NameCensus.

UK surname

Rishton

In the 1881 census there were 283 people recorded with the Rishton surname, ranking it #10,119 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 136, ranked #25,377, down from #10,119 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Rochdale, Manchester and Preston. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Hyndburn, Preston and Rossendale.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Rishton is 288 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 51.9%.

1881 census count

283

Ranked #10,119

Modern count

136

2016, ranked #25,377

Peak year

1891

288 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Rishton had 283 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,119 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 136 in 2016, ranked #25,377.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 288 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Rishton surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Rishton surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Rishton 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 262 #9,458
1881 historical 283 #10,119
1891 historical 288 #11,450
1901 historical 233 #13,740
1911 historical 257 #12,658
1997 modern 140 #22,031
1998 modern 142 #22,406
1999 modern 148 #22,020
2000 modern 154 #21,415
2001 modern 150 #21,482
2002 modern 147 #22,197
2003 modern 151 #21,574
2004 modern 151 #21,720
2005 modern 154 #21,396
2006 modern 145 #22,420
2007 modern 150 #22,212
2008 modern 144 #23,037
2009 modern 146 #23,352
2010 modern 154 #23,082
2011 modern 149 #23,408
2012 modern 141 #24,258
2013 modern 145 #24,207
2014 modern 146 #24,274
2015 modern 143 #24,481
2016 modern 136 #25,377

Geography

Back to top

Where Rishtons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Rochdale, Manchester, Preston, Blackburn and Bolton-le-Moors. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Hyndburn, Preston and Rossendale. 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 Rochdale Lancashire
2 Manchester Lancashire
3 Preston Lancashire
4 Blackburn Lancashire
5 Bolton-le-Moors Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Hyndburn 004 Hyndburn
2 Preston 014 Preston
3 Rossendale 002 Rossendale
4 Hyndburn 008 Hyndburn
5 Rossendale 001 Rossendale

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Rishton

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Rishton

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Rishton is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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 residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Rishton is most concentrated in decile 2 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Rishton 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 Rishton is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

1881 census detail

Back to top

Rishton families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Rishton 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. Lancashire leads with 231 Rishtons recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.05x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 231 7.05x
Worcestershire 14 3.88x
Westmorland 13 21.43x
Essex 9 1.65x
Kent 7 0.74x
Yorkshire 4 0.15x
Cheshire 1 0.16x
Hampshire 1 0.18x
Middlesex 1 0.04x
Staffordshire 1 0.11x
Warwickshire 1 0.14x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Haslingden in Lancashire leads with 72 Rishtons recorded in 1881 and an index of 530.97x.

Place Total Index
Haslingden 72 530.97x
Accrington 34 114.17x
Blackburn 24 27.54x
Kidderminster Borough 14 66.35x
Manchester 14 9.50x
Oswaldtwistle 13 112.36x
Kendal 11 99.01x
Liverpool 10 5.03x
Romford 9 104.53x
Castleton 8 24.46x
Spotland 8 21.97x
Greenwich 7 15.93x
Habergham Eaves 6 20.04x
Musbury 6 625.00x
Little Bolton 5 11.87x
Bradford 4 6.04x
Farington 4 209.42x
Preston 4 4.56x
Tottington Lower End 4 25.69x
Leyland 3 52.63x
Ambleside 2 106.38x
Bury 2 5.34x
Cheetham 2 8.19x
West Derby 2 2.09x
Bedford 1 14.60x
Birkenhead 1 2.06x
Birmingham 1 0.43x
Broughton In Salford 1 3.34x
Clayton Le Moors 1 15.72x
Halliwell 1 8.39x
Kensington London 1 0.65x
Litherland 1 14.60x
Lytham 1 20.00x
Oldham 1 0.95x
Ryde 1 8.23x
Stoke Upon Trent 1 1.01x
Tonge With Haulgh 1 15.67x
Wigan 1 2.18x
Withnell 1 49.75x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 27
Elizabeth 17
Alice 16
Sarah 8
Isabella 7
Eliza 5
Ellen 5
Jane 5
Annie 4
Emily 4
Ruth 4
Margaret 3
Susan 3
Ada 2
Ann 2
Betsey 2
Clara 2
Esther 2
Harriet 2
Nancy 2
Betsy 1
Charlotte 1
Constance 1
Dorah 1
Edith 1
Eliz. 1
Fanny 1
Florence 1
Frances 1
Gertrude 1
Hanani 1
Hanna 1
Hannah 1
Henrietta 1
John 1
Lavinia 1
Lena 1
Letitia 1
Lilian 1
Louisa 1
Lydia 1
Margt. 1
Maria 1
Martha 1
Rachael 1
Rebecca 1
Rhoda 1
Rosinate 1
Sahara 1
Sophia 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 18
William 18
James 17
Joseph 6
George 5
Henry 5
Robert 5
Edward 4
Thomas 4
Thos. 4
Wm. 4
Alfred 3
Charles 3
Gilbert 3
Richard 3
Abraham 2
Albert 2
Arthur 2
Christ. 1
Dionysious 1
Edgar 1
Frank 1
Geoffrey 1
Gibert 1
Harold 1
Harvey 1
Herbert 1
Infant 1
Jacob 1
Jno. 1
Mary 1
Matthew 1
Rishton 1
Samuel 1
Stanly 1
Tom 1
Whittaker 1

FAQ

Rishton surname: questions and answers

How common was the Rishton surname in 1881?

In 1881, 283 people were recorded with the Rishton surname. That placed it at #10,119 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Rishton surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 136 in 2016. That gives Rishton a modern rank of #25,377.

What does the Rishton map show?

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