NameCensus.

UK surname

Ricketts

An English occupational surname referring to a maker of hay ricks or stacks.

In the 1881 census there were 2,895 people recorded with the Ricketts surname, ranking it #1,550 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 4,724, ranked #1,441, up from #1,550 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes and Worcester St John Bedwardine, Kenswick. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Tewkesbury, Powys and Dover.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ricketts is 5,014 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 63.2%.

1881 census count

2,895

Ranked #1,550

Modern count

4,724

2016, ranked #1,441

Peak year

2010

5,014 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Ricketts had 2,895 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,550 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 4,724 in 2016, ranked #1,441.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 4,213 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Ricketts surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Ricketts surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Ricketts 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 1,690 #1,707
1861 historical 1,431 #1,985
1881 historical 2,895 #1,550
1891 historical 3,043 #1,546
1901 historical 3,798 #1,481
1911 historical 4,213 #1,234
1997 modern 4,729 #1,384
1998 modern 4,855 #1,398
1999 modern 4,829 #1,415
2000 modern 4,849 #1,405
2001 modern 4,714 #1,410
2002 modern 4,837 #1,405
2003 modern 4,707 #1,407
2004 modern 4,744 #1,393
2005 modern 4,621 #1,415
2006 modern 4,610 #1,415
2007 modern 4,687 #1,406
2008 modern 4,666 #1,419
2009 modern 4,867 #1,399
2010 modern 5,014 #1,390
2011 modern 4,932 #1,390
2012 modern 4,789 #1,404
2013 modern 4,840 #1,412
2014 modern 4,852 #1,420
2015 modern 4,759 #1,432
2016 modern 4,724 #1,441

Geography

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Where Ricketts' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes, Worcester St John Bedwardine, Kenswick and St Pancras. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Tewkesbury, Powys, Dover, Newark and Sherwood and Bridgend. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 London parishes London 1
3 Worcester St John Bedwardine, Kenswick Worcestershire
4 London parishes London 3
5 St Pancras London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Tewkesbury 001 Tewkesbury
2 Powys 015 Powys
3 Dover 011 Dover
4 Newark and Sherwood 001 Newark and Sherwood
5 Bridgend 008 Bridgend

Forenames

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First names often paired with Ricketts

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Ricketts

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Ricketts is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Ricketts 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

Ricketts falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Ricketts

The surname Ricketts is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period, and it is thought to be derived from the Old English personal name "Richard". This name itself is derived from the Germanic elements "ric" meaning powerful or brave, and "hart" meaning hardy or strong.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Ricketts can be traced back to the late 12th and early 13th centuries, with variations such as Rickett, Rikett, and Rykett appearing in various records and documents from that era. One notable early mention of the name is found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1197, which list a person named William Ricket.

In the 13th century, the Ricketts surname began to appear more frequently in various parts of England, particularly in counties such as Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, and Somerset. The surname was often associated with certain place names, such as Rickett's End in Gloucestershire and Rickett's Marsh in Somerset.

The Ricketts family played a significant role in the history of Gloucestershire, with several members holding influential positions and owning substantial landholdings in the area. One notable figure was Sir John Ricketts, who lived in the late 16th century and served as a member of Parliament for Gloucestershire.

Another prominent individual with the surname Ricketts was Sir Compton Ricketts (1599-1669), an English soldier and politician who served as a Royalist commander during the English Civil War. He was captured by Parliamentary forces in 1645 and imprisoned in the Tower of London.

In the 18th century, the Ricketts family continued to be well-established in various parts of England, with several members achieving notable success in fields such as the military and the arts. One example is William Ricketts (1798-1869), an English painter and engraver who was elected as an Associate of the Royal Academy in 1842.

During the 19th century, the Ricketts surname also gained prominence in other parts of the world, particularly in the United States and Australia, as members of the family migrated and settled in these regions. One notable Australian figure was Henry Ricketts (1820-1900), a businessman and politician who served as the 12th Premier of Victoria from 1891 to 1892.

Throughout its history, the Ricketts surname has been associated with individuals of various backgrounds and professions, from military leaders and politicians to artists and entrepreneurs. While the name originated in England, it has since spread to various parts of the world, reflecting the migration patterns and cultural diversity of its bearers.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Ricketts families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Ricketts 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 481 Ricketts' recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.70x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 481 1.70x
Gloucestershire 379 6.82x
Surrey 226 1.64x
Dorset 212 11.40x
Somerset 208 4.56x
Worcestershire 144 3.89x
Warwickshire 135 1.89x
Wiltshire 105 4.19x
Hampshire 99 1.70x
Lancashire 88 0.26x
Kent 73 0.76x
Staffordshire 68 0.71x
Sussex 59 1.23x
Yorkshire 53 0.19x
Hertfordshire 51 2.61x
Monmouthshire 45 2.20x
Herefordshire 39 3.36x
Berkshire 38 1.79x
Buckinghamshire 38 2.22x
Essex 38 0.68x
Oxfordshire 35 2.00x
Glamorgan 26 0.53x
Brecknockshire 25 4.41x
Derbyshire 23 0.52x
Lanarkshire 23 0.25x
Northumberland 20 0.47x
Devon 18 0.31x
Lincolnshire 17 0.38x
Shropshire 17 0.69x
Montgomeryshire 16 2.46x
Norfolk 14 0.32x
Bedfordshire 12 0.82x
Flintshire 12 1.58x
Cambridgeshire 10 0.56x
Cheshire 10 0.16x
Radnorshire 8 3.50x
Channel Islands 6 0.71x
Nottinghamshire 6 0.16x
Perthshire 5 0.39x
Suffolk 5 0.14x
Cornwall 3 0.09x
Leicestershire 3 0.10x
Roxburghshire 3 0.58x
Royal Navy 3 0.89x
Durham 2 0.02x
Buteshire 1 0.58x
Dunbartonshire 1 0.13x
Midlothian 1 0.03x
Peeblesshire 1 0.75x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Pancras London in Middlesex leads with 71 Ricketts' recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.11x.

