NameCensus.

UK surname

Rintoul

A topographic name referring to a person living near a ravine or gully.

In the 1881 census there were 688 people recorded with the Rintoul surname, ranking it #5,256 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 612, ranked #8,580, down from #5,256 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Alloa, Govan Combination and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bo'ness - Douglas, Blackness, Bo'ness - Carriden and Grahamsdyke and Comely Bank.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Rintoul is 765 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 11.0%.

1881 census count

688

Ranked #5,256

Modern count

612

2016, ranked #8,580

Peak year

1891

765 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Rintoul had 688 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,256 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 612 in 2016, ranked #8,580.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 765 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Rintoul surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Rintoul surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Rintoul 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 416 #5,842
1861 historical 457 #5,681
1881 historical 688 #5,256
1891 historical 765 #5,218
1901 historical 734 #6,034
1911 historical 148 #18,023
1997 modern 616 #7,999
1998 modern 639 #8,006
1999 modern 646 #7,994
2000 modern 663 #7,816
2001 modern 634 #7,925
2002 modern 643 #8,022
2003 modern 624 #8,076
2004 modern 623 #8,109
2005 modern 605 #8,227
2006 modern 629 #8,005
2007 modern 634 #8,028
2008 modern 625 #8,146
2009 modern 617 #8,414
2010 modern 648 #8,260
2011 modern 622 #8,447
2012 modern 588 #8,735
2013 modern 601 #8,741
2014 modern 613 #8,654
2015 modern 611 #8,619
2016 modern 612 #8,580

Geography

Back to top

Where Rintouls are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Alloa, Govan Combination, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Orwell. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bo'ness - Douglas, Blackness, Bo'ness - Carriden and Grahamsdyke, Comely Bank, Stewarton West and North Leith and Newhaven. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Alloa Clackmannan
2 Govan Combination Lanark
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 Glasgow Lanark
5 Orwell Kinross

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bo'ness - Douglas Falkirk
2 Blackness, Bo'ness - Carriden and Grahamsdyke Falkirk
3 Comely Bank City of Edinburgh
4 Stewarton West East Ayrshire
5 North Leith and Newhaven City of Edinburgh

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Rintoul

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Rintoul

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Rintoul, 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 Rintoul surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Rintoul 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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Rintoul is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Rintoul is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Rintoul

The surname Rintoul has its origins in Scotland, dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to be derived from the Gaelic words "rinn" meaning "point" and "tuill" meaning "hole" or "opening", referring to a geographic feature of the area where the name originated.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a record of Scottish landowners who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England. The name is listed as "Rentoule" in these rolls.

During the 13th and 14th centuries, the Rintoul family was prominent in Fife, Scotland. They held lands in the parish of Kilmany, where the name is thought to have originated. The earliest known member of the family was William Rintoul, who lived in the late 13th century.

In the 16th century, a notable figure bearing the Rintoul name was Robert Rintoul (c. 1530-1595), a Scottish clergyman who served as the minister of Dairsie, Fife. He played a role in the Scottish Reformation and was a supporter of the Presbyterian Church.

Another prominent individual was Sir Robert Rintoul (1787-1858), a Scottish journalist and editor who founded the Spectator magazine in London. He was a vocal advocate for parliamentary reform and played a significant role in shaping public opinion during the 19th century.

Jessie Rintoul (1854-1934) was a Scottish artist and stained glass designer, known for her work in the Arts and Crafts movement. Her stained glass windows can be found in various churches and buildings throughout Scotland and England.

In the literary world, Beatrice Rintoul (1888-1972) was a Scottish novelist and playwright. Some of her notable works include "The Bride of Naath" and "The Dark Mile."

The Rintoul name has also been associated with various place names in Scotland, such as Rintoulhill in Fife and Rintoul Farm in East Lothian, reflecting the family's historical ties to these regions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Rintoul families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Rintoul 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. Fife leads with 206 Rintouls recorded in 1881 and an index of 52.15x.

