NameCensus.

UK surname

Rigley

A habitational surname referring to someone from Rigeley, a township in Derbyshire, England.

In the 1881 census there were 412 people recorded with the Rigley surname, ranking it #7,814 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 658, ranked #8,097, down from #7,814 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, Wigan and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Erewash, Mansfield and Derbyshire Dales.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Rigley is 958 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 59.7%.

1881 census count

412

Ranked #7,814

Modern count

658

2016, ranked #8,097

Peak year

1911

958 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Rigley had 412 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,814 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 658 in 2016, ranked #8,097.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 958 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Rigley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Rigley surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Rigley 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 577 #4,415
1861 historical 798 #3,444
1881 historical 412 #7,814
1891 historical 889 #4,632
1901 historical 673 #6,475
1911 historical 958 #4,707
1997 modern 638 #7,776
1998 modern 652 #7,890
1999 modern 649 #7,950
2000 modern 644 #7,990
2001 modern 620 #8,085
2002 modern 637 #8,090
2003 modern 625 #8,060
2004 modern 618 #8,164
2005 modern 597 #8,299
2006 modern 608 #8,206
2007 modern 620 #8,149
2008 modern 627 #8,131
2009 modern 651 #8,057
2010 modern 671 #8,050
2011 modern 670 #7,963
2012 modern 634 #8,229
2013 modern 636 #8,345
2014 modern 651 #8,244
2015 modern 652 #8,177
2016 modern 658 #8,097

Geography

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Where Rigleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, Wigan, Manchester, Ilkeston and Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Erewash, Mansfield and Derbyshire Dales. 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 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
2 Wigan Lancashire
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 Ilkeston Nottinghamshire
5 Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars Leicestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Erewash 001 Erewash
2 Erewash 003 Erewash
3 Mansfield 013 Mansfield
4 Derbyshire Dales 003 Derbyshire Dales
5 Erewash 006 Erewash

Forenames

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First names often paired with Rigley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Rigley

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Young Families in Industrial Towns

Nationally, the Rigley surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Rigley household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Rigley is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Rigley is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Rigley 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 Rigley is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Rigley

The surname Rigley is of English origin, dating back to the 13th century. It is thought to have originated from the village of Rigley in Lancashire, England. The name is derived from the Old English words "ryge" and "leah," meaning "rye" and "meadow" respectively, suggesting that the name was originally associated with a meadow where rye was grown.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Rigley can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Lancashire from 1292, which mentions a "Roger de Rigeley." This suggests that the name was already established in the region by the late 13th century.

In the 16th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as "Riggeley," "Riggleye," and "Rigley," reflecting the variations in spelling and pronunciation that were common during that time period. One notable individual bearing this name was John Rigley, a merchant from Lancashire who lived during the reign of Elizabeth I (1558-1603).

The Rigley surname is also associated with several place names in Lancashire, such as Rigley Moor and Rigley Bank, further strengthening its connection to the region.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals bearing the surname Rigley:

1. Henry Rigley (1792-1864), an English architect and surveyor who designed several notable buildings in Manchester and Liverpool. 2. William Rigley (1830-1901), a British railway engineer and inventor who patented several improvements to locomotive design. 3. Edith Rigley (1876-1964), a English artist and illustrator known for her book illustrations and paintings of rural life. 4. John Rigley (1917-2001), a British politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Wigan from 1964 to 1979. 5. Michael Rigley (born 1947), a British actor and writer best known for his roles in television series such as Coronation Street and Emmerdale.

While the Rigley surname is not among the most common in England, it has a rich history spanning several centuries and is deeply rooted in the region of Lancashire, where it originated from a small village and evolved into a recognized family name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Rigley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Rigley 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. Nottinghamshire leads with 118 Rigleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 21.89x.

County Total Index
Nottinghamshire 118 21.89x
Lancashire 96 2.02x
Derbyshire 93 14.85x
Leicestershire 25 5.64x
Yorkshire 23 0.58x
Surrey 14 0.72x
Staffordshire 13 0.96x
Essex 5 0.63x
Middlesex 5 0.13x
Lanarkshire 4 0.31x
Hertfordshire 3 1.09x
Selkirkshire 3 8.29x
Cheshire 2 0.23x
Berkshire 1 0.33x
Cumberland 1 0.29x
Hampshire 1 0.12x
Lincolnshire 1 0.16x
Northumberland 1 0.17x
Somerset 1 0.16x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Ilkeston in Derbyshire leads with 60 Rigleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 341.88x.

