |
| 4 | Gidding, Great | Northamptonshire |
| 5 | Auckland St Andrew | Durham |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Richerdson 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 Richerdson, 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 Richerdson surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Richerdson 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, Richerdson 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 Richerdson is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Richerdson, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Richerdson is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is derived from an Old English personal name, Richard, which means "brave power" or "rich ruler." The suffix "-son" was commonly added to names to indicate a person's paternal lineage, effectively meaning "son of Richard."
Richerdson is a variant spelling of the more common surname Richardson, which is found in historical records dating back to the 13th century. One of the earliest documented instances of the name appears in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1273, where a person named Adam Richardessone is mentioned.
The name Richerdson has strong connections to various locations in England, particularly in the northern counties. In the Domesday Book of 1086, a record of landholders in England commissioned by William the Conqueror, there are several references to individuals with the name Richard or its variants, suggesting the name's widespread use during the Norman conquest.
One notable bearer of the Richerdson surname was Sir Thomas Richerdson (1569-1635), an English lawyer and politician who served as Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas from 1626 to 1635. Another prominent figure was William Richerdson (1743-1814), an English clergyman and naturalist who made significant contributions to the study of botany and zoology.
In the literary world, Samuel Richerdson (1689-1761) was an influential English writer and printer, best known for his novels "Pamela" and "Clarissa." These works were instrumental in establishing the novel as a respected literary genre in the 18th century.
Another individual with the Richerdson surname was John Richerdson (1755-1838), an English artist and writer who is renowned for his landscape paintings and etchings depicting the Lake District in northern England.
During the 17th and 18th centuries, the Richerdson name was also found in various parts of North America, particularly in the British colonies along the eastern seaboard. This was likely due to immigration from England during this period.
While the spelling "Richerdson" is less common than "Richardson," it serves as a reminder of the variations that can occur in surnames over time, often influenced by regional dialects or personal preferences. The name's origins can be traced back to the early days of English history, reflecting the enduring legacy of personal names and their role in shaping modern surnames.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Richerdson 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 11 Richerdsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.13x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 11 | 3.13x |
| Durham | 8 | 7.66x |
| Cumberland | 6 | 19.85x |
| Lincolnshire | 6 | 10.69x |
| Morayshire | 2 | 36.63x |
| Yorkshire | 2 | 0.57x |
| Somerset | 1 | 1.77x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Coundon in Durham leads with 7 Richerdsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 1666.67x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Coundon | 7 | 1666.67x |
| Ealing | 6 | 191.08x |
| St Peterat Gowts Lincoln | 6 | 759.49x |
| Underskiddaw | 6 | 10000.00x |
| Duffus | 2 | 416.67x |
| Kensington London | 2 | 10.25x |
| Ossett Cum Gawthorpe | 2 | 161.29x |
| Poplar London | 2 | 30.17x |
| Crossgate | 1 | 217.39x |
| Paddington London | 1 | 7.75x |
| Wilton | 1 | 666.67x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Richerdson surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Richerdson 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 Richerdson households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 6 |
| (Iron) (Foundry Lab) | 2 |
| Dressmaker | 2 |
| Agriculture Labourer | 1 |
| Boot Maker | 1 |
| Butler | 1 |
| Coal Miner | 1 |
| Foundry Lab (Iron) | 1 |
| General Servant Domestic | 1 |
| General Servent | 1 |
| Labourer | 1 |
| Labr | 1 |
| Laundress | 1 |
| Rag Sorter | 1 |
| Railway Lab | 1 |
| Scholer | 1 |
| School Master | 1 |
| Silk Mill | 1 |
| Soldier | 1 |
| Wife | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 36 people were recorded with the Richerdson surname. That placed it at #28,559 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 5 in 2016. That gives Richerdson a modern rank of #38,264.
A surname derived from the personal name Richard combined with the patronymic suffix "-son".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Richerdson 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.