NameCensus.

UK surname

Rigden

Referring to someone from Rigden, a place in England.

In the 1881 census there were 560 people recorded with the Rigden surname, ranking it #6,184 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 795, ranked #6,958, down from #6,184 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Dover St James, Dover St Mary and Seasalter. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Canterbury, Thanet and Swale.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Rigden is 829 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 42.0%.

1881 census count

560

Ranked #6,184

Modern count

795

2016, ranked #6,958

Peak year

1911

829 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Rigden had 560 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,184 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 795 in 2016, ranked #6,958.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 829 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Rigden surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Rigden surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Rigden 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 381 #6,272
1861 historical 410 #6,264
1881 historical 560 #6,184
1891 historical 584 #6,539
1901 historical 728 #6,087
1911 historical 829 #5,327
1997 modern 790 #6,602
1998 modern 800 #6,748
1999 modern 798 #6,805
2000 modern 785 #6,881
2001 modern 772 #6,831
2002 modern 806 #6,737
2003 modern 790 #6,723
2004 modern 777 #6,829
2005 modern 762 #6,870
2006 modern 760 #6,908
2007 modern 758 #6,993
2008 modern 765 #6,992
2009 modern 783 #7,001
2010 modern 799 #7,035
2011 modern 808 #6,874
2012 modern 801 #6,822
2013 modern 799 #6,961
2014 modern 794 #7,046
2015 modern 786 #7,040
2016 modern 795 #6,958

Geography

Back to top

Where Rigdens are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Dover St James, Dover St Mary, Seasalter and Hythe St Leonard, Cheriton, Newington, Saltwood, West Hythe, Burmarsh. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Canterbury, Thanet and Swale. 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 London parishes London 3
3 Dover St James, Dover St Mary Kent
4 Seasalter Kent
5 Hythe St Leonard, Cheriton, Newington, Saltwood, West Hythe, Burmarsh Kent

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Canterbury 007 Canterbury
2 Canterbury 008 Canterbury
3 Canterbury 009 Canterbury
4 Thanet 002 Thanet
5 Swale 015 Swale

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Rigden

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Rigden

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

Ageing Communities

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Rigden is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Rigden 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

Rigden falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Rigden

The surname Rigden is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English words "ricg" meaning ridge and "dun" meaning hill or down, suggesting that the name was likely a topographic name given to someone who lived near a prominent ridge or hill.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Rigden can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive record of landowners and tenants in England compiled in 1086 under the orders of William the Conqueror. The name appears as "Rigdene" in this ancient manuscript, indicating its presence in the region at that time.

During the 13th century, the name was also recorded in various forms such as "Riggedene" and "Ryggedene" in various county records and historical documents. This suggests that the name was well-established across various parts of England by this period.

In the 16th century, a notable figure named William Rigden (1532-1593) was a prominent English lawyer and member of the Parliament during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. He hailed from the county of Surrey and played a significant role in the legal and political affairs of his time.

Another individual of note was John Rigden (1662-1723), a celebrated English clockmaker and inventor known for his contribution to the development of precision timekeeping devices. He was born in Oxfordshire and was highly regarded for his innovative designs and craftsmanship.

In the 19th century, the name Rigden was associated with Charles Rigden (1818-1892), a renowned English architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Holborn Viaduct and parts of the Royal Opera House.

Additionally, the surname Rigden has been linked to various place names throughout England, such as Rigden Farm in Kent, Rigden Wood in Surrey, and Rigden Gate in Northamptonshire, further emphasizing its deep-rooted connection to the English landscape.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Rigden families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Rigden 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. Kent leads with 454 Rigdens recorded in 1881 and an index of 24.36x.

County Total Index
Kent 454 24.36x
Middlesex 35 0.64x
Surrey 19 0.71x
Sussex 11 1.19x
Wiltshire 7 1.45x
Gloucestershire 6 0.56x
Northumberland 4 0.49x
Essex 3 0.28x
Hampshire 3 0.27x
Leicestershire 3 0.50x
Devon 2 0.18x
Huntingdonshire 2 1.84x
Lincolnshire 2 0.23x
Oxfordshire 2 0.59x
Bedfordshire 1 0.35x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.29x
Cornwall 1 0.16x
Lancashire 1 0.02x
Somerset 1 0.11x
Suffolk 1 0.15x
Yorkshire 1 0.02x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Whitstable in Kent leads with 104 Rigdens recorded in 1881 and an index of 1137.86x.

