NameCensus.

UK surname

Riggall

A locational English surname referring to someone from a location named Riggall.

In the 1881 census there were 351 people recorded with the Riggall surname, ranking it #8,742 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 396, ranked #11,967, down from #8,742 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Grainthorpe with Ludney and Wrangholm, Rochdale and Louth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Lindsey, Medway and North Lincolnshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Riggall is 416 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 12.8%.

1881 census count

351

Ranked #8,742

Modern count

396

2016, ranked #11,967

Peak year

2000

416 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Riggall had 351 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,742 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 396 in 2016, ranked #11,967.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 411 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Riggall surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Riggall surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Riggall 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 230 #9,368
1861 historical 294 #8,571
1881 historical 351 #8,742
1891 historical 388 #9,104
1901 historical 411 #9,300
1911 historical 384 #9,571
1997 modern 408 #10,844
1998 modern 409 #11,172
1999 modern 414 #11,156
2000 modern 416 #11,086
2001 modern 400 #11,229
2002 modern 404 #11,353
2003 modern 394 #11,384
2004 modern 390 #11,495
2005 modern 390 #11,397
2006 modern 382 #11,626
2007 modern 387 #11,652
2008 modern 393 #11,641
2009 modern 394 #11,859
2010 modern 399 #12,018
2011 modern 394 #11,997
2012 modern 393 #11,874
2013 modern 399 #11,944
2014 modern 402 #11,949
2015 modern 395 #12,015
2016 modern 396 #11,967

Geography

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Where Riggalls are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Grainthorpe with Ludney and Wrangholm, Rochdale, Louth, London parishes and Grimoldby. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Lindsey, Medway, North Lincolnshire and Cornwall. 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 Grainthorpe with Ludney and Wrangholm Lincolnshire
2 Rochdale Lancashire
3 Louth Lincolnshire
4 London parishes London 3
5 Grimoldby Lincolnshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Lindsey 003 East Lindsey
2 Medway 028 Medway
3 North Lincolnshire 011 North Lincolnshire
4 Cornwall 062 Cornwall
5 East Lindsey 002 East Lindsey

Forenames

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First names often paired with Riggall

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Riggall

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Riggall surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Riggall household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles

Group

Inner London Working Professionals

Within London, Riggall is most associated with areas classed as Inner London Working Professionals, part of Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles. 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 primarily Inner London neighbourhoods are more densely populated than the Supergroup average. Residents have a younger over-all age profile than the Supergroup as a whole, and are less likely to be owner occupiers. Full time employment is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup and multiple car ownership is uncommon. Chinese and non-EU-born European migrants are less in evidence than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

These neighbourhoods house people of all ages, predominantly of White British or European extraction. Resident turnover is low. Religious affiliation is less common than average and tends to be Christian if expressed. Homeownership, typically of terraced houses, is common but use of the social rented sector is not. Employment is typically in professional, managerial and associate professional or technical occupations. There are few full-time students. Level 4 qualifications are common. More households lack dependent children than have them which, considered alongside low levels of crowding and over-all age structure, indicates that many households may be post child-rearing and in late middle age. Incidence of disability is low, as is residence in communal establishments.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Riggall 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

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

Meaning and origin of Riggall

The surname Riggall is believed to have originated in England, likely during the medieval period. It is thought to be derived from a place name, possibly related to the Old English word "hrycg," meaning "ridge" or "raised ground." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived near a prominent ridge or hill.

The earliest known record of the name Riggall dates back to the 13th century, appearing in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1273. This document mentions a "Walter de Ruggall," indicating that the surname may have been spelled differently in its earlier forms.

In the 14th century, the Riggall surname can be found in various records, including the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire from 1327, which lists a "Johannes de Rigghale." This variation in spelling further highlights the name's evolution over time.

One notable individual bearing the Riggall surname was Sir John Riggall, a member of the English gentry who lived in the 15th century. Records indicate that he served as a Member of Parliament for Southwark in 1472 and 1478.

Moving into the 16th century, the Riggall name appears in the Protestation Returns of 1641-1642, a document listing those who took an oath of allegiance to the English Parliament during the English Civil War period. Among those listed is a "William Riggall" from Lincolnshire.

Another significant figure with the Riggall surname was Thomas Riggall, a 17th-century English clergyman and author. He was born in 1625 and served as the Rector of St. Andrew's Church in Norwich. Riggall published several works, including a book titled "The Practice of Christianity" in 1671.

In the 18th century, the Riggall name can be found in various parish records and legal documents across England. For example, the baptismal records of St. Mary's Church in Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, include an entry for "Mary Riggall" in 1743.

While the Riggall surname is relatively uncommon, it has left its mark on English history, with individuals bearing this name contributing to various fields, from politics and religion to literature and local communities.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Riggall families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Riggall 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. Lincolnshire leads with 264 Riggalls recorded in 1881 and an index of 48.22x.

