NameCensus.

UK surname

Ricks

Derived from the medieval personal name Rick or Ric, a short form of Richard, meaning "powerful ruler."

In the 1881 census there were 376 people recorded with the Ricks surname, ranking it #8,326 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 430, ranked #11,195, down from #8,326 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Swindon, Lyddington and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Monmouthshire, Swindon and Wiltshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ricks is 514 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 14.4%.

1881 census count

376

Ranked #8,326

Modern count

430

2016, ranked #11,195

Peak year

1911

514 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Ricks had 376 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,326 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 430 in 2016, ranked #11,195.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 514 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Ricks surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Ricks surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Ricks 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 216 #9,818
1861 historical 373 #6,841
1881 historical 376 #8,326
1891 historical 428 #8,377
1901 historical 429 #9,018
1911 historical 514 #7,669
1997 modern 467 #9,788
1998 modern 484 #9,841
1999 modern 474 #10,055
2000 modern 479 #9,951
2001 modern 465 #9,993
2002 modern 477 #9,981
2003 modern 457 #10,156
2004 modern 452 #10,270
2005 modern 425 #10,667
2006 modern 441 #10,411
2007 modern 435 #10,613
2008 modern 425 #10,934
2009 modern 424 #11,179
2010 modern 426 #11,396
2011 modern 424 #11,314
2012 modern 426 #11,139
2013 modern 426 #11,350
2014 modern 427 #11,393
2015 modern 431 #11,206
2016 modern 430 #11,195

Geography

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Where Ricks' are most common

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

The modern local-area list points to Monmouthshire, Swindon and Wiltshire. 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 Swindon, Lyddington Wiltshire
3 London parishes London 1
4 London parishes London 3
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Monmouthshire 004 Monmouthshire
2 Swindon 007 Swindon
3 Wiltshire 019 Wiltshire
4 Swindon 012 Swindon
5 Swindon 015 Swindon

Forenames

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First names often paired with Ricks

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Ricks

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

Ageing Communities

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Ricks is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Ricks is most concentrated in decile 3 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Ricks falls in decile 8 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.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Ricks

The surname Ricks has its origins in England, tracing back to the late medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "ric," meaning powerful or wealthy. This name was likely given as a descriptive surname to individuals who possessed notable wealth or status during that time.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Ricks can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1195, where a William Ric was mentioned. This early record suggests that the name had already gained traction as a surname by the late 12th century.

As the surname Ricks spread across England, it also took on various spellings and variations, such as Rickes, Rix, and Rixe. These different spellings often reflected regional dialects and the preferences of scribes who recorded the name.

The Ricks surname is also linked to several place names in England, such as Ricks Marsh in Kent and Rixtown in Staffordshire. These place names may have influenced the adoption of the surname by families residing in those areas.

Notable individuals who bore the Ricks surname throughout history include Richard Ricks (c. 1560 - 1636), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Dunwich. Another prominent figure was Thomas Ricks (1676 - 1744), a wealthy merchant and landowner in Norfolk.

In the literary world, Reverend Martin Ricks (1742 - 1812) was a respected scholar and author who published several works on theology and philosophy. His contributions to the intellectual discourse of his time earned him recognition among his contemporaries.

During the 19th century, William Ricks (1816 - 1892) made a name for himself as a successful businessman and industrialist in the textile industry. His factories and mills played a significant role in the economic development of his region.

One of the most notable figures bearing the Ricks surname was the American military officer and strategist, Thomas E. Ricks (born 1963). As a prominent journalist and author, he has written extensively on military affairs and served as a respected commentator on national security issues.

While the Ricks surname may have originated from humble beginnings, it has been carried forward by individuals who have left their mark on various fields throughout history, from politics and business to literature and military strategy.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Ricks families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Ricks 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. Wiltshire leads with 112 Ricks' recorded in 1881 and an index of 34.53x.

County Total Index
Wiltshire 112 34.53x
Middlesex 51 1.39x
Somerset 34 5.76x
Gloucestershire 28 3.89x
Essex 20 2.76x
Surrey 19 1.06x
Staffordshire 13 1.05x
Monmouthshire 12 4.53x
Berkshire 10 3.63x
Dorset 10 4.15x
Yorkshire 9 0.25x
Devon 8 1.05x
Hampshire 7 0.93x
Glamorgan 6 0.94x
Northamptonshire 6 1.74x
Durham 5 0.46x
Kent 5 0.40x
Brecknockshire 3 4.09x
Lancashire 3 0.07x
Suffolk 3 0.67x
Buckinghamshire 2 0.90x
Oxfordshire 2 0.88x
Warwickshire 2 0.22x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.43x
Channel Islands 1 0.92x
Leicestershire 1 0.25x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.86x
Sussex 1 0.16x
Worcestershire 1 0.21x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Purton in Wiltshire leads with 54 Ricks' recorded in 1881 and an index of 1868.51x.

