NameCensus.

UK surname

Richford

A locational surname referring to someone from a town of the same name.

In the 1881 census there were 111 people recorded with the Richford surname, ranking it #18,597 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 308, ranked #14,479, up from #18,597 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Clare, Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Carmunnock South, Toryglen and Oatlands and Govanhill East and Aikenhead.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Richford is 309 in 2015. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 177.5%.

1881 census count

111

Ranked #18,597

Modern count

308

2016, ranked #14,479

Peak year

2015

309 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Richford had 111 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #18,597 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 308 in 2016, ranked #14,479.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 196 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Richford surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Richford surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Richford 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 100 #17,164
1861 historical 196 #12,223
1881 historical 111 #18,597
1891 historical 165 #17,143
1901 historical 133 #19,372
1911 historical 161 #17,072
1997 modern 274 #14,374
1998 modern 290 #14,179
1999 modern 289 #14,320
2000 modern 280 #14,601
2001 modern 267 #14,839
2002 modern 277 #14,764
2003 modern 268 #14,897
2004 modern 271 #14,883
2005 modern 252 #15,551
2006 modern 241 #16,139
2007 modern 245 #16,134
2008 modern 250 #16,065
2009 modern 254 #16,230
2010 modern 275 #15,673
2011 modern 272 #15,653
2012 modern 294 #14,705
2013 modern 299 #14,780
2014 modern 304 #14,703
2015 modern 309 #14,430
2016 modern 308 #14,479

Geography

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Where Richfords are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Clare, Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew, London parishes, Leek and St Paul Deptford, St Nicholas Deptford. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Carmunnock South, Toryglen and Oatlands, Govanhill East and Aikenhead, Fernhill and Cathkin and IZ07. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Clare Suffolk
2 Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew Sussex
3 London parishes London 3
4 Leek Staffordshire
5 St Paul Deptford, St Nicholas Deptford London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Carmunnock South Glasgow City
2 Toryglen and Oatlands Glasgow City
3 Govanhill East and Aikenhead Glasgow City
4 Fernhill and Cathkin South Lanarkshire
5 IZ07 West Dunbartonshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Richford

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Richford

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

Legacy Communities

Group

Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities

Nationally, the Richford surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Richford household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Households in these areas often include divorced or separated parents and commonly include children and young adults. The age structure is heavily skewed towards the most advanced age groups. Individuals identifying as members of ethnic minorities are not present in large numbers. Flats predominate, with some terraced, semi-detached, and detached units. Multiple car ownership is low, and housing is predominantly in the private and social rented sectors. Employment is less skewed towards traditional routine industrial occupations. Levels of educational attainment are generally low. The Group occurs principally in the Central Lowlands of Scotland and other Scottish towns.

Wider pattern

These neighbourhoods characteristically comprise pockets of flats that are scattered across the UK, particularly in towns that retain or have legacies of heavy industry or are in more remote seaside locations. Employed residents of these neighbourhoods work mainly in low-skilled occupations. Residents typically have limited educational qualifications. Unemployment is above average. Some residents live in overcrowded housing within the social rented sector and experience long-term disability. All adult age groups are represented, although there is an overall age bias towards elderly people in general and the very old in particular. Individuals identifying as belonging to ethnic minorities or Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups are uncommon.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Richford is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Richford is most concentrated in decile 3 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Richford 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 Richford is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Richford, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Richford

The surname Richford is of English origin and dates back to the medieval period. It is a locational name, derived from the village of Richford in Somerset, England. The name is composed of two Old English words: 'rice', meaning a stream or waterway, and 'ford', referring to a shallow crossing point over a river or stream.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as 'Richeford'. This entry refers to the village of Richford, which was held by the Bishop of Coutances at the time of the Norman Conquest.

In the 13th century, the surname appears in various records as 'Rycheford', 'Richeford', and 'Rychford'. These variations in spelling were common before the standardization of English spellings in the 16th and 17th centuries.