Place Total Index
Whitstable 104 1137.86x
Ramsgate 22 72.32x
Deal 18 113.21x
Seasalter 18 765.96x
Folkestone 17 47.03x
Hougham 17 153.43x
Great Mongeham 15 1704.55x
Sandwich St Clement 13 828.03x
Chatham 12 23.41x
Saltwood 12 923.08x
Canterbury Holy Cross 10 555.56x
Charlton 10 80.78x
Nonington 10 675.68x
Chillenden 9 3461.54x
Faversham 9 50.65x
Canterbury St Mary 8 63.95x
Dover St Mary Virgin 8 44.35x
Newington In Elham 8 754.72x
Ashford 7 38.57x
Buckland In Dover 7 113.27x
Croydon 7 4.74x
Egham 7 42.84x
Islington London 7 1.32x
Lewes All Sts 7 190.74x
Ripple 7 1346.15x
Wootton 7 2413.79x
Clifton 6 11.08x
Dover St James 6 73.44x
Ickham Well 6 560.75x
Paddington London 6 2.99x
Sittingbourne 6 40.76x
Barham 5 263.16x
Cheriton 5 65.79x
Chislet 5 236.97x
Lyminge 5 312.50x
Maidstone 5 9.01x
Salisbury St Edmund 5 64.52x
Cowpen 4 21.37x
Kensington London 4 1.32x
Smarden 4 187.79x
Tonbridge 4 5.95x
Adisham 3 352.94x
Chartham 3 64.66x
Denton In Dover 3 1153.85x
Gillingham 3 7.81x
Goodnestone In Eastry 3 400.00x
Herne 3 36.36x
Leicester St Mary 3 6.13x
Poplar London 3 2.91x
Sibertswold 3 306.12x
Willesden 3 5.83x
Barfreston 2 909.09x
Boughton Monchelsea 2 97.09x
Canterbury St Margaret 2 198.02x
Elham 2 89.69x
Fletton 2 57.64x
Hammersmith London 2 1.49x
Higham 2 79.37x
Hove 2 4.95x
Hythe St Leonard 2 30.35x
Murston 2 121.21x
St George Hanover 2 2.81x
St Pancras London 2 0.45x
St Paul Covent Garden 2 36.56x
Stoke Damerel 2 2.51x
Stratfieldsaye 2 186.92x
Theydon Garnon 2 81.30x
Womenswould 2 476.19x
Aldeburgh 1 25.38x
Ash Next Sandwich 1 24.27x
Boughton Aluph 1 94.34x
Chilham 1 37.74x
Ely Holy Trinity St Mary 1 6.63x
Epsom 1 7.71x
Manchester 1 0.34x
Prittlewell 1 6.69x
Southwick 1 20.53x
Streatham 1 2.47x
Sundridge 1 32.15x
Westminster St James 1 1.78x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 39
John 25
George 23
Henry 20
James 20
Edward 17
Alfred 13
Thomas 13
Charles 10
Frederick 9
Richard 8
Walter 7
Robert 6
Stephen 6
Albert 4
Ernest 3
Harry 3
Mark 3
Percy 3
Arthur 2
Daniel 2
Fredk. 2
Herbert 2
Horace 2
Iden 2
Sydney 2
Thos. 2
Wallace 2
Wm. 2
Austin 1
Bentley 1
David 1
Earnest 1
Edwd. 1
Edwin 1
Everden 1
Francis 1
Frank 1
Frederic 1
Fredrick 1
Geo. 1
H. 1
Hubert 1
Hurbert 1
Hyden 1
Mian 1
Onslow 1
Osborne 1
Philip 1
Stanley 1

FAQ

Rigden surname: questions and answers

How common was the Rigden surname in 1881?

In 1881, 560 people were recorded with the Rigden surname. That placed it at #6,184 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Rigden surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 795 in 2016. That gives Rigden a modern rank of #6,958.

What does the Rigden surname mean?

Referring to someone from Rigden, a place in England.

What does the Rigden map show?

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