NameCensus.

UK surname

Richie

A diminutive of Richard, derived from the Germanic elements "ric" (power) and "hard" (brave or strong).

In the 1881 census there were 282 people recorded with the Richie surname, ranking it #10,148 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 181, ranked #20,955, down from #10,148 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 Winchester, Stornoway West and South Lakeland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Richie is 282 in 1881. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 35.8%.

1881 census count

282

Ranked #10,148

Modern count

181

2016, ranked #20,955

Peak year

1881

282 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Richie had 282 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,148 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 181 in 2016, ranked #20,955.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 282 in 1881.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Richie surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Richie surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Richie 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 205 #10,223
1861 historical 176 #13,335
1881 historical 282 #10,148
1891 historical 235 #13,316
1901 historical 239 #13,489
1911 historical 116 #20,850
1997 modern 238 #15,760
1998 modern 201 #18,047
1999 modern 209 #17,771
2000 modern 180 #19,425
2001 modern 131 #23,343
2002 modern 135 #23,398
2003 modern 126 #24,146
2004 modern 138 #22,997
2005 modern 141 #22,688
2006 modern 129 #24,165
2007 modern 133 #24,059
2008 modern 151 #22,323
2009 modern 166 #21,469
2010 modern 181 #20,738
2011 modern 184 #20,363
2012 modern 157 #22,551
2013 modern 174 #21,401
2014 modern 175 #21,477
2015 modern 173 #21,542
2016 modern 181 #20,955

Geography

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Where Richies are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, London parishes, Gateshead, Edinburgh and St George the Martyr, St Andrew Holborn above the Bars, Furnival's Inn. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Winchester, Stornoway West, South Lakeland, Peterborough and Enfield. 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 3
3 Gateshead Durham
4 Edinburgh Edinburgh
5 St George the Martyr, St Andrew Holborn above the Bars, Furnival's Inn London (Central Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Winchester 001 Winchester
2 Stornoway West Na h-Eileanan Siar
3 South Lakeland 008 South Lakeland
4 Peterborough 018 Peterborough
5 Enfield 006 Enfield

Forenames

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First names often paired with Richie

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Richie

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Richie surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Richie household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Richie is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Richie is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Richie 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 Richie is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Richie

The surname Richie is of Scottish origin and dates back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Old French word "riche", meaning rich or wealthy. The name was initially given as a nickname to someone who was prosperous or had acquired significant wealth.

In the early days, the name was spelled in various ways, including Riche, Ryche, Rych, and Richee. These variations were common due to the inconsistencies in spelling and record-keeping during that time period.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which were a series of homage rolls recording the names of Scottish landowners who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England. The name "Richart le Riche" appears in these rolls, indicating the presence of the surname in Scotland in the late 13th century.

The Richie surname has a strong connection to several notable individuals throughout history. One of the earliest recorded bearers of the name was Sir William Richie, a Scottish knight who fought alongside King Robert the Bruce during the Wars of Scottish Independence in the early 14th century.

Another prominent figure was John Richie, born in 1692, who was a Scottish mathematician and astronomer. He made significant contributions to the field of celestial mechanics and was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1726.

In the literary world, the surname is associated with Leitch Ritchie, a Scottish novelist and journalist born in 1800. He is known for his works such as "Wanderings by the Loire" and "Schinderhannes, the Robber of the Rhine."

The Richie surname also has a connection to the American Civil War. Major General William Richie, born in 1825, was a Union Army officer who played a crucial role in several battles, including the Battle of Antietam and the Siege of Petersburg.

Another notable bearer of the name was Sir John Richie, a Scottish banker and entrepreneur born in 1808. He founded the National Bank of Scotland and served as its first chairman, making significant contributions to the financial sector in Scotland.