A notable figure bearing the surname Richford was Sir John Richford (c. 1480-1546), a wealthy merchant and Member of Parliament for the City of London during the reign of Henry VIII. He was known for his philanthropic work and donated funds towards the construction of several churches in London.

Another prominent individual was Thomas Richford (1625-1698), an English clergyman and author who served as the rector of Puttenham in Surrey. He published several works on theology and religious topics during his lifetime.

In the late 17th century, a branch of the Richford family settled in the American colonies. One of their descendants, Benjamin Richford (1732-1814), was a soldier in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War and fought in several major battles, including the Battle of Monmouth.

During the 19th century, the surname Richford was associated with several notable figures in Britain. Among them was William Richford (1803-1876), a successful businessman and philanthropist who made significant contributions to the development of education and healthcare in his hometown of Bristol.

Another prominent figure was Mary Richford (1842-1920), a pioneering educator and advocate for women's rights. She founded several schools for girls in London and campaigned tirelessly for equal educational opportunities for women.

While the surname Richford is not among the most common in English-speaking countries today, it has a rich history that spans several centuries and has been borne by individuals who have made significant contributions to various fields.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Richford families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Richford 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. Kent leads with 26 Richfords recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.98x.

County Total Index
Kent 26 6.98x
Huntingdonshire 17 78.38x
Middlesex 11 1.01x
Dunbartonshire 10 34.07x
Surrey 10 1.88x
Cambridgeshire 9 13.01x
Staffordshire 9 2.44x
Sussex 8 4.34x
Norfolk 4 2.38x
Lincolnshire 3 1.72x
Northamptonshire 3 2.92x
Lanarkshire 1 0.28x
Yorkshire 1 0.09x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Lawrence in Kent leads with 12 Richfords recorded in 1881 and an index of 468.75x.

Place Total Index
St Lawrence 12 468.75x
Ramsgate 10 164.47x
Cannock 9 139.97x
St Andrewthe Less 9 113.92x
Hastings St Clement 8 462.43x
Old Kilpatrick 6 172.91x
Stoke Newington London 6 70.51x
Barnes 5 222.22x
Holywell Cum Needingworth 4 1481.48x
Houghton 4 2105.26x
New Kilpatrick 4 143.37x
St Ives 4 357.14x
Wells Next Sea 4 408.16x
Daventry 3 206.90x
Deptford St Paul 3 10.43x
Huntingdon St John 3 476.19x
Rotherhithe 3 22.22x
Spalding 3 86.46x
Huntingdon St Mary 2 370.37x
Camberwell 1 1.43x
Chatham 1 9.76x
Chelsea London 1 3.04x
Fulham London 1 6.31x
Govan 1 1.14x
Islington London 1 0.94x
Paddington London 1 2.49x
Sheffield 1 2.90x
St Andrew Holborn 1 27.03x
Thames Ditton 1 90.09x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 6
Ellen 5
Mary 5
Florence 4
Alice 3
Emma 3
Martha 3
Ann 2
Ethel 2
Lucy 2
Rosa 2
Ada 1
Annie 1
Bertha 1
Bessie 1
Blanch 1
Catherine 1
Edith 1
Eliza 1
F. 1
Grace 1
Jessie 1
Kate 1
Lilian 1
Louisa 1
Mabel 1
Pattie 1
Ruth 1
Selina 1
Susan 1
Thomasina 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 4
Robert 4
Edward 3
Frederick 3
Henry 3
Walter 3
Arthur 2
Charles 2
George 2
James 2
Joseph 2
Samuel 2
Thomas 2
William 2
A. 1
Alfred 1
Bertie 1
Edwin 1
Frank 1
Frederich 1
Harry 1
Herbert 1

FAQ

Richford surname: questions and answers

How common was the Richford surname in 1881?

In 1881, 111 people were recorded with the Richford surname. That placed it at #18,597 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Richford surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 308 in 2016. That gives Richford a modern rank of #14,479.

What does the Richford surname mean?

A locational surname referring to someone from a town of the same name.

What does the Richford map show?

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