NameCensus.

UK surname

Riddell

A Scottish locational surname derived from the lands of Riddell in Roxburghshire, likely meaning "reed dale" or "cleared valley."

In the 1881 census there were 2,526 people recorded with the Riddell surname, ranking it #1,768 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 4,188, ranked #1,617, up from #1,768 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Melrose, Govan Combination and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Selkirk, Earlston Stow and Clovernfords Area and Hawick Central.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Riddell is 4,226 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 65.8%.

1881 census count

2,526

Ranked #1,768

Modern count

4,188

2016, ranked #1,617

Peak year

1999

4,226 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Riddell had 2,526 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,768 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 4,188 in 2016, ranked #1,617.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 3,194 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Riddell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Riddell surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Riddell 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 1,250 #2,283
1861 historical 1,373 #2,085
1881 historical 2,526 #1,768
1891 historical 2,785 #1,691
1901 historical 3,194 #1,756
1911 historical 1,494 #3,231
1997 modern 4,042 #1,599
1998 modern 4,175 #1,617
1999 modern 4,226 #1,610
2000 modern 4,206 #1,602
2001 modern 4,057 #1,633
2002 modern 4,174 #1,611
2003 modern 4,019 #1,647
2004 modern 4,010 #1,647
2005 modern 4,014 #1,619
2006 modern 3,990 #1,627
2007 modern 4,023 #1,635
2008 modern 4,081 #1,621
2009 modern 4,142 #1,637
2010 modern 4,210 #1,645
2011 modern 4,162 #1,645
2012 modern 4,047 #1,659
2013 modern 4,109 #1,667
2014 modern 4,166 #1,653
2015 modern 4,138 #1,650
2016 modern 4,188 #1,617

Geography

Back to top

Where Riddells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Melrose, Govan Combination, London parishes, Edinburgh and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Selkirk, Earlston Stow and Clovernfords Area, Hawick Central and Northumberland. 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 Melrose Roxburgh
2 Govan Combination Lanark
3 London parishes London 3
4 Edinburgh Edinburgh
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Selkirk Scottish Borders
2 Earlston Stow and Clovernfords Area Scottish Borders
3 Hawick Central Scottish Borders
4 Northumberland 006 Northumberland
5 Northumberland 003 Northumberland

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Riddell

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Riddell

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Riddell surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Riddell household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Riddell 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

Riddell is most concentrated in decile 1 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Riddell falls in decile 7 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Riddell

The surname Riddell has its origins in the region of Roxburghshire, Scotland, during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English words "ryd" meaning a clearing or an open space, and "dael," meaning a dale or valley. This suggests that the name may have been originally associated with a family residing in a clearing or valley area.

The earliest known record of the name appears in the 12th century, when a person named Radulphus de Ryddale was mentioned in a charter granted by David I, King of Scots, in 1147. This charter pertained to lands in the area of Lilliesleaf, which is situated in the region of Roxburghshire.

In the 13th century, the name was also recorded as Ryddale and Rydel, reflecting the variations in spelling that were common during that time. One notable figure from this era was Walter Rydale, who was a witness to a charter granted by Alexander III, King of Scots, in 1265.

As time progressed, the spelling of the name evolved further, with variations such as Riddale, Riddail, and eventually Riddell becoming more prevalent. In the 16th century, a Sir Walter Riddell was appointed as the Keeper of the Privy Seal by King James VI of Scotland in 1592.

Another prominent individual with this surname was Sir John Riddell (1785-1862), a Scottish antiquarian and writer. He was known for his work on Scottish peerage law and his contributions to the study of Scottish history and antiquities.

The Riddell family also had connections to various places in Scotland, such as the lands of Riddell and the Riddell Baronetcy, which was created in 1628 for Walter Riddell of Riddell. The family's ancestral seat was the Riddell Castle, located in the Scottish Borders region.

Other notable figures with the Riddell surname include James Riddell (1798-1866), a Scottish minister and author, and Robert Riddell (1755-1794), a Scottish poet and writer who was a friend of Robert Burns.

Throughout its history, the Riddell surname has maintained a strong presence in Scotland, particularly in the Borders region, where it originated and where many members of the family have made significant contributions to various fields, including literature, law, and the preservation of Scottish history and culture.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Riddell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Riddell 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. Lanarkshire leads with 665 Riddells recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.39x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 665 8.39x
Aberdeenshire 214 9.43x
Northumberland 212 5.81x
Roxburghshire 187 42.13x
Durham 134 1.84x
Midlothian 133 4.05x
Middlesex 115 0.47x
Lancashire 89 0.31x
Renfrewshire 80 4.21x
Surrey 52 0.44x
Staffordshire 48 0.58x
Ayrshire 44 2.40x
Cumberland 39 1.85x
Selkirkshire 35 15.79x
Stirlingshire 31 3.43x
Nottinghamshire 30 0.91x
Hampshire 25 0.50x
Kincardineshire 24 8.04x
Warwickshire 23 0.37x
Berwickshire 21 7.08x
Kent 21 0.25x
Argyllshire 20 2.93x
Dunbartonshire 18 2.73x
West Lothian 18 4.88x
Berkshire 17 0.92x
Derbyshire 17 0.44x
Angus 16 0.70x
Dumfriesshire 16 2.96x
Peeblesshire 13 11.28x
Devon 12 0.24x
Worcestershire 12 0.38x
Wigtownshire 10 3.07x
Buteshire 8 5.39x
East Lothian 8 2.46x
Essex 8 0.17x
Gloucestershire 8 0.17x
Yorkshire 8 0.03x
Northamptonshire 7 0.30x
Fife 6 0.41x
Leicestershire 6 0.22x
Cheshire 5 0.09x
Kirkcudbrightshire 5 1.41x
Monmouthshire 5 0.28x
Norfolk 5 0.13x
Sussex 5 0.12x
Morayshire 4 1.05x
Perthshire 4 0.36x
Royal Navy 4 1.37x
Cardiganshire 3 0.50x
Glamorgan 3 0.07x
Nairnshire 3 4.01x
Somerset 3 0.08x
Wiltshire 3 0.14x
Banffshire 2 0.39x
Cornwall 2 0.07x
Inverness-shire 2 0.27x
Bedfordshire 1 0.08x
Clackmannanshire 1 0.49x
Hertfordshire 1 0.06x
Lincolnshire 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. Barony in Lanarkshire leads with 197 Riddells recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.82x.

