NameCensus.

UK surname

Rickaby

A toponymic surname derived from a place name, likely referencing someone from the town of Rickaby.

In the 1881 census there were 327 people recorded with the Rickaby surname, ranking it #9,147 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 404, ranked #11,793, down from #9,147 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Darlington, Kirby Moorside and Gateshead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include County Durham and Doncaster.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Rickaby is 439 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 23.5%.

1881 census count

327

Ranked #9,147

Modern count

404

2016, ranked #11,793

Peak year

2010

439 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Rickaby had 327 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,147 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 404 in 2016, ranked #11,793.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 404 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Rickaby surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Rickaby surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Rickaby 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 232 #9,296
1861 historical 233 #10,501
1881 historical 327 #9,147
1891 historical 336 #10,158
1901 historical 404 #9,426
1911 historical 399 #9,298
1997 modern 410 #10,800
1998 modern 425 #10,859
1999 modern 436 #10,738
2000 modern 430 #10,804
2001 modern 416 #10,898
2002 modern 423 #10,975
2003 modern 435 #10,571
2004 modern 430 #10,697
2005 modern 427 #10,633
2006 modern 417 #10,886
2007 modern 415 #11,047
2008 modern 416 #11,121
2009 modern 418 #11,309
2010 modern 439 #11,121
2011 modern 436 #11,053
2012 modern 417 #11,346
2013 modern 406 #11,790
2014 modern 412 #11,743
2015 modern 404 #11,814
2016 modern 404 #11,793

Geography

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Where Rickabys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Darlington, Kirby Moorside, Gateshead, St Michael-le-Belfry, St Giles and Bishop Wearmouth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to County Durham and Doncaster. 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 Darlington Durham
2 Kirby Moorside Yorkshire, North Riding
3 Gateshead Durham
4 St Michael-le-Belfry, St Giles Yorkshire, East Riding
5 Bishop Wearmouth Durham

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 County Durham 028 County Durham
2 Doncaster 006 Doncaster
3 County Durham 063 County Durham
4 County Durham 057 County Durham
5 County Durham 045 County Durham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Rickaby

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Rickaby

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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Rickaby surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Rickaby household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Rickaby is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Rickaby is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Rickaby falls in decile 4 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Rickaby

The surname Rickaby is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is thought to be a locational name derived from a place called Rickaby, a small village located in the county of Yorkshire. The name is likely derived from the Old English words "risc" meaning rush or reed, and "by" meaning a farmstead or settlement, suggesting that the name referred to a settlement near reed beds or rushes.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Rickaby can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is listed as "Richebi." This ancient manuscript, commissioned by William the Conqueror, recorded the landholdings and properties throughout England after the Norman Conquest.

In the 13th century, records show variations of the name such as "Rickeby" and "Rikeby" appearing in various historical documents and parish registers in Yorkshire and neighboring counties.

One notable figure bearing the Rickaby name was John Rickaby, a Catholic priest and philosopher who lived from 1842 to 1932. He was born in Liverpool and became a renowned scholar and author, publishing works on philosophy, ethics, and theology.

Another individual of note was Joseph Rickaby, born in 1845, who was a renowned English Jesuit priest and philosopher. He served as a professor at various Jesuit colleges and wrote extensively on topics related to philosophy and religion.

In the 18th century, a prominent member of the Rickaby family was William Rickaby, born in 1759, who was a successful merchant and landowner in Yorkshire. He played an influential role in the development of the local community and was known for his philanthropic efforts.

The name Rickaby has also been associated with several place names in England, such as Rickaby Grange and Rickaby Hall, both located in Yorkshire. These locations may have been named after individuals with the Rickaby surname or derived from the same linguistic roots as the surname itself.

Throughout the centuries, the Rickaby surname has maintained a presence in various regions of England, particularly in Yorkshire and the surrounding areas, where it originated and flourished during the medieval and early modern periods.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Rickaby families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Rickaby 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. Durham leads with 135 Rickabys recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.23x.

