NameCensus.

UK surname

Riddles

A descriptive surname derived from the Middle English word "ridel," meaning a sieve or coarse screen.

In the 1881 census there were 186 people recorded with the Riddles surname, ranking it #13,448 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 133, ranked #25,765, down from #13,448 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Broadwater (incl. Worthing), Nuthurst, Heene and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Calderdale, Charnwood and Croydon.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Riddles is 241 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 28.5%.

1881 census count

186

Ranked #13,448

Modern count

133

2016, ranked #25,765

Peak year

1911

241 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Riddles had 186 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,448 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 133 in 2016, ranked #25,765.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 241 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Riddles surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Riddles surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Riddles 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 85 #18,940
1861 historical 128 #17,375
1881 historical 186 #13,448
1891 historical 183 #15,918
1901 historical 227 #13,970
1911 historical 241 #13,229
1997 modern 165 #19,861
1998 modern 166 #20,329
1999 modern 168 #20,312
2000 modern 170 #20,120
2001 modern 157 #20,884
2002 modern 155 #21,431
2003 modern 146 #22,069
2004 modern 140 #22,793
2005 modern 136 #23,205
2006 modern 134 #23,590
2007 modern 134 #23,931
2008 modern 133 #24,350
2009 modern 133 #24,817
2010 modern 131 #25,656
2011 modern 127 #25,926
2012 modern 128 #25,852
2013 modern 138 #25,020
2014 modern 132 #25,971
2015 modern 131 #25,979
2016 modern 133 #25,765

Geography

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Where Riddles' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Broadwater (incl. Worthing), Nuthurst, Heene, London parishes, Sompting and Aldington, Hurst. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Calderdale, Charnwood, Croydon, Waverley and Plymouth. 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 Broadwater (incl. Worthing), Nuthurst Sussex
2 Heene Sussex
3 London parishes London 3
4 Sompting Sussex
5 Aldington, Hurst Kent

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Calderdale 020 Calderdale
2 Charnwood 002 Charnwood
3 Croydon 043 Croydon
4 Waverley 006 Waverley
5 Plymouth 003 Plymouth

Forenames

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First names often paired with Riddles

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Riddles

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

Young Families in Industrial Towns

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Riddles is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

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

Riddles 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

Riddles 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 Riddles 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 Riddles, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Riddles

The surname Riddles is of Anglo-Saxon origin, traced back to the early medieval period in England. It derives from the old English word "riddan," meaning to rid or clear, suggesting the name may have been initially borne by someone who worked to clear land or rid an area of unwanted vegetation.

One of the earliest recorded references to the Riddles surname is found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive record of landholdings and population commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appears as "Ridel" in the county of Yorkshire.

During the 13th century, the spelling evolved to its modern form, "Riddles." Records from this period show the name was concentrated in the northern counties of England, particularly Yorkshire and Lancashire, where place names like Riddleston and Riddlesden may have influenced the surname's development.

A notable early bearer of the name was Sir John Riddles (c. 1320-1389), a knight and landowner from Yorkshire who fought in the Hundred Years' War. His descendants continued to reside in Yorkshire for several generations.

In the 16th century, the Riddles surname spread to other parts of England, with records indicating families in Gloucestershire, Somerset, and Norfolk. One prominent figure was William Riddles (1538-1609), a merchant and alderman in the city of Norwich.

The 17th century saw the Riddles name reach Scotland, with a branch of the family settling in the Lowlands. Robert Riddles (1612-1673), a Presbyterian minister from Ayrshire, was a notable figure during this time.

As the British Empire expanded, the Riddles surname traveled to various colonies and territories. Nicholas Riddles (1674-1742) was one of the early settlers in Virginia, arriving in the late 17th century from England.

Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, the Riddles surname continued to be represented across the British Isles and in the growing communities of the Americas and other British territories. Some notable bearers of the name during this period include William Riddles (1763-1838), a British naval officer who served in the Napoleonic Wars, and James Riddles (1815-1890), an American businessman and politician from Ohio.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Riddles families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Riddles 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. Sussex leads with 102 Riddles' recorded in 1881 and an index of 33.35x.

County Total Index
Sussex 102 33.35x
Kent 25 4.04x
Gloucestershire 21 5.90x
Middlesex 12 0.66x
Durham 6 1.11x
Cornwall 5 2.43x
Surrey 4 0.45x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.87x
Cheshire 1 0.25x
Devon 1 0.26x
Essex 1 0.28x
Lanarkshire 1 0.17x
Lancashire 1 0.05x
Lincolnshire 1 0.34x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.41x
Staffordshire 1 0.16x
Suffolk 1 0.45x
Yorkshire 1 0.06x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Broadwater in Sussex leads with 26 Riddles' recorded in 1881 and an index of 370.37x.

Place Total Index
Broadwater 26 370.37x
Sompting 19 4523.81x
Brighton 17 27.55x
Gloucester St Mary Lode 11 1325.30x
Aldington 10 2380.95x
South Malling 9 2000.00x
Stroud 8 115.61x
Heene 6 1132.08x
Leominster 6 606.06x
Appledore 5 1250.00x
Liskeard 5 145.35x
Sunderland 5 52.47x
Battersea 4 5.99x
Cliffe 4 388.35x
Hampstead London 4 14.16x
Itchingfield 4 1481.48x
Lee 4 44.49x
St Luke London 4 13.75x
Deptford St Paul 3 6.28x
East Grinstead 3 69.28x
Lewisham 3 9.09x
Binsted 2 2500.00x
Hove 2 14.90x
Lancing 2 238.10x
St Briavels 2 434.78x
St Marylebone London 2 2.06x
Altrincham 1 14.29x
Barony 1 0.67x
Bishopwearmouth 1 2.16x
Boston Hall Hills 1 204.08x
Bradford 1 2.30x
Chesterton 1 28.25x
Compton Gifford 1 84.75x
Falmer 1 277.78x
Kensington London 1 0.99x
Kingswinford 1 4.50x
Lenton 1 17.36x
Manchester 1 1.03x
Melton 1 114.94x
Paddington London 1 1.50x
South Shoebury 1 69.44x
Wadhurst 1 49.75x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 12
Elizabeth 9
Eliza 7
Sarah 5
Alice 4
Fanny 4
Martha 4
Ellen 3
Emily 3
Frances 3
Jane 3
Lucy 3
Ann 2
Charlotte 2
Ethel 2
Harriet 2
Harriett 2
Helen 2
Sophia 2
Ada 1
Agnes 1
Amy 1
Annie 1
Barbara 1
Blanch 1
Caroline 1
Edith 1
Elizth. 1
Elizth.Jane 1
Ella 1
Emma 1
Hannah 1
Jessie 1
Kate 1
Lissie 1
Lyllian 1
Minnie 1
Naomi 1
Rhoda 1
Rosa 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 16
John 9
George 8
Henry 8
James 5
Alfred 4
Richard 4
Thomas 4
Charles 3
Stephen 3
Arthur 2
Edwin 2
Felix 2
Frederick 2
Albert 1
Benjamin 1
Earnest 1
Francis 1
Fred 1
Fredk 1
Fredk.J. 1
Harry 1
Herbert 1
Horace 1
Jacob 1
Jesse 1
Jessie 1
Jonas 1
Martin 1
Percy 1
Samuel 1

FAQ

Riddles surname: questions and answers

How common was the Riddles surname in 1881?

In 1881, 186 people were recorded with the Riddles surname. That placed it at #13,448 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Riddles surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 133 in 2016. That gives Riddles a modern rank of #25,765.

What does the Riddles surname mean?

A descriptive surname derived from the Middle English word "ridel," meaning a sieve or coarse screen.

What does the Riddles map show?

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