Place Total Index
Purton 54 1868.51x
Swindon 17 67.57x
West Ham 17 10.64x
Bedminster 12 21.63x
Cricklade St Mary 9 1730.77x
Kensington London 9 4.41x
Bridgewater 8 49.91x
Christian Malford 8 808.08x
Wandsworth 8 22.66x
Yeovil 8 66.67x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 7 10.34x
Christchurch 7 85.37x
Mile End Old Town 7 12.09x
Reading St Mary 7 31.75x
Rodbourne Cheney 7 280.00x
St Pancras London 7 2.37x
Hornsey 6 12.94x
Mucklestone 6 504.20x
Northampton All Sts 6 51.24x
Stanton St Bernard 6 1428.57x
Westbury On Severn East 6 36.90x
Cheltenham 5 9.01x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 5 10.58x
Bathwick 4 61.26x
Exminster 4 145.45x
Fareham 4 44.30x
Lambeth 4 1.25x
Paddington London 4 2.97x
Camberwell 3 1.28x
Cardiff St John 3 14.38x
Easton 3 731.71x
Handsworth 3 31.22x
Harmondsworth 3 131.58x
Hawkesbury 3 122.45x
Kingswinford 3 6.67x
Little Ilford 3 240.00x
New Romney 3 232.56x
Shoreditch London 3 1.89x
Swinton In Rotherham 3 31.22x
Trevethin 3 11.98x
Walsall Foreign 3 4.69x
Winterbourne 3 75.57x
Birkdale 2 18.17x
Birmingham 2 0.65x
Blandford Forum 2 42.11x
Bristol St James St Paul 2 8.34x
Church Knowle 2 281.69x
East Stonehouse 2 13.30x
Hackney London 2 0.97x
Hammersmith London 2 2.21x
Hoo 2 952.38x
Iver 2 69.93x
Liddiard Millicent 2 180.18x
Llanelly 2 22.78x
Melcombe Regis 2 20.04x
Minety 2 222.22x
Newcastle Higher 2 46.08x
Ryde 2 12.38x
Sculcoates 2 3.47x
St Andrew Holborn 2 16.09x
Blunsdon St Andrew 1 833.33x
Chatham 1 2.90x
Chelsea London 1 0.90x
Claines 1 7.60x
Clerkenwell London 1 1.16x
Cookham 1 11.66x
Hampstead London 1 1.75x
Harborne 1 2.52x
Kessingland 1 64.94x
Liverpool 1 0.38x
Llanfoist 1 54.35x
Llangattock 1 16.75x
Mynyddyslwyn 1 9.56x
Oxford St Thomas 1 9.46x
Pembroke St Mary 1 6.66x
Pilton 1 70.92x
Southwark Christchurch 1 5.82x
Tetbury 1 24.51x
Tottenham 1 1.71x
Winkfield 1 21.88x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 22
Elizabeth 15
Jane 15
Emily 13
Sarah 10
Ann 8
Ellen 8
Emma 8
Annie 5
Kate 5
Eliza 4
Fanny 4
Charlotte 3
Edith 3
Hannah 3
Louisa 3
Martha 3
Agnes 2
Caroline 2
Catherine 2
Elizth. 2
Florence 2
Harriett 2
Jessie 2
Mabel 2
Maria 2
Theresa 2
Alice 1
Arabella 1
Blanche 1
Carrie 1
Clara 1
Ella 1
Flora 1
Flower 1
Frances 1
Georgina 1
Harriet 1
Jemmia 1
Kesiah 1
Leah 1
Lilian 1
Lilly 1
Lily 1
Lizzie 1
Louisea 1
Lucy 1
Lydia 1
Malaldia 1
Winnifred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 23
George 18
John 16
Charles 14
James 11
Henry 8
Frederick 7
Thomas 7
Alfred 5
Nathaniel 4
Robert 4
Albert 3
Arthur 3
Ernest 3
Francis 3
Joseph 3
Richard 3
Samuel 3
Edwin 2
Harry 2
Mark 2
Saml. 2
Walter 2
Augustin 1
Benjamin 1
C. 1
Cannley 1
Constantine 1
David 1
Edgar 1
Edno 1
Edward 1
Elijah 1
Fred 1
Fredk.Willm. 1
Herbert 1
Imdrek 1
Jesse 1
Jessie 1
Luaniel 1
Morriss 1
Nathn. 1
Nelson 1
Percy 1
Peter 1
Roland 1
Sidney 1
Theodore 1
Tom 1
Wade 1

FAQ

Ricks surname: questions and answers

How common was the Ricks surname in 1881?

In 1881, 376 people were recorded with the Ricks surname. That placed it at #8,326 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Ricks surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 430 in 2016. That gives Ricks a modern rank of #11,195.

What does the Ricks surname mean?

Derived from the medieval personal name Rick or Ric, a short form of Richard, meaning "powerful ruler."

What does the Ricks map show?

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