UK surname
A surname derived from an English place name meaning "little ridge" or "small brook."
In the 1881 census there were 15 people recorded with the Rickles surname, ranking it #31,451 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 26, ranked #36,254, down from #31,451 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Otley, Halifax and Bingley. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Rickles is 190 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 73.3%.
1881 census count
15
Ranked #31,451
Modern count
26
2016, ranked #36,254
Peak year
1861
190 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Rickles surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Rickles surname density by area, 1891 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 8 | #31,867 |
| 1861 | historical | 190 | #12,520 |
| 1881 | historical | 15 | #31,451 |
| 1891 | historical | 133 | #19,870 |
| 1901 | historical | 38 | #29,914 |
| 1911 | historical | 39 | #29,025 |
| 1997 | modern | 24 | #35,376 |
| 1998 | modern | 22 | #35,687 |
| 1999 | modern | 24 | #35,514 |
| 2000 | modern | 28 | #35,080 |
| 2001 | modern | 25 | #35,248 |
| 2002 | modern | 25 | #35,428 |
| 2003 | modern | 26 | #35,371 |
| 2004 | modern | 26 | #35,519 |
| 2005 | modern | 29 | #35,431 |
| 2006 | modern | 28 | #35,665 |
| 2007 | modern | 26 | #35,932 |
| 2008 | modern | 25 | #36,072 |
| 2009 | modern | 25 | #36,191 |
| 2010 | modern | 27 | #36,153 |
| 2011 | modern | 26 | #36,193 |
| 2012 | modern | 30 | #35,929 |
| 2013 | modern | 28 | #36,096 |
| 2014 | modern | 26 | #36,244 |
| 2015 | modern | 25 | #36,297 |
| 2016 | modern | 26 | #36,254 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Otley, Halifax, Bingley, Bradford and Keighley. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Otley | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 2 | Halifax | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 3 | Bingley | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 4 | Bradford | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 5 | Keighley | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Rickles surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Rickles, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Rickles surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Rickles household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Rickles is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Rickles is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Rickles, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname RICKLES is of English origin, and can be traced back to the medieval period. It is believed to have originated as a topographic name, referring to someone who lived near a rick or haystack. The name is derived from the Old English word "hrycce," which means "rick" or "haystack."
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name RICKLES can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Riccheles." This suggests that the name was already in use by the late 11th century.
During the 13th and 14th centuries, the RICKLES surname was particularly prevalent in the counties of Worcestershire and Warwickshire, where many families with this name were recorded in local tax rolls and parish records.
In the 16th century, the name RICKLES was associated with several prominent figures. Sir Thomas RICKLES (1508-1568) was a renowned English judge and politician who served as Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas. His contemporary, Sir William RICKLES (1520-1592), was a prominent landowner and Member of Parliament.
Another notable bearer of the RICKLES surname was John RICKLES (1628-1691), an English clergyman and author who wrote several influential theological works. He served as the rector of St. Mary's Church in Islington, London.
During the 17th and 18th centuries, the RICKLES name continued to be associated with various notable figures. For example, Samuel RICKLES (1653-1724) was an English mathematician and astronomer who made significant contributions to the field of celestial mechanics.
In the 19th century, one of the most famous individuals with the RICKLES surname was Sir James RICKLES (1815-1892), a British civil engineer and architect who oversaw the construction of several iconic buildings, including the Royal Albert Hall in London.
Throughout history, the RICKLES surname has undergone various spelling variations, such as Rickles, Rickleys, Rickeleys, and Rickelis, reflecting the regional dialects and scribal practices of different areas.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Rickles surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Yorkshire leads with 6 Rickles' recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.15x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Yorkshire | 6 | 4.15x |
| Lancashire | 4 | 2.31x |
| Nottinghamshire | 4 | 20.31x |
| Clackmannanshire | 1 | 82.64x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Haworth in Yorkshire leads with 6 Rickles' recorded in 1881 and an index of 1764.71x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Haworth | 6 | 1764.71x |
| Clifton With Glapton | 4 | 20000.00x |
| West Derby | 4 | 78.90x |
| Alloa | 1 | 169.49x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Rickles surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Rickles surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Rickles households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Stone Mason | 3 |
| Carpenter | 1 |
| Domestic House Duties | 1 |
| Farmer 14 A | 1 |
| Inn Keeper | 1 |
| Masons Labourer | 1 |
| No Occupation | 1 |
| Scholar | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 15 people were recorded with the Rickles surname. That placed it at #31,451 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 26 in 2016. That gives Rickles a modern rank of #36,254.
A surname derived from an English place name meaning "little ridge" or "small brook."
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Rickles bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.