County Total Index
Fife 206 52.15x
Midlothian 111 12.42x
Stirlingshire 69 28.04x
Lanarkshire 58 2.69x
Perthshire 33 11.02x
Clackmannanshire 32 58.08x
Middlesex 30 0.45x
Angus 22 3.56x
Renfrewshire 19 3.67x
Surrey 17 0.52x
West Lothian 15 14.93x
Kinross-shire 13 77.06x
Northamptonshire 12 1.91x
Devon 7 0.50x
East Lothian 6 6.79x
Yorkshire 6 0.09x
Dumfriesshire 5 3.39x
Lancashire 4 0.05x
Argyllshire 3 1.62x
Ayrshire 2 0.40x
Berwickshire 2 2.48x
Dunbartonshire 2 1.12x
Kincardineshire 2 2.46x
Suffolk 2 0.25x
Cheshire 1 0.07x
Essex 1 0.08x
Hampshire 1 0.07x
Kent 1 0.04x
Roxburghshire 1 0.83x
Royal Navy 1 1.26x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Edinburgh St Cuthberts in Midlothian leads with 57 Rintouls recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.85x.

Place Total Index
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 57 15.85x
Dysart 29 109.02x
Alloa 27 101.05x
Falkirk 22 38.19x
Markinch 20 149.14x
Slamannan 19 140.95x
Barony 18 3.30x
Glasgow 17 4.44x
Leslie 16 160.00x
Kinghorn 15 179.00x
Abbotshall 14 94.85x
Alva 14 119.25x
St Pancras London 14 2.61x
Lambeth 13 2.23x
Dundee 12 5.20x
Peterborough 12 26.41x
Dunfermline 11 18.11x
Govan 11 2.06x
Kennoway 11 306.41x
Methven 11 250.57x
North Leith 11 26.60x
Scoonie 10 116.96x
Erskine 9 239.36x
Orwell 9 193.55x
South Leith 9 8.95x
Wemyss 9 53.86x
Arbroath 8 39.06x
Edinburgh St Marys 8 46.03x
Redgorton 8 240.96x
Anstruther Wester 7 454.55x
Carnbee 7 290.46x
Collessie 7 153.85x
Corstorphine 7 141.99x
Flisk 7 1166.67x
Islington London 7 1.08x
Linlithgow 7 54.31x
St Andrews 7 38.95x
Tormoham 7 11.91x
Avondale 6 47.54x
Edinburgh Canongate 6 26.37x
Forgan 6 79.26x
Kemback 6 307.69x
Polmont 6 66.01x
Westminster St James 6 8.75x
Balmerino 5 328.95x
Crail 5 124.07x
Dirleton 5 144.09x
Langholm 5 47.21x
Port Glasgow 5 20.00x
Airth 4 127.80x
Edinburgh St Johns 4 70.92x
Leeds 4 1.07x
Livingstone 4 116.62x
Newburn 4 506.33x
Perth East Church 4 14.17x
Putney 4 13.15x
Tillicoultry 4 32.63x
Bathgate 3 13.76x
Bothwell 3 5.13x
Colinton 3 30.09x
Inverkeithing 3 50.42x
Kinross 3 51.90x
Moss Side 3 7.20x
Tulliallan 3 59.17x
West Greenock 3 3.23x
Abernethy 2 51.15x
Cathcart 2 7.15x
Coldingham 2 27.55x
Cramond 2 29.54x
Hackney London 2 0.53x
Ipswich St Mathew 2 8.78x
Kettle 2 42.19x
Kilfinichen 2 43.48x
Liff Benvie 2 2.13x
Maryhill 2 4.73x
Muthill 2 51.15x
Perth West Church 2 14.07x
Row 2 8.62x
St Ninians 2 8.20x
Stirling 2 6.45x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 5
Charles 3
David 3
George 3
James 3
Edward 2
Robert 2
Wilson 2
Albert 1
Alec 1
Alex 1
Alexander 1
Douglas 1
Harry 1
Peter 1
Richard 1
Thomas 1
William 1
Wm. 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 Rintoul households.

FAQ

Rintoul surname: questions and answers

How common was the Rintoul surname in 1881?

In 1881, 688 people were recorded with the Rintoul surname. That placed it at #5,256 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Rintoul surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 612 in 2016. That gives Rintoul a modern rank of #8,580.

What does the Rintoul surname mean?

A topographic name referring to a person living near a ravine or gully.

What does the Rintoul map show?

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