NameCensus.

UK surname

Rickus

A variant spelling of the German surname Rickes, itself deriving from a medieval nickname meaning "brave" or "mighty".

In the 1881 census there were 71 people recorded with the Rickus surname, ranking it #23,517 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 123, ranked #27,115, down from #23,517 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wolverhampton, Wellington, Wrockwardine, Eyton-on-the-Moors, Preston-on-the-Moors and Darlaston. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Birmingham, Solihull and Telford and Wrekin.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Rickus is 134 in 1997. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 73.2%.

1881 census count

71

Ranked #23,517

Modern count

123

2016, ranked #27,115

Peak year

1997

134 bearers

Map years

4

1911 to 2016

Key insights

  • Rickus had 71 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #23,517 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 123 in 2016, ranked #27,115.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 119 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Rickus surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Rickus surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Rickus 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 22 #29,378
1861 historical 18 #31,580
1881 historical 71 #23,517
1891 historical 83 #26,376
1901 historical 72 #26,162
1911 historical 119 #20,535
1997 modern 134 #22,608
1998 modern 128 #23,828
1999 modern 122 #24,745
2000 modern 121 #24,824
2001 modern 124 #24,114
2002 modern 122 #24,874
2003 modern 126 #24,146
2004 modern 123 #24,679
2005 modern 118 #25,301
2006 modern 116 #25,813
2007 modern 117 #26,066
2008 modern 109 #27,533
2009 modern 120 #26,496
2010 modern 116 #27,704
2011 modern 125 #26,220
2012 modern 125 #26,298
2013 modern 126 #26,585
2014 modern 125 #26,896
2015 modern 126 #26,654
2016 modern 123 #27,115

Geography

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Where Rickus' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wolverhampton, Wellington, Wrockwardine, Eyton-on-the-Moors, Preston-on-the-Moors, Darlaston, London parishes and St Mary Rotherhithe. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Birmingham, Solihull and Telford and Wrekin. 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 Wolverhampton Staffordshire
2 Wellington, Wrockwardine, Eyton-on-the-Moors, Preston-on-the-Moors Shropshire
3 Darlaston Staffordshire
4 London parishes London 3
5 St Mary Rotherhithe London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Birmingham 029 Birmingham
2 Solihull 001 Solihull
3 Telford and Wrekin 005 Telford and Wrekin
4 Telford and Wrekin 006 Telford and Wrekin
5 Telford and Wrekin 019 Telford and Wrekin

Forenames

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First names often paired with Rickus

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Rickus

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Rickus surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Rickus household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Rickus is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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 neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Rickus is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Rickus falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Rickus

The surname Rickus is believed to have originated in Germany during the late medieval period, around the 13th or 14th century. It is thought to be derived from the Germanic root word "ric," meaning powerful or mighty, and was likely used initially as a descriptive name for someone who was physically strong or held a position of authority.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Rickus name can be found in the Bavarian regional archives, where a certain Heinricus Rickus is mentioned in a land deed from the year 1327. This suggests that the name was already in use in parts of southern Germany by the early 14th century.

During the 15th and 16th centuries, the spelling of the name varied considerably, with variations such as Rickuss, Ricküs, and Ryckhus appearing in various historical documents across different regions of Germany. This was a common occurrence in those times, as standardized spellings were not yet widely adopted.

In the 17th century, the Rickus name gained some prominence with the birth of Johannes Rickus (1616-1682), a German theologian and philosopher who served as a professor at the University of Wittenberg. His writings on religious subjects and natural philosophy were widely read and influential during his lifetime.

Another notable figure with the Rickus surname was Gottfried Rickus (1751-1821), a German composer and organist who was highly regarded for his contributions to church music. He served as the organist and choir director at several prominent churches in Dresden and Leipzig during his career.

The 19th century saw the emergence of Carl Rickus (1828-1897), a German-born engineer and industrialist who became a pioneer in the early development of steel production techniques. His innovations and patents played a significant role in the growth of the steel industry in both Germany and the United States, where he later lived and worked.

Other historical figures with the Rickus surname include Wilhelm Rickus (1864-1932), a German painter known for his landscapes and rural scenes, and Hans Rickus (1890-1976), a German-American architect who designed several notable buildings in New York City during the early 20th century.

While the Rickus name may not be among the most widespread surnames globally, it has a rich history and can be traced back to its Germanic roots in medieval times. The individuals mentioned above represent just a few examples of the contributions made by those who have borne this surname throughout the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Rickus families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Rickus 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. Shropshire leads with 15 Rickus' recorded in 1881 and an index of 25.08x.

County Total Index
Shropshire 15 25.08x
Warwickshire 13 7.45x
Staffordshire 12 5.13x
Surrey 12 3.56x
Derbyshire 7 6.46x
Lancashire 7 0.85x
Norfolk 3 2.82x
Cambridgeshire 2 4.56x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Birmingham in Warwickshire leads with 13 Rickus' recorded in 1881 and an index of 22.34x.

Place Total Index
Birmingham 13 22.34x
Rotherhithe 12 140.35x
Lt Wenlock 8 6153.85x
Everton 7 26.74x
Madeley 7 319.63x
North Wingfield 7 1458.33x
Darlaston 6 185.76x
West Bromwich 5 37.37x
Wicklewood 3 1764.71x
Newmarket All Sts 2 625.00x
Bilston 1 22.08x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 4
Sarah 4
Eliza 3
Elizabeth 3
Ellen 2
Emma 2
Ann 1
Caroline 1
Charlotte 1
Clara 1
Emily 1
Grace 1
Hariett 1
Hillary 1
Jane 1
Kate 1
Maria 1
Martha 1
Maud 1
Rebecca 1
Sophia 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Rickus surname: questions and answers

How common was the Rickus surname in 1881?

In 1881, 71 people were recorded with the Rickus surname. That placed it at #23,517 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Rickus surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 123 in 2016. That gives Rickus a modern rank of #27,115.

What does the Rickus surname mean?

A variant spelling of the German surname Rickes, itself deriving from a medieval nickname meaning "brave" or "mighty".

What does the Rickus map show?

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