NameCensus.

UK surname

Ridgway

An English locational surname referring to someone who lived near a ridge or road on a hill.

In the 1881 census there were 2,746 people recorded with the Ridgway surname, ranking it #1,624 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 3,447, ranked #1,977, down from #1,624 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Stockport, Glossop and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Aylesbury Vale, South Staffordshire and High Peak.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ridgway is 4,255 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 25.5%.

1881 census count

2,746

Ranked #1,624

Modern count

3,447

2016, ranked #1,977

Peak year

1911

4,255 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Ridgway had 2,746 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,624 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 3,447 in 2016, ranked #1,977.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 4,255 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Ridgway surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Ridgway surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Ridgway 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 1,938 #1,496
1861 historical 1,875 #1,541
1881 historical 2,746 #1,624
1891 historical 2,983 #1,576
1901 historical 3,844 #1,466
1911 historical 4,255 #1,223
1997 modern 3,458 #1,871
1998 modern 3,727 #1,808
1999 modern 3,718 #1,827
2000 modern 3,681 #1,832
2001 modern 3,593 #1,839
2002 modern 3,660 #1,850
2003 modern 3,525 #1,878
2004 modern 3,507 #1,889
2005 modern 3,465 #1,882
2006 modern 3,466 #1,878
2007 modern 3,468 #1,898
2008 modern 3,466 #1,918
2009 modern 3,547 #1,925
2010 modern 3,632 #1,921
2011 modern 3,569 #1,929
2012 modern 3,481 #1,939
2013 modern 3,525 #1,954
2014 modern 3,539 #1,953
2015 modern 3,502 #1,949
2016 modern 3,447 #1,977

Geography

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Where Ridgways are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Stockport, Glossop, London parishes, Manchester and Great Horwood. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Aylesbury Vale, South Staffordshire, High Peak, Shropshire and Cheshire East. 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 Stockport Cheshire
2 Glossop Derbyshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 Great Horwood Buckinghamshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Aylesbury Vale 004 Aylesbury Vale
2 South Staffordshire 004 South Staffordshire
3 High Peak 013 High Peak
4 Shropshire 001 Shropshire
5 Cheshire East 051 Cheshire East

Forenames

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First names often paired with Ridgway

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Ridgway

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

Rural Amenity

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Ridgway 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

Ridgway is most concentrated in decile 6 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Ridgway

The surname Ridgway is of English origin, derived from a place name referring to a ridge or track along a high ground. This topographical name emerged in the medieval period, around the 12th century, as the practice of adopting hereditary surnames became more widespread in England.

The earliest recorded instances of the Ridgway surname can be found in various medieval documents, such as the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire in 1273, which mentions William de Rughweye, and the Feet of Fines for Yorkshire in 1301, listing a Thomas de Ruggeway. These early spellings, including Rughweye, Ruggeway, and Ruggewey, reflect the evolution of the name from its Old English roots.

One notable historical figure bearing the Ridgway surname was Sir Thomas Ridgway (c. 1565-1624), an English politician and landowner who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1612. He was knighted by King James I in 1603 and played a significant role in the governance of the City of London during his tenure.

Another prominent individual was Robert Ridgway (1808-1857), an American ornithologist and curator at the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia. He made significant contributions to the study of birds, particularly through his work on the "Ornithology of North America" series, published between 1887 and 1919.

In the 18th century, John Ridgway (1730-1803) was a renowned English potter and entrepreneur who founded the Ridgway Pottery in Staffordshire, England. His company became renowned for producing high-quality ceramics and contributed to the growth of the pottery industry in the region.

The Ridgway name also appears in historical records related to the American Revolutionary War. Matthew Ridgway (1720-1795) was a soldier and statesman from Maryland who served as a delegate to the Continental Congress and later as a member of the Maryland Senate.

Another notable figure was Matthew Bunker Ridgway (1895-1993), a highly decorated American military officer who served during World War II and the Korean War. He was awarded numerous honors, including the Distinguished Service Cross and the Presidential Medal of Freedom, for his leadership and strategic brilliance.

The Ridgway surname has been associated with various place names throughout England, such as Ridgeway in Derbyshire, Ridgeway Hill in Staffordshire, and Ridgeway Lane in Essex, among others. These place names likely contributed to the spread and adoption of the surname across different regions of the country.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Ridgway families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Ridgway 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. Lancashire leads with 554 Ridgways recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.74x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 554 1.74x
Cheshire 514 8.69x
Staffordshire 240 2.65x
Yorkshire 181 0.68x
Buckinghamshire 167 10.31x
Middlesex 167 0.62x
Shropshire 148 6.39x
Derbyshire 126 3.00x
Leicestershire 76 2.56x
Surrey 73 0.56x
Devon 65 1.17x
Warwickshire 56 0.83x
Somerset 38 0.88x
Denbighshire 33 3.26x
Gloucestershire 29 0.55x
Northamptonshire 25 0.99x
Sussex 24 0.53x
Hampshire 23 0.42x
Hertfordshire 23 1.25x
Lincolnshire 21 0.49x
Worcestershire 21 0.60x
Durham 18 0.23x
Kent 18 0.20x
Glamorgan 15 0.32x
Bedfordshire 12 0.86x
Berkshire 9 0.45x
Channel Islands 9 1.13x
Flintshire 9 1.25x
Cambridgeshire 7 0.41x
Monmouthshire 7 0.36x
Northumberland 7 0.18x
Nottinghamshire 7 0.19x
Angus 5 0.20x
Huntingdonshire 5 0.94x
Norfolk 4 0.10x
Cornwall 3 0.10x
Essex 3 0.06x
Herefordshire 2 0.18x
Cumberland 1 0.04x
Dorset 1 0.06x
Oxfordshire 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. Stoke Upon Trent in Staffordshire leads with 121 Ridgways recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.61x.

