NameCensus.

UK surname

Rickett

An English occupational surname referring to a maker or seller of rakes and other agricultural tools.

In the 1881 census there were 901 people recorded with the Rickett surname, ranking it #4,231 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 937, ranked #6,112, down from #4,231 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Dacorum, Kingston upon Hull and South Kesteven.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Rickett is 1,170 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 4.0%.

1881 census count

901

Ranked #4,231

Modern count

937

2016, ranked #6,112

Peak year

1911

1,170 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Rickett had 901 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,231 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 937 in 2016, ranked #6,112.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,170 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Rickett surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Rickett surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Rickett 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 544 #4,643
1861 historical 880 #3,153
1881 historical 901 #4,231
1891 historical 946 #4,377
1901 historical 1,008 #4,730
1911 historical 1,170 #3,992
1997 modern 1,039 #5,323
1998 modern 1,066 #5,384
1999 modern 1,065 #5,415
2000 modern 1,035 #5,525
2001 modern 1,012 #5,530
2002 modern 1,025 #5,588
2003 modern 988 #5,646
2004 modern 965 #5,767
2005 modern 934 #5,859
2006 modern 913 #5,967
2007 modern 919 #5,996
2008 modern 915 #6,061
2009 modern 951 #5,994
2010 modern 933 #6,205
2011 modern 930 #6,173
2012 modern 936 #6,055
2013 modern 966 #5,992
2014 modern 975 #5,981
2015 modern 958 #6,024
2016 modern 937 #6,112

Geography

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Where Ricketts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, St Pancras and Bovingdon. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Dacorum, Kingston upon Hull, South Kesteven, Cheviot West and Shropshire. 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 London parishes London 1
2 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
3 St Pancras London (North Districts)
4 London parishes London 3
5 Bovingdon Hertfordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Dacorum 021 Dacorum
2 Kingston upon Hull 002 Kingston upon Hull, City of
3 South Kesteven 008 South Kesteven
4 Cheviot West Scottish Borders
5 Shropshire 001 Shropshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Rickett

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Rickett

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Rickett, 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 Rickett surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Rickett 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, Rickett 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

Rickett 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

Rickett falls in decile 9 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.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Rickett

The surname Rickett is an English name that originated in the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "ricc," meaning "rich" or "powerful." The earliest recorded instances of the name date back to the 13th century, with references found in various historical documents, such as the Hundred Rolls of Bedfordshire in 1273.

Rickett is considered a locational surname, suggesting that it may have been associated with a particular place or region. One possibility is that the name originated from a place called Rickett Wood, located in Buckinghamshire. This area was mentioned in the Feet of Fines for Buckinghamshire in 1296, indicating a long-standing connection between the name and the location.

During the Middle Ages, the surname Rickett appeared in various forms, including Rykett, Ricket, and Rikett, reflecting the variations in spelling and pronunciation that were common at the time. These variations were often influenced by regional dialects and scribal errors.

One notable historical figure bearing the surname Rickett was John Rickett, who lived in the late 16th century. He was a landowner and prominent resident of Gateshead, County Durham. Records from the era mention him as a significant figure in the local community.

In the 17th century, the name Rickett gained further recognition with the exploits of Sir Andrew Rickett (1598-1672). He was an English soldier and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Grantham during the English Civil War. Sir Andrew Rickett played a crucial role in the conflict, supporting the Parliamentarian cause.

Another individual of note was Robert Rickett (1688-1736), a renowned English architect who designed several notable buildings in London and the surrounding areas. His work includes the St. George's Church in Bloomsbury, which is considered a masterpiece of English Baroque architecture.

In the 19th century, the surname Rickett was associated with William Rickett (1827-1910), a prominent British industrialist and entrepreneur. He founded the Rickett Cocoa and Chocolate Company, which became a major manufacturer of chocolate products in the United Kingdom.

Lastly, one cannot overlook the contributions of Charles Rickett (1851-1921), an English artist, and book designer. He was a central figure in the English Arts and Crafts movement and is renowned for his pioneering work in the field of book illustration and typography.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Rickett families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Rickett 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. Middlesex leads with 152 Ricketts recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.72x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 152 1.72x
Essex 119 6.83x
Nottinghamshire 91 7.65x
Surrey 83 1.93x
Hertfordshire 68 11.17x
Yorkshire 41 0.47x
Lincolnshire 39 2.76x
Kent 34 1.13x
Lancashire 26 0.25x
Cambridgeshire 24 4.29x
Warwickshire 23 1.03x
Northamptonshire 21 2.53x
Bedfordshire 18 3.94x
Wiltshire 16 2.05x
Dorset 15 2.59x
Durham 15 0.57x
Buckinghamshire 12 2.25x
Derbyshire 12 0.87x
Channel Islands 10 3.82x
Herefordshire 10 2.76x
Sussex 10 0.67x
Worcestershire 10 0.87x
Devon 8 0.44x
Monmouthshire 6 0.94x
Cheshire 5 0.26x
Montgomeryshire 5 2.47x
Cornwall 4 0.40x
Hampshire 4 0.22x
Norfolk 4 0.29x
Berkshire 3 0.45x
Gloucestershire 3 0.17x
Lanarkshire 3 0.11x
Leicestershire 3 0.31x
Huntingdonshire 2 1.14x
Northumberland 2 0.15x
Cumberland 1 0.13x
Oxfordshire 1 0.18x
Renfrewshire 1 0.15x
Staffordshire 1 0.03x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. West Ham in Essex leads with 31 Ricketts recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.06x.