Place Total Index
Barony 197 9.82x
Govan 131 6.68x
Glasgow 130 9.24x
Aberdeen Old Machar 76 16.04x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 48 3.63x
Melrose 42 109.46x
Bishopwearmouth 39 6.23x
Abbey 33 11.39x
Morebattle 32 376.91x
Avondale 30 64.75x
East Kilbride 29 85.44x
New Monkland 29 12.38x
Glassford 24 196.56x
St George Hanover 23 7.19x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 22 5.18x
Tanfield 21 24.22x
Elswick 20 6.87x
Falkirk 19 8.98x
Bedlington 18 14.79x
Eastwood 18 15.39x
Gateshead 18 3.30x
Hawick 18 18.12x
St Luke London 18 4.58x
Selkirk 17 27.22x
Wilton 17 34.91x
Horton Grange 16 2622.95x
Rutherglen 16 13.76x
Cambusnethan 15 8.52x
Nottingham St Mary 15 1.76x
Brampton 14 48.41x
Cramond 14 56.27x
Kilmarnock 14 6.41x
Lilliesleaf 14 232.56x
Liverpool 14 0.79x
Aston 12 0.71x
Cavers 12 108.11x
Galashiels 12 14.64x
Hamilton 12 5.43x
Hindlip 12 545.45x
Maryhill 12 7.74x
Newcastle On Tyne St 12 6.35x
Newington 12 1.33x
Old Monkland 12 3.82x
Teviothead 12 293.40x
Tutbury 12 59.52x
Ballantrae 11 90.68x
Cambuslang 11 13.77x
Kemnay 11 79.94x
West Greenock 11 3.23x
Banchory Ternan 10 38.76x
Dunoon 10 71.28x
Insch 10 77.46x
Kirkdale 10 2.04x
Portsea 10 1.02x
South Leith 10 2.71x
St Cuthbert W O 10 9.72x
St Pancras London 10 0.51x
Bathgate 9 11.23x
Edgbaston 9 4.70x
Ellon 9 28.84x
Glenmuick Tullich 9 55.01x
Hexham 9 15.95x
Longbenton 9 5.83x
Shoreditch London 9 0.85x
Berwick Upon Tweed 8 10.36x
Boness 8 15.73x
Brechin 8 8.97x
Canonbie 8 34.78x
Cumbrae 8 51.22x
Earlston 8 53.87x
Glenbervie 8 97.92x
Islington London 8 0.34x
Leochel Cushnie 8 78.28x
Lochwinnoch 8 28.27x
Manchester 8 0.61x
Sebergham 8 171.67x
Southampton St Mary 8 2.53x
Tynemouth 8 4.10x
Westminster St John 8 2.68x
Wokingham 8 19.06x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 62
Elizabeth 43
Jane 26
Sarah 24
Margaret 22
Isabella 17
Ann 15
Hannah 14
Eliza 13
Alice 12
Catherine 11
Agnes 8
Annie 8
Emma 8
Frances 7
Edith 6
Barbara 5
Elizth. 5
Ellen 5
Emily 5
Jessie 5
Louisa 5
Maria 5
Martha 5
Esther 4
Harriett 4
Maud 4
Selina 4
Anne 3
Beatrice 3
Caroline 3
Charlotte 3
Dorothy 3
Ethel 3
Fanny 3
Florence 3
Helen 3
J. 3
Julia 3
Kate 3
Clara 2
E. 2
Eleanor 2
Harriet 2
J.B. 2
Lucie 2
Lucy 2
Minnie 2
Rosa 2
Rose 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 68
William 52
James 42
Thomas 33
George 28
Charles 23
Henry 19
Robert 18
Edward 12
Walter 12
Joseph 11
David 7
Frederick 7
Alexander 6
Andrew 6
Albert 5
Arthur 5
Alfred 4
Harry 4
Richard 4
Francis 3
Hugh 3
Matthew 3
Peter 3
Adam 2
Duncan 2
Geo. 2
J.W. 2
Sidney 2
W.H.S. 2
Wm. 2
Alfrid 1
And. 1
Berham 1
C. 1
Chas. 1
Chas.H. 1
Doughall 1
Edmund 1
Frederic 1
Fredrick 1
G. 1
G.B. 1
Geo 1
Hy.M. 1
J. 1
J.T. 1
Jesse 1
Josep 1
Joshua 1

FAQ

Riddell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Riddell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,526 people were recorded with the Riddell surname. That placed it at #1,768 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Riddell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 4,188 in 2016. That gives Riddell a modern rank of #1,617.

What does the Riddell surname mean?

A Scottish locational surname derived from the lands of Riddell in Roxburghshire, likely meaning "reed dale" or "cleared valley."

What does the Riddell map show?

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