NameCensus.

UK surname

Riggans

Native of a place called Rigg or Riggan, probably from areas of Scotland or England.

In the 1881 census there were 23 people recorded with the Riggans surname, ranking it #30,339 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 135, ranked #25,505, up from #30,339 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Doon Valley South, East Hertfordshire and Kirkcaldy Hayfield and Smeaton.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Riggans is 153 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 487.0%.

1881 census count

23

Ranked #30,339

Modern count

135

2016, ranked #25,505

Peak year

2010

153 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Riggans had 23 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #30,339 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 135 in 2016, ranked #25,505.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 49 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Riggans surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Riggans surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Riggans 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 6 #32,278
1861 historical 27 #30,543
1881 historical 23 #30,339
1891 historical 45 #30,747
1901 historical 49 #28,696
1997 modern 140 #22,031
1998 modern 139 #22,720
1999 modern 136 #23,186
2000 modern 145 #22,259
2001 modern 142 #22,234
2002 modern 146 #22,302
2003 modern 144 #22,270
2004 modern 146 #22,202
2005 modern 139 #22,887
2006 modern 139 #23,044
2007 modern 148 #22,406
2008 modern 150 #22,429
2009 modern 147 #23,248
2010 modern 153 #23,175
2011 modern 145 #23,837
2012 modern 133 #25,187
2013 modern 134 #25,525
2014 modern 134 #25,711
2015 modern 134 #25,607
2016 modern 135 #25,505

Geography

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Where Riggans' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Doon Valley South, East Hertfordshire, Kirkcaldy Hayfield and Smeaton, Shotts and Stane. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Doon Valley South East Ayrshire
2 East Hertfordshire 012 East Hertfordshire
3 Kirkcaldy Hayfield and Smeaton Fife
4 Shotts North Lanarkshire
5 Stane North Lanarkshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Riggans

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Riggans

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

Legacy Communities

Group

Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities

Nationally, the Riggans surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Riggans household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Households in these areas often include divorced or separated parents and commonly include children and young adults. The age structure is heavily skewed towards the most advanced age groups. Individuals identifying as members of ethnic minorities are not present in large numbers. Flats predominate, with some terraced, semi-detached, and detached units. Multiple car ownership is low, and housing is predominantly in the private and social rented sectors. Employment is less skewed towards traditional routine industrial occupations. Levels of educational attainment are generally low. The Group occurs principally in the Central Lowlands of Scotland and other Scottish towns.

Wider pattern

These neighbourhoods characteristically comprise pockets of flats that are scattered across the UK, particularly in towns that retain or have legacies of heavy industry or are in more remote seaside locations. Employed residents of these neighbourhoods work mainly in low-skilled occupations. Residents typically have limited educational qualifications. Unemployment is above average. Some residents live in overcrowded housing within the social rented sector and experience long-term disability. All adult age groups are represented, although there is an overall age bias towards elderly people in general and the very old in particular. Individuals identifying as belonging to ethnic minorities or Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups are uncommon.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Riggans 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

Riggans is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Riggans falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Riggans is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Riggans, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Riggans

The surname Riggans is believed to have originated in the northern English counties of Northumberland, Durham, and Yorkshire. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "hrycg," which means "ridge" or "back," referring to a person living near a ridge or on the slope of a hill.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Riggans can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire, dated 1170, where a person named Robert de Riggans is mentioned. This suggests that the name was already established in the region by the late 12th century.

The Riggans surname is also found in various ancient records and manuscripts, such as the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, which lists a Richard de Rugge. This spelling variation, "Rugge," is likely a precursor to the modern form of Riggans.

In terms of historical figures bearing the Riggans name, one notable individual was John Riggans, born in Hexham, Northumberland, in 1612. He was a prominent Anglican clergyman who served as the Rector of Rothbury and later became the Archdeacon of Northumberland in 1670.

Another notable Riggans was William Riggans, born in Durham in 1785. He was a renowned architect and surveyor who designed several significant buildings in the north of England, including the Gateshead Town Hall and the Durham County Hospital.

In the 19th century, a family of Riggans artists gained recognition. Thomas Riggans (1777-1844), a painter from Yorkshire, was known for his landscapes and portraits. His son, John Riggans (1807-1888), followed in his footsteps and became a celebrated watercolor artist, exhibiting his works at the Royal Academy.

Historically, the Riggans surname has also been associated with various place names in northern England, such as Rigganhead in Northumberland and Riggan Farm in Yorkshire. These place names likely derived from the same Old English root as the surname, reflecting the connection between the family name and the geographical features of the region.

While the Riggans surname is not as common today as it once was in the northern counties of England, it remains an integral part of the region's historical and cultural heritage, with its roots tracing back to the medieval period and beyond.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Riggans families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Riggans 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. Ayrshire leads with 14 Riggans' recorded in 1881 and an index of 83.38x.

County Total Index
Ayrshire 14 83.38x
Renfrewshire 7 40.25x
Argyllshire 1 16.00x
Lancashire 1 0.38x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Old Cumnock in Ayrshire leads with 12 Riggans' recorded in 1881 and an index of 3243.24x.

Place Total Index
Old Cumnock 12 3243.24x
Abbey 7 264.15x
Muirkirk 2 512.82x
Dunoon Kilmun 1 204.08x
Wardleworth 1 65.79x

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Riggans households.

Occupation Count
Out Door Worker (Gen Lab) 1

FAQ

Riggans surname: questions and answers

How common was the Riggans surname in 1881?

In 1881, 23 people were recorded with the Riggans surname. That placed it at #30,339 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Riggans surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 135 in 2016. That gives Riggans a modern rank of #25,505.

What does the Riggans surname mean?

Native of a place called Rigg or Riggan, probably from areas of Scotland or England.

What does the Riggans map show?

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