NameCensus.

UK surname

Ridout

An English surname derived from a place name referring to someone from a remote or outlying area.

In the 1881 census there were 1,055 people recorded with the Ridout surname, ranking it #3,733 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,395, ranked #4,353, down from #3,733 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Poole St James and Child Okeford, Oakford Fitzpaine, Bellchalwell, Fifehead Neville. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include West Dorset and North Dorset.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ridout is 1,588 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 32.2%.

1881 census count

1,055

Ranked #3,733

Modern count

1,395

2016, ranked #4,353

Peak year

1999

1,588 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Ridout had 1,055 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,733 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,395 in 2016, ranked #4,353.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,472 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Ridout surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Ridout surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Ridout 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 696 #3,746
1861 historical 664 #4,033
1881 historical 1,055 #3,733
1891 historical 992 #4,179
1901 historical 1,472 #3,471
1911 historical 1,272 #3,732
1997 modern 1,500 #3,908
1998 modern 1,564 #3,906
1999 modern 1,588 #3,897
2000 modern 1,580 #3,894
2001 modern 1,546 #3,892
2002 modern 1,540 #3,987
2003 modern 1,510 #3,978
2004 modern 1,510 #3,973
2005 modern 1,461 #4,049
2006 modern 1,451 #4,077
2007 modern 1,447 #4,120
2008 modern 1,449 #4,139
2009 modern 1,468 #4,184
2010 modern 1,483 #4,224
2011 modern 1,459 #4,230
2012 modern 1,411 #4,279
2013 modern 1,447 #4,258
2014 modern 1,432 #4,314
2015 modern 1,406 #4,343
2016 modern 1,395 #4,353

Geography

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Where Ridouts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Poole St James, Child Okeford, Oakford Fitzpaine, Bellchalwell, Fifehead Neville and Sturminster Newton Castle. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to West Dorset and North Dorset. 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 London parishes London 1
2 Poole St James Dorset
3 London parishes London 3
4 Child Okeford, Oakford Fitzpaine, Bellchalwell, Fifehead Neville Dorset
5 Sturminster Newton Castle Dorset

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 West Dorset 002 West Dorset
2 West Dorset 003 West Dorset
3 North Dorset 005 North Dorset
4 North Dorset 004 North Dorset
5 North Dorset 003 North Dorset

Forenames

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First names often paired with Ridout

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Ridout

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Ridout, 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 Ridout surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Ridout 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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Ridout 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

Ridout is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Ridout falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Ridout

The surname Ridout is of English origin, and it is believed to have emerged in the 12th century. It is derived from the Old English words "ryding" and "hout," which translate to "riding" and "wood," respectively. This suggests that the name likely referred to someone who lived near a wooded area where people would ride horses or travel on horseback.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Ridout can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from the year 1195, where it appears as "Ridehoute." This indicates that the name was already in use by the end of the 12th century and that its spelling had evolved over time.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various forms, including "Rydehout" and "Ridout," in records from counties such as Somerset and Wiltshire. These variations suggest that the name had spread across different regions of England by this time.

One notable historical figure bearing the Ridout surname was John Ridout, a merchant and politician who lived in the 15th century. He served as the Sheriff of London in 1442 and was a member of the Parliament of England.

Another individual of significance was William Ridout, who was born in 1688 in Gloucestershire. He was a clergyman and served as the rector of several parishes in the late 17th and early 18th centuries.

In the 19th century, Sir Walter Buchanan Riddell Ridout, born in 1820, was a prominent figure in colonial Canada. He served as a judge and was appointed to the Supreme Court of Ontario in 1868.

Thomas Ridout, born in 1754 in Yorkshire, England, was a notable surveyor and land agent. He immigrated to Upper Canada (now Ontario) in the late 18th century and played a significant role in the early development of the region.

Another individual of note was Alfred Ridout, born in 1853 in Toronto, Canada. He was a lawyer and served as the Mayor of Toronto from 1900 to 1901.

The Ridout surname has a rich history, with its roots tracing back to medieval England. Over the centuries, it has been associated with individuals from various walks of life, including merchants, politicians, clergymen, judges, and surveyors, demonstrating the diverse backgrounds of those who have borne this name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Ridout families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Ridout 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. Dorset leads with 432 Ridouts recorded in 1881 and an index of 63.42x.

