NameCensus.

UK surname

Risby

A locational surname derived from a place name in England.

In the 1881 census there were 214 people recorded with the Risby surname, ranking it #12,284 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 422, ranked #11,365, up from #12,284 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Lavenham and Avening. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Babergh, Suffolk Coastal and Cotswold.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Risby is 459 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 97.2%.

1881 census count

214

Ranked #12,284

Modern count

422

2016, ranked #11,365

Peak year

2010

459 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Risby had 214 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,284 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 422 in 2016, ranked #11,365.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 372 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Risby surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Risby surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Risby 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 153 #12,721
1861 historical 349 #7,318
1881 historical 214 #12,284
1891 historical 265 #12,208
1901 historical 301 #11,627
1911 historical 372 #9,807
1997 modern 438 #10,282
1998 modern 456 #10,295
1999 modern 447 #10,497
2000 modern 444 #10,559
2001 modern 435 #10,526
2002 modern 437 #10,693
2003 modern 415 #10,962
2004 modern 415 #10,989
2005 modern 417 #10,833
2006 modern 415 #10,928
2007 modern 428 #10,766
2008 modern 423 #10,975
2009 modern 440 #10,888
2010 modern 459 #10,739
2011 modern 438 #11,017
2012 modern 416 #11,372
2013 modern 430 #11,259
2014 modern 424 #11,463
2015 modern 420 #11,458
2016 modern 422 #11,365

Geography

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Where Risbys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Lavenham, Avening and Sudbury All Saints, Sudbury St Gregory, Sudbury St Peter, Sudbury St Bartholomew. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Babergh, Suffolk Coastal, Cotswold and Rhondda Cynon Taf. 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 Lavenham Suffolk
3 London parishes London 3
4 Avening Gloucestershire
5 Sudbury All Saints, Sudbury St Gregory, Sudbury St Peter, Sudbury St Bartholomew Suffolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Babergh 007 Babergh
2 Suffolk Coastal 009 Suffolk Coastal
3 Babergh 011 Babergh
4 Cotswold 006 Cotswold
5 Rhondda Cynon Taf 022 Rhondda Cynon Taf

Forenames

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First names often paired with Risby

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Risby

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

Rural Amenity

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Risby 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

Risby 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

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

Meaning and origin of Risby

The surname Risby is believed to have originated in England, likely deriving from the place name Risby, a small village in West Yorkshire. This place name is thought to have been derived from the Old English words "ryge" meaning rye and "by" meaning a farmstead or village, suggesting that the name may have referred to a settlement where rye was grown.

One of the earliest known references to the name Risby can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is recorded as "Riseberia." This entry indicates that the name and the settlement it referred to existed during the 11th century.

In the 13th century, a record from 1273 mentions a John de Ryseby, indicating that the surname had taken on a more recognizable form by this time. The use of the prefix "de" suggests that John was from the village of Risby.

During the 14th century, the name appeared in various forms, including Riseby, Ryseby, and Rysby, reflecting the variations in spelling and pronunciation that were common during this period. One notable individual from this time was William de Risby, a landowner in Yorkshire who was mentioned in records from the late 1300s.

In the 16th century, the name was recorded as Risbey and Risbie, with one notable figure being Thomas Risbey, a merchant from London who lived from 1525 to 1589.

The 17th century saw the emergence of the spelling Risby, which became more standardized. One prominent individual with this surname was Robert Risby, a clergyman and author who lived from 1601 to 1670 and wrote several theological works.

In the 18th century, the name was well-established, with individuals such as Samuel Risby (1717-1791), a wealthy landowner in Lincolnshire, and Mary Risby (1743-1819), a noted philanthropist and supporter of children's education in Yorkshire.

As the centuries progressed, the name Risby continued to be found in various parts of England, with individuals bearing this surname making contributions in fields ranging from literature to politics. Some notable figures include the author William Risby (1802-1875), the politician John Risby (1845-1923), and the artist Emily Risby (1867-1942).

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Risby families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Risby 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. Suffolk leads with 48 Risbys recorded in 1881 and an index of 18.88x.