Place Total Index
Stoke Upon Trent 121 12.61x
Macclesfield 50 19.02x
Bosden 49 269.97x
Heaton Norris 47 25.97x
Droylsden 41 39.53x
Salford 41 4.38x
Great Horwood 40 612.56x
Hyde 37 21.20x
Birmingham 36 1.60x
Manchester 33 2.31x
Norbury 33 239.48x
St Pancras London 31 1.44x
Hodnet 29 160.31x
Glossop Dale 27 13.74x
Warrington 25 6.63x
Chorlton On Medlock 24 4.75x
Poynton 24 120.66x
Ludworth 23 116.40x
Maltby In Rotherham 23 310.81x
Everton 22 2.17x
Prees 22 78.01x
Dukinfield 21 7.68x
St Marylebone London 21 1.47x
Tintwistle 21 66.43x
Newcastle Under Lyme 20 12.50x
Oldham 20 1.95x
Whitchurch 20 44.51x
Bramhall 19 77.55x
Tingewick 19 261.35x
Weston Turville 19 251.32x
Leek Lowe 18 14.96x
Wem 18 52.28x
Barton Upon Irwell 17 7.10x
Camberwell 17 0.99x
Monks Coppenhall 17 7.62x
Northampton St Sepulchre 17 13.26x
Shoreditch London 17 1.46x
Stockport 17 5.58x
Ecclesall Bierlow 16 2.96x
Great Bolton 16 3.80x
Measham 16 103.76x
Old Cleeve 16 103.90x
Beard Ollerset Whitle 15 54.35x
Bermondsey 15 1.88x
Islington London 15 0.58x
Liverpool 15 0.78x
Congleton 14 13.70x
Gorton 14 4.68x
Hulme 14 2.11x
Brighton 13 1.43x
Bootle Cum Linacre 12 4.75x
Brinnington 12 21.72x
Broughton In Salford 12 4.13x
Ercall Magna 12 72.42x
Haughton 12 25.87x
Mellor 12 105.26x
Reddish 12 27.40x
Scotter 12 122.32x
Winslow 12 78.69x
Ashby De La Zouch 10 14.52x
Bollin Fee 10 38.12x
Burland 10 165.84x
Cheetham 10 4.22x
Kingston On Thames 10 3.19x
Lambeth 10 0.43x
Llansamlet Lower 10 23.67x
Middlesbrough 10 2.89x
Pendleton In Salford 10 2.64x
St Decumans 10 241.55x
Stayley 10 14.79x
Thornborough 10 187.97x
Toxteth Park 10 0.93x
West Bromwich 10 1.93x
Akeley 9 253.52x
Ashton In Makerfield 9 9.94x
Buckingham 9 27.31x
Essington 9 75.50x
Malpas Iscoyd 9 238.73x
Melbourne 9 31.39x
Spotland 9 2.55x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 178
Sarah 141
Elizabeth 131
Ann 62
Martha 52
Emma 51
Eliza 49
Jane 49
Annie 39
Alice 34
Hannah 33
Ellen 30
Fanny 25
Harriet 24
Margaret 19
Catherine 16
Lucy 16
Ada 15
Caroline 15
Charlotte 15
Edith 15
Emily 15
Maria 15
Rebecca 15
Louisa 13
Florence 12
Elizth. 11
Kate 11
Clara 8
Esther 8
Anne 7
Grace 7
Ruth 7
Susannah 7
Adelaide 6
Agnes 6
Bertha 6
Helen 6
Nellie 6
Amelia 5
Eleanor 5
Harriett 5
Helena 5
Isabella 5
Minnie 5
Selina 5
Amy 4
Frances 4
Francis 4
Lillian 4

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 186
William 181
Thomas 105
George 98
James 94
Joseph 58
Charles 53
Henry 45
Samuel 39
Edward 33
Alfred 27
Robert 26
Arthur 24
Frederick 24
Albert 23
Richard 22
Ernest 13
Edwin 11
Wm. 11
Frank 9
Walter 9
Fred 6
Herbert 6
Mark 6
Peter 6
Benjamin 5
Cornelius 5
David 5
Francis 5
Thos. 5
Willm. 5
Frederic 4
Harry 4
Matthew 4
Abraham 3
Andrew 3
Daniel 3
Edgar 3
Fredrick 3
Geo. 3
Isaac 3
Josiah 3
Levi 3
Mathew 3
Paul 3
Reuben 3
Wright 3
Joshua 2
Leonard 2
Moses 2

FAQ

Ridgway surname: questions and answers

How common was the Ridgway surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,746 people were recorded with the Ridgway surname. That placed it at #1,624 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Ridgway surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 3,447 in 2016. That gives Ridgway a modern rank of #1,977.

What does the Ridgway surname mean?

An English locational surname referring to someone who lived near a ridge or road on a hill.

What does the Ridgway map show?

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