County Total Index
Dorset 432 63.42x
Somerset 135 8.08x
Middlesex 131 1.26x
Hampshire 93 4.37x
Surrey 51 1.01x
Wiltshire 43 4.68x
Kent 39 1.10x
Yorkshire 15 0.15x
Glamorgan 14 0.77x
Essex 13 0.63x
Devon 12 0.56x
Gloucestershire 12 0.59x
Sussex 10 0.57x
Cheshire 8 0.35x
Lancashire 8 0.07x
Warwickshire 8 0.31x
Hertfordshire 7 0.98x
Channel Islands 6 1.95x
Monmouthshire 6 0.80x
Derbyshire 5 0.31x
Northamptonshire 4 0.41x
Buckinghamshire 3 0.48x
Royal Navy 3 2.43x
Staffordshire 3 0.09x
Oxfordshire 1 0.16x
Suffolk 1 0.08x
Worcestershire 1 0.07x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Sturminster in Dorset leads with 46 Ridouts recorded in 1881 and an index of 696.97x.

Place Total Index
Sturminster 46 696.97x
Okeford Fitzpaine 36 1651.38x
Portsea 21 5.04x
Alverstoke 20 25.97x
Kensington London 20 3.47x
Castle Cary 18 247.25x
Poole St James 17 66.43x
St Pancras London 17 2.03x
Chelsea London 16 5.12x
Islington London 16 1.59x
Kinson 16 120.21x
Stour Provost 16 1322.31x
Wimborne 16 194.17x
Clapham 15 11.56x
Tarrant Gunville 15 1190.48x
Wimborne Minster 15 136.12x
Blandford Forum 14 104.17x
Holdenhurst 14 25.09x
Alford 13 3823.53x
Folke 13 1368.42x
Gillingham 13 111.02x
Milton Abbas 13 389.22x
St George Hanover 13 9.60x
Twerton 13 75.45x
Bradford Abbas 12 662.98x
Holwell 12 810.81x
Herne 11 70.15x
Iwerne Courtnay 11 239.65x
Shoreditch London 11 2.44x
Wilton 11 169.49x
Burnham 10 78.49x
Caundle Purse 10 1449.28x
Charlton Marshall 10 431.03x
Sherborne 10 49.85x
Walcot 10 11.24x
Little Canfield 9 857.14x
Radipole 9 191.49x
Southampton St Mary 9 6.73x
Bath St James 8 45.90x
Battersea 8 2.09x
Haselbury Bryan 8 313.73x
Longburton 8 592.59x
St Anne Soho London 8 13.50x
Stratford Under Castle 8 707.96x
Beckenham 7 15.12x
Birmingham 7 0.80x
Croydon 7 2.49x
Fordingbridge 7 60.50x
Lambeth 7 0.77x
Leighton In Nantwich 7 1147.54x
Millbrook 7 13.06x
Plymouth Charles The 7 7.35x
Roath 7 8.53x
Stalbridge 7 108.19x
Stretford 7 10.33x
Wareham Holy Trinity 7 235.69x
Wimborne St Giles 7 434.78x
Glastonbury 6 43.99x
Hammoon 6 2222.22x
Langton Matravers 6 188.68x
Lewisham 6 3.18x
Little Cheverell 6 759.49x
Lyncombe Widcombe 6 13.72x
Neath Upper 6 127.12x
Ovenden 6 13.11x
Paddington London 6 1.57x
St Marylebone London 6 1.08x
West Camel 6 600.00x
Wootton Glanville 6 714.29x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 5 2.61x
Hammersmith London 5 1.96x
Hastings All Sts 5 30.32x
Pickering Marishes 5 442.48x
Pimperne 5 328.95x
Putney 5 10.57x
Spetisbury 5 265.96x
St Helier 5 4.99x
Wirksworth 5 33.85x
Buckland Newton 4 131.58x
Cranborne 4 48.54x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 57
George 51
John 42
Thomas 34
James 29
Charles 27
Henry 17
Arthur 15
Robert 15
Frederick 14
Alfred 13
Walter 12
Albert 11
Harry 10
Edwin 9
Herbert 9
Edward 8
Ernest 8
Frank 7
Tom 6
Francis 5
Philip 5
Sidney 5
Edmund 4
Joseph 4
Alexander 3
Benjamin 3
Phillip 3
Stephen 3
Aurthur 2
Earnest 2
Edgar 2
Emanuel 2
Fredrick 2
Mark 2
Matthew 2
Michael 2
Richard 2
Archibald 1
Benjn. 1
Bertie 1
Brier 1
Charity 1
Ephriam 1
Eugene 1
Frances 1
Jeremiah 1
Jesse 1
Jno. 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Ridout surname: questions and answers

How common was the Ridout surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,055 people were recorded with the Ridout surname. That placed it at #3,733 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Ridout surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,395 in 2016. That gives Ridout a modern rank of #4,353.

What does the Ridout surname mean?

An English surname derived from a place name referring to someone from a remote or outlying area.

What does the Ridout map show?

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