County Total Index
Suffolk 48 18.88x
Essex 34 8.25x
Gloucestershire 34 8.31x
Middlesex 31 1.49x
Lancashire 21 0.85x
Durham 13 2.09x
Norfolk 12 3.74x
Kent 10 1.40x
Yorkshire 3 0.15x
Huntingdonshire 2 4.83x
Berkshire 1 0.64x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.76x
Devon 1 0.23x
Hampshire 1 0.23x
Hertfordshire 1 0.70x
Sussex 1 0.28x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Lavenham in Suffolk leads with 25 Risbys recorded in 1881 and an index of 1879.70x.

Place Total Index
Lavenham 25 1879.70x
Ballingdon Cum Brundon 17 3269.23x
Avening 15 1034.48x
Stranton 10 47.82x
Shoreditch London 9 9.95x
Manchester 8 7.18x
Paddington London 8 10.42x
Tasburgh 8 2500.00x
Little Saxham 7 5833.33x
Rushbrooke 7 7000.00x
Woolwich 7 26.61x
Minchinhampton 6 184.05x
West Ham 6 6.60x
Alpheton 5 2777.78x
Mile End Old Town 5 15.17x
Rodborough 5 252.53x
Bulmer 4 800.00x
Chorlton On Medlock 4 10.17x
Woodchester 4 615.38x
Monkwearmouth 3 50.51x
Over Darwen 3 15.17x
Thornhill 3 49.67x
Tivetshall St Margaret 3 1250.00x
Colchester St Giles 2 49.14x
Everton 2 2.53x
Gorton 2 8.59x
Hammersmith London 2 3.89x
Harmondsworth 2 153.85x
Upwood 2 833.33x
West Bergholt 2 259.74x
Aldershot 1 6.98x
Arundel 1 50.76x
Beech Hill 1 500.00x
Birkdale 1 15.95x
Brettenham 1 434.78x
Bristol Christchurch 1 169.49x
Bristol St Paul In 1 9.17x
Briston 1 163.93x
Broxbourne 1 35.09x
Bury St Edmunds St Mary 1 20.96x
Cam 1 79.37x
Doddington 1 103.09x
Gillingham 1 6.81x
Greenwich 1 3.01x
Ipswich St Mathew 1 14.04x
Islington London 1 0.49x
Kensington London 1 0.86x
Leyton 1 14.08x
Margate St John Baptist 1 7.67x
Poplar London 1 2.54x
Rattlesden 1 135.14x
Romford 1 15.36x
St Martin In Fields 1 8.00x
Stapleton 1 12.87x
Talaton 1 303.03x
Tottenham 1 3.01x
Wigan 1 2.89x
Wrabness 1 625.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 13
Sarah 11
Elizabeth 10
Alice 6
Jane 6
Eliza 5
Ann 3
Charlotte 3
Ellen 3
Elizibeth 2
Hannah 2
Lucy 2
Rebecca 2
Ada 1
Bessie 1
Caroline 1
Catherine 1
Dora 1
Edith 1
Elizh. 1
Emily 1
Emma 1
Eveline 1
Flora 1
Florence 1
Frances 1
Isabella 1
Joseph 1
Julia 1
Katherine 1
Lizzie 1
Maria 1
Martha 1
Maryann 1
Matilda 1
Maud 1
Millicent 1
Phebe 1
Pheboe 1
Rosina 1
Susan 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 16
George 13
John 9
Thomas 9
Henry 8
Charles 7
James 6
Alfred 5
Robert 5
Walter 5
Arthur 3
Abraham 2
Edward 2
Frederick 2
Harry 2
Samuel 2
A. 1
Albert 1
Chas. 1
Eli 1
Emanuel 1
Ephraim 1
Esben 1
Francis 1
Geo. 1
Herbert 1
Hophm 1
Jesse 1
Lewis 1
Michael 1
Peter 1
Phinehas 1
Richard 1
Richd. 1
Rowling 1
Thos. 1
Wm.H. 1

FAQ

Risby surname: questions and answers

How common was the Risby surname in 1881?

In 1881, 214 people were recorded with the Risby surname. That placed it at #12,284 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Risby surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 422 in 2016. That gives Risby a modern rank of #11,365.

What does the Risby surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place name in England.

What does the Risby map show?

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