Place Total Index
St Pancras London 71 3.11x
Yeovil 69 74.44x
Camberwell 51 2.82x
Aston 50 2.54x
Birmingham 42 1.76x
Chelsea London 38 4.45x
Islington London 38 1.38x
Cheltenham 34 7.93x
Brighton 33 3.42x
Westbury On Trym 32 17.00x
Winterborne Stickland 30 643.78x
Limehouse London 27 8.68x
Batheaston 26 166.45x
Bermondsey 26 3.08x
Kensington London 25 1.59x
Winterborne Kingston 25 498.01x
Down Ampney 24 716.42x
Bromley London 23 3.69x
Walcot 23 9.47x
Walsall Foreign 23 4.65x
Bredon 22 174.05x
Haddenham 22 156.36x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 20 3.82x
St George Hanover 20 5.41x
Holdenhurst 19 12.47x
Southampton St Mary 19 5.20x
Bedminster 18 4.20x
Bethnal Green London 18 1.46x
Bow London 18 4.99x
Worcester St Peter 18 25.70x
Broxbourne 17 43.92x
Okeford Fitzpaine 17 285.71x
Shoreditch London 17 1.38x
St Luke London 17 3.74x
Worcester St Clement 17 72.25x
Westbury On Severn 16 72.66x
Winterbourne 16 52.10x
Worcester St Martin 16 32.04x
Bedwellty 15 4.15x
Clapham 15 4.23x
Poole St James 15 21.47x
West Bromwich 15 2.74x
Bradford On Avon 14 17.45x
Hertford St John 14 48.09x
Kempsford 14 173.70x
Lambeth 14 0.57x
Paddington London 14 1.34x
Stroud 14 12.94x
Tewkesbury 14 28.23x
Walsall Borough 14 18.85x
Westminster St James 14 4.81x
Bristol St James St Paul 13 7.01x
East Dereham 13 23.61x
Gussage All Sts 13 320.99x
Hook Norton 13 108.51x
Oaksey 13 313.25x
Wimborne Minster 13 43.22x
East Knoyle 12 140.85x
Hackney London 12 0.76x
Hulme 12 1.71x
Bristol St George 11 4.28x
Llandefalley 11 194.35x
Newington 11 1.05x
Painswick 11 27.98x
Ratcliffe London 11 7.03x
Trowbridge 11 9.93x
Battersea 10 0.96x
Blackwell 10 45.85x
Caerleon 10 93.55x
Charfield 10 183.82x
Chislehurst 10 19.29x
Ealing 10 3.95x
Gloucester St Catherine 10 63.86x
Lewisham 10 1.94x
Sculcoates 10 2.25x
Tottenham 10 2.22x
Affpuddle 9 190.27x
Croydon 9 1.17x
Gloucester St John Baptist 9 25.08x
Kings Norton 9 2.71x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 161
Elizabeth 115
Sarah 104
Eliza 62
Emma 60
Ann 53
Jane 52
Emily 49
Annie 48
Alice 39
Louisa 32
Ellen 31
Caroline 29
Lucy 20
Hannah 19
Martha 19
Edith 18
Fanny 18
Florence 17
Julia 17
Kate 17
Margaret 17
Maria 16
Susan 16
Ada 14
Agnes 13
Charlotte 13
Harriett 12
Anne 11
Harriet 11
Clara 10
Rosa 10
Rose 10
Amelia 9
Amy 9
Matilda 9
Eleanor 8
Beatrice 7
Bessie 7
Frances 7
Ruth 7
Catherine 6
Ethel 6
Rebecca 6
Rosina 6
Anna 5
Esther 5
Henrietta 5
Laura 5
Lydia 5

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 167
John 129
George 116
Charles 93
James 77
Henry 72
Thomas 70
Frederick 44
Joseph 41
Alfred 40
Arthur 37
Edward 35
Harry 29
Samuel 26
Albert 25
Robert 24
Frank 22
Richard 19
Walter 18
Herbert 16
Ernest 13
Edwin 12
Edmund 11
David 9
Mark 9
Benjamin 8
Tom 8
Francis 7
Fred 7
Wm. 7
Daniel 5
Fredk. 5
Sidney 5
Sydney 5
Chas. 4
Owen 4
Edgar 3
Geo. 3
Henery 3
Hugh 3
Martin 3
Reginald 3
Stephen 3
Claude 2
Enoch 2
Levi 2
Lionel 2
Loftus 2
Oliver 2
Orlando 2

FAQ

Ricketts surname: questions and answers

How common was the Ricketts surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,895 people were recorded with the Ricketts surname. That placed it at #1,550 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Ricketts surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 4,724 in 2016. That gives Ricketts a modern rank of #1,441.

What does the Ricketts surname mean?

An English occupational surname referring to a maker of hay ricks or stacks.

What does the Ricketts map show?

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