While the surname Richie has its roots in Scotland, it has since spread to various parts of the world, with descendants bearing the name in countries like England, Ireland, Canada, and the United States.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Richie families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Richie 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. Lanarkshire leads with 49 Richies recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.51x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 49 5.51x
Durham 38 4.64x
Lancashire 33 1.01x
Middlesex 30 1.09x
Stirlingshire 17 16.76x
Ayrshire 14 6.80x
Midlothian 13 3.53x
Northumberland 10 2.44x
Renfrewshire 10 4.69x
Yorkshire 7 0.26x
Dumfriesshire 5 8.23x
Fife 5 3.07x
Glamorgan 5 1.04x
Kent 4 0.43x
Suffolk 4 1.19x
Surrey 4 0.30x
Angus 3 1.18x
Channel Islands 3 3.68x
Dunbartonshire 3 4.06x
Essex 3 0.55x
West Lothian 3 7.24x
Banffshire 2 3.51x
Berwickshire 2 6.00x
Clackmannanshire 2 8.80x
Devon 2 0.35x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.39x
Anglesey 1 2.05x
Brecknockshire 1 1.82x
Caithness 1 2.66x
Cheshire 1 0.16x
Lincolnshire 1 0.23x
Morayshire 1 2.34x
Orkney 1 3.30x
Royal Navy 1 3.05x
Warwickshire 1 0.14x
Worcestershire 1 0.28x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Barony in Lanarkshire leads with 11 Richies recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.89x.

Place Total Index
Barony 11 4.89x
Bishopwearmouth 10 14.23x
Renfrew 10 142.05x
St Ninians 10 99.40x
Govan 9 4.09x
Moss Side 9 52.39x
Ratho 8 465.12x
Bedlington 7 51.21x
Dalserf 7 78.83x
Dawdon 7 69.51x
Liverpool 7 3.53x
Carmunnock 6 882.35x
Libberton 6 1016.95x
Walton On Hill 6 33.94x
Kilwinning 5 75.19x
Larbert 5 82.51x
Maryhill 5 28.72x
Merthyr Tydfil 5 10.86x
St Andrew Holborn 5 53.59x
Auchtermuchty 4 182.65x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 4 2.70x
Great Eppleton 4 8000.00x
Hackney London 4 2.59x
Hetton Le Hole 4 38.57x
Kimblesworth 4 363.64x
Mendlesham 4 377.36x
Annan 3 57.47x
Carriden 3 159.57x
Dalry 3 30.96x
Newington 3 2.95x
Sevenoaks 3 39.42x
St Clement Danes 3 67.42x
St Marylebone London 3 2.04x
St Peter Port 3 19.89x
Stevenston 3 55.87x
Wigan 3 6.58x
Bromley London 2 3.30x
Egton Cum Newland 2 210.53x
Framwellgate 2 41.24x
Glasgow 2 1.27x
Holy Trinity 2 3.05x
Islington London 2 0.75x
Kensington London 2 1.31x
Liff Benvie 2 5.17x
Lochmaben 2 75.19x
Marnoch 2 65.36x
Mile End Old Town 2 4.61x
Mordington 2 571.43x
Row 2 20.92x
Tillicoultry 2 39.60x
Widnes 2 8.50x
Wiston Robertson 2 377.36x
Aberdeen Old Machar 1 1.88x
Benfieldside 1 18.59x
Berwick Upon Tweed 1 11.53x
Bidston Cum Ford 1 400.00x
Catterall 1 172.41x
Colchester St Giles 1 18.62x
Creich 1 277.78x
Edmonton 1 4.51x
Falkirk 1 4.21x
Hammersmith London 1 1.48x
Hampstead London 1 2.33x
Hartlepool 1 8.60x
Kenilworth 1 25.58x
Kidderminster Foreign 1 19.69x
Latheron 1 15.87x
Newcastle On Tyne St 1 4.71x
Newstead 1 769.23x
Newton On Ayr 1 16.21x
Plumstead 1 3.20x
Prittlewell 1 13.28x
Shildon 1 15.20x
South Leith 1 2.41x
St Maryle Wigford 1 29.24x
Sunderland 1 6.92x
Thornaby 1 9.81x
Thornley 1 33.78x
York St Maurice 1 19.49x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 13
William 7
George 6
James 6
Joseph 5
David 4
Alexander 3
Henry 3
Robert 3
Walter 3
Charles 2
Ralph 2
Samuel 2
Thomas 2
Ambrose 1
Andrew 1
Constant 1
Edward 1
Jonas 1
Nicholas 1
Oliver 1
Sidney 1
Thos. 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Richie surname: questions and answers

How common was the Richie surname in 1881?

In 1881, 282 people were recorded with the Richie surname. That placed it at #10,148 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Richie surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 181 in 2016. That gives Richie a modern rank of #20,955.

What does the Richie surname mean?

A diminutive of Richard, derived from the Germanic elements "ric" (power) and "hard" (brave or strong).

What does the Richie map show?

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