Place Total Index
Ilkeston 60 341.88x
Radford 42 153.34x
Basford 18 72.43x
Leicester St Margaret 18 16.65x
Manchester 17 7.97x
Alfreton 13 68.35x
Everton 10 6.61x
Greasley 10 82.24x
Heanor 10 106.84x
Hucknall Torkard 9 65.84x
Salford 9 6.45x
Camberwell 8 3.13x
Lenton 7 55.12x
Selston 7 116.28x
Croydon 6 5.55x
Newton 6 16.40x
Bradford 5 5.21x
Culcheth 5 160.77x
Hulme 5 5.05x
Kingswinford 5 10.20x
Kirkby In Ashfield 5 86.66x
Lancaster 5 17.71x
Nottingham St Mary 5 3.59x
Westleigh 5 46.38x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 4 10.83x
Bulwell 4 34.13x
Glasgow 4 1.74x
Heybridge 4 173.91x
Ossett Cum Gawthorpe 4 28.25x
Wolverhampton 4 3.85x
Farnworth 3 10.55x
Gorton 3 6.72x
Great Bolton 3 4.77x
Holwell 3 810.81x
Melrose 3 32.93x
Nottingham St Nicholas 3 40.87x
Sheffield 3 2.38x
Skegby 3 90.91x
St Albans St Peter 3 32.26x
Tonge 3 30.12x
Walsall Foreign 3 4.30x
West Hallam 3 370.37x
Whittington 3 34.64x
Widnes 3 8.76x
Beeston 2 32.31x
Belgrave 2 19.98x
Cheetham 2 5.65x
Heage 2 60.42x
Livesey 2 24.01x
Marton 2 63.29x
Meltham 2 32.47x
Snenton 2 9.44x
South Normanton 2 45.45x
Whiston 2 54.05x
Bellerby 1 232.56x
Bleasdale 1 178.57x
Chelsea London 1 0.83x
Clee With Weelsby 1 7.14x
Ecclesall Bierlow 1 1.24x
Fulstone 1 34.48x
Hammersmith London 1 1.02x
Hinckley 1 9.51x
Hindley 1 4.94x
Lathom 1 17.45x
Liscard 1 6.29x
Liverpool 1 0.35x
Macclesfield 1 2.55x
New Windsor 1 9.91x
Newton In Makerfield 1 6.88x
Reddish 1 15.29x
Southampton St Mary 1 1.94x
Toxteth Park 1 0.62x
Tynemouth 1 3.14x
Warrington 1 1.78x
West Bromwich 1 1.29x
West Derby 1 0.72x
West Ham 1 0.57x
Withington 1 6.54x
Wooldale 1 14.88x
Workington 1 5.07x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 44
Sarah 20
Elizabeth 18
Ann 10
Alice 8
Annie 6
Eliza 6
Ellen 6
Catherine 5
Hannah 5
Margaret 5
Edith 4
Jane 4
Louisa 4
Martha 4
Ada 2
Caroline 2
Dorothy 2
Emma 2
Florence 2
Kate 2
Lucy 2
Matilda 2
Amand 1
Amelia 1
Betsey 1
Betsy 1
Chrisian 1
Clara 1
Eliz. 1
Elizbth.Ann 1
Elizth. 1
Emily 1
Emmy 1
Ester 1
Esther 1
Fanny 1
Flora 1
Harriet 1
Harriett 1
Harriot 1
Julia 1
Laura 1
Mabel 1
Maria 1
Marian 1
Mildred 1
Nelly 1
Neomi 1
Treaser 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 29
William 26
George 19
James 15
Samuel 9
Thomas 9
Henry 8
Joseph 8
Arthur 7
Robert 7
Walter 5
Edward 4
Thos. 4
Benjamin 3
Elijah 3
Alfred 2
Frank 2
Frederick 2
Harry 2
Herbert 2
Isaac 2
Isaiah 2
Moses 2
Richard 2
Aaron 1
Albert 1
Ben 1
Charles 1
David 1
Edwin 1
Eli 1
Francis 1
Fred 1
Frederic 1
Geo.T. 1
Hugh 1
Jabez 1
Jesse 1
Josiah 1
Mark 1
Miles 1
Robt 1
Robt. 1
Saml. 1
Saml.Isaac 1
Thady 1
Wm.Henry 1

FAQ

Rigley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Rigley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 412 people were recorded with the Rigley surname. That placed it at #7,814 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Rigley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 658 in 2016. That gives Rigley a modern rank of #8,097.

What does the Rigley surname mean?

A habitational surname referring to someone from Rigeley, a township in Derbyshire, England.

What does the Rigley map show?

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