County Total Index
Durham 135 14.23x
Yorkshire 92 2.91x
Northumberland 31 6.53x
Warwickshire 23 2.86x
Kent 13 1.19x
Middlesex 10 0.31x
Surrey 5 0.32x
Essex 4 0.64x
Suffolk 4 1.03x
Derbyshire 3 0.60x
Lancashire 2 0.05x
Sussex 2 0.37x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.50x
Flintshire 1 1.17x
Worcestershire 1 0.24x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bishopwearmouth in Durham leads with 27 Rickabys recorded in 1881 and an index of 33.15x.

Place Total Index
Bishopwearmouth 27 33.15x
Darlington 22 60.04x
Alnwick 14 171.57x
Kirkby Moorside 14 696.52x
Gateshead 13 18.30x
Middlesbrough 13 31.58x
Birmingham 12 4.48x
Aston 11 4.97x
High Coniscliffe 9 2307.69x
Sculcoates 9 17.96x
Trimdon 9 268.66x
Lewisham 8 13.78x
Bishop Auckland 7 54.99x
Crayke 7 1272.73x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 7 24.69x
Stockton On Tees 7 15.30x
Filey 6 235.29x
Bedlington 5 31.55x
Esh 5 72.36x
Framwellgate 5 88.97x
Harton 5 133.33x
Holy Trinity 5 6.58x
Ingleby Arncliffe 5 1470.59x
Sutton At Hone 5 221.24x
Tong 5 81.83x
Almondbury 4 26.18x
Brotton 4 96.85x
St George In East 4 18.43x
Tudhoe 4 48.19x
Westgate 4 13.61x
Boldon 3 88.76x
Bridlington 3 41.44x
Camberwell 3 1.47x
Clifton In York 3 45.39x
Easington 3 217.39x
Hetton Le Hole 3 24.94x
Middridge 3 319.15x
Staveley 3 33.82x
Bermondsey 2 2.11x
Elton 2 1666.67x
Everingham 2 689.66x
Guisbrough Tocketts 2 512.82x
Ipswich St Mathew 2 18.37x
Kirby Le Soken 2 219.78x
Newmarket St Mary 2 67.11x
Shadwell London 2 22.40x
Sunderland 2 11.93x
West Ham 2 1.44x
York St Saviour 2 66.23x
Aighton Bailey 1 54.95x
Auckland St Andrew 1 39.84x
Brighton 1 0.92x
Bromsgrove 1 7.13x
Chiswick 1 5.74x
Ditchling 1 68.03x
Dymeirchion 1 140.85x
Ealing 1 3.51x
Elswick 1 2.64x
Guisbrough 1 14.47x
Hanwell 1 17.70x
Hartlepool 1 7.41x
Helmington Row 1 22.62x
Holy Trinity Cambridge 1 45.66x
Kirkdale 1 1.57x
Lanchester 1 57.47x
Low Coniscliffe 1 555.56x
Manningham 1 2.57x
Middleton In Pickering 1 322.58x
Newby In Stokesley 1 769.23x
Penshaw 1 35.09x
Pickering 1 25.13x
Pocklington 1 33.56x
St Botolph Aldgate 1 22.99x
Yarm 1 61.73x
York St Crux 1 111.11x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 28
Elizabeth 18
Annie 8
Jane 8
Sarah 6
Ann 5
Edith 5
Hannah 5
Kate 5
Margaret 5
Ellen 4
Isabella 4
Clara 3
Eleanor 3
Eliza 3
Emma 3
Maria 3
Ada 2
Agnes 2
Alice 2
Amy 2
Caroline 2
Catherine 2
Charlotte 2
Margret 2
Martha 2
Teresa 2
Anne 1
Augusta 1
Betsy 1
Christina 1
Elizth. 1
Esther 1
Ethel 1
Fanny 1
Florence 1
Gentilia 1
George 1
Grace 1
Hilda 1
Isab. 1
Isabell 1
Judith 1
Laranie 1
Laura 1
Lavinia 1
Louisa 1
Margarett 1
Margt. 1
Margt.A. 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Rickaby surname: questions and answers

How common was the Rickaby surname in 1881?

In 1881, 327 people were recorded with the Rickaby surname. That placed it at #9,147 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Rickaby surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 404 in 2016. That gives Rickaby a modern rank of #11,793.

What does the Rickaby surname mean?

A toponymic surname derived from a place name, likely referencing someone from the town of Rickaby.

What does the Rickaby map show?

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