Place Total Index
West Ham 31 8.06x
Camberwell 20 3.55x
St Pancras London 20 2.81x
Southwell 19 219.40x
Lambeth 17 2.21x
Kirklington 16 2424.24x
Croydon 14 5.86x
Great Parndon 14 933.33x
Hackney London 14 2.83x
Wilsford 14 1250.00x
Ancaster 13 659.90x
Birmingham 13 1.75x
Hammersmith London 12 5.52x
Paddington London 12 3.70x
Rickling 12 875.91x
St Andrewthe Less 12 18.79x
Balby Cum Hexthorpe 11 105.36x
Chelsea London 11 4.14x
Finchley 11 32.50x
Greenwich 10 7.12x
Nottingham St Mary 10 3.25x
Watford 10 21.20x
Woolsthorpe 10 552.49x
Bethnal Green London 9 2.35x
Hucknall Torkard 9 29.83x
Widdington 9 789.47x
Aston Clinton 8 176.99x
Basford 8 14.59x
Butlers Marston 8 1000.00x
Dawdon 8 24.77x
Hockerton 8 2580.65x
Islington London 8 0.93x
Kings Langley 8 180.18x
Northchurch 8 123.08x
Pembridge 8 200.50x
Wardleworth 8 13.36x
Bishop Stortford 7 34.43x
Clerkenwell London 7 3.36x
Colmworth 7 598.29x
Ecclesall Bierlow 7 3.93x
Long Critchell 7 1428.57x
Northfield 7 32.01x
St George Hanover 7 6.07x
Stanstead Abbots 7 189.70x
Battlesden 6 1764.71x
Dagenham 6 57.86x
Dartford 6 19.48x
Elston 6 434.78x
Aslockton 5 409.84x
Barking 5 9.81x
Battersea 5 1.54x
Blackwell 5 73.64x
Bushey 5 34.51x
Derby St Werburgh 5 6.26x
Egham 5 18.93x
Farnworth 5 7.97x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 5 4.40x
Kensington London 5 1.02x
Kettering 5 14.89x
Little Hallingbury 5 284.09x
Macclesfield 5 5.77x
Mile End Old Town 5 3.59x
Peterborough 5 8.32x
Sheffield 5 1.80x
St Helier 5 5.87x
St Peter Port 5 10.33x
Swineshead 5 107.76x
Tring 5 30.77x
Wakerley 5 746.27x
Wales 5 72.36x
Broadway 4 173.91x
Hillingdon 4 14.21x
Horton Kirby 4 85.84x
Little Abington 4 500.00x
Manchester 4 0.85x
North Tamerton 4 275.86x
Plymouth St Andrew 4 2.83x
Shoreditch London 4 1.05x
Waterbeach 4 87.72x
Whitechapel London 4 4.60x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 62
John 57
George 44
James 39
Thomas 28
Charles 25
Arthur 21
Joseph 17
Henry 15
Alfred 13
Edward 11
Richard 6
Benjamin 5
Frederick 5
Harry 4
Herbert 4
Jas. 4
Walter 4
Abraham 3
Albert 3
David 3
Ernest 3
Fredk. 3
Fredrick 3
Geo. 3
Wm. 3
Edmund 2
Edwin 2
Eli 2
H. 2
Mathew 2
Reginald 2
Reuben 2
Samuel 2
Sidney 2
Thos. 2
W. 2
W.L. 2
Allen 1
Anthony 1
Charley 1
Chas. 1
Chas.R. 1
Ellis 1
Enoch 1
Francis 1
Frank 1
Frederic 1
Jas.A. 1
Wm.C. 1

FAQ

Rickett surname: questions and answers

How common was the Rickett surname in 1881?

In 1881, 901 people were recorded with the Rickett surname. That placed it at #4,231 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Rickett surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 937 in 2016. That gives Rickett a modern rank of #6,112.

What does the Rickett surname mean?

An English occupational surname referring to a maker or seller of rakes and other agricultural tools.

What does the Rickett map show?

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