County Total Index
Lincolnshire 264 48.22x
Yorkshire 23 0.68x
Lancashire 16 0.39x
Northamptonshire 13 4.04x
Warwickshire 8 0.93x
Derbyshire 6 1.12x
Nottinghamshire 6 1.30x
Durham 5 0.49x
Surrey 5 0.30x
Middlesex 4 0.12x
Kent 1 0.09x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Great Grimsby in Lincolnshire leads with 22 Riggalls recorded in 1881 and an index of 63.31x.

Place Total Index
Great Grimsby 22 63.31x
South Somercoates 19 3800.00x
Grimoldby 18 4186.05x
Grainthorpe 16 1951.22x
Louth 15 119.52x
North Somercotes 12 839.16x
Rushton 12 2068.97x
Sutton In Marsh 11 2619.05x
Ashby Cum Fenby 9 2903.23x
Clee With Weelsby 9 75.13x
Birmingham 8 2.78x
Irby On Humber 8 3076.92x
Wardleworth 8 34.45x
Friskney 7 402.30x
Leeds 7 3.65x
Ulceby 7 526.32x
Beauchief 6 5454.55x
East Retford 6 150.00x
Hedon 6 526.32x
Burgh In Marsh 5 375.94x
Dalby 5 2631.58x
Ferryhill 5 140.45x
Leasingham 5 1136.36x
Ludford Parva 5 1250.00x
Stewton 5 4166.67x
Trusthorpe 5 1282.05x
Bermondsey 4 3.92x
Burton By Lincoln 4 1212.12x
Castleton 4 9.86x
Fulstow 4 606.06x
Gosberton 4 164.61x
Halsham 4 1481.48x
Hulme 4 4.72x
Muckton 4 3636.36x
South Willingham 4 1025.64x
Stallingborough 4 701.75x
Tothill 4 6666.67x
Alford 3 88.50x
Ancaster 3 389.61x
Bratoft 3 1153.85x
Hagworthingham 3 526.32x
Huttoft 3 428.57x
North Cockerington 3 1000.00x
Rand 3 3750.00x
Southcoates 3 15.92x
Spalding 3 27.62x
Timberland 3 508.47x
Whaplode 3 160.43x
Bardney 2 122.70x
Croft 2 224.72x
Donington 2 101.52x
Gayton Le Wold 2 1111.11x
Saleby Cum Thoresthorpe 2 1176.47x
Sibsey 2 162.60x
St Pancras London 2 0.73x
Waltham 2 229.89x
Barnsley 1 2.86x
Barton Seagrave 1 370.37x
Bennington By Boston 1 156.25x
Binbrooke 1 73.53x
Bramley In Bramley 1 7.70x
Bromley 1 5.61x
Croydon 1 1.08x
Frithville Boston Sibsey 1 277.78x
Glentworth 1 232.56x
Hessle In Sculcoates 1 33.33x
Kensington London 1 0.53x
Legbourne 1 178.57x
Ludford Magna 1 217.39x
New Sleaford 1 28.49x
North Kyme 1 121.95x
Threckingham 1 588.24x
Westminster St John 1 2.40x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 24
Elizabeth 12
Eliza 11
Ann 10
Ellen 10
Sarah 10
Alice 7
Annie 6
Lucy 6
Betsy 5
Emma 5
Jane 5
Margaret 5
Rebecca 5
Anne 4
Hannah 4
Maria 4
Ada 3
Catherine 3
Clara 3
Edith 3
Emily 3
Frances 3
Charlotte 2
Fanny 2
Florence 2
Gertrude 2
Louisa 2
Martha 2
Susan 2
Susannah 2
Caroline 1
Carry 1
Dinah 1
Elenor 1
Eling 1
Ellin 1
Eva 1
Francis 1
Harriett 1
Isabella 1
Kate 1
Lilley 1
Lillian 1
Lizzie 1
Lois 1
Marie 1
Maudan 1
Minnie 1
Thirza 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 23
William 21
Charles 13
Robert 9
Joseph 8
Thomas 7
Edward 6
James 6
George 5
Richard 5
Albert 4
Arthur 4
Francis 4
Fred 3
Henry 3
Jabez 3
Tom 3
David 2
Harry 2
Samuel 2
Alfred 1
Amos 1
Christopher 1
Edw. 1
Edwin 1
Frances 1
Fred. 1
Frederic 1
Frederick 1
Fredrick 1
Jason 1
Jesse 1
Kirk 1
Kneave 1
Lot 1
Mark 1
Marmadue 1
Moses 1
Paul 1
Sam. 1
Walter 1
Willows 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Riggall surname: questions and answers

How common was the Riggall surname in 1881?

In 1881, 351 people were recorded with the Riggall surname. That placed it at #8,742 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Riggall surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 396 in 2016. That gives Riggall a modern rank of #11,967.

What does the Riggall surname mean?

A locational English surname referring to someone from a location named Riggall.

What does the Riggall map show?

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