NameCensus.

UK surname

Risk

An occupational surname referring to one whose job involved significant risk or danger.

In the 1881 census there were 355 people recorded with the Risk surname, ranking it #8,679 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 494, ranked #10,067, down from #8,679 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Drymen, Govan Combination and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Falkirk - Bainsford and Langlees, Townhead and Plymouth.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Risk is 511 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 39.2%.

1881 census count

355

Ranked #8,679

Modern count

494

2016, ranked #10,067

Peak year

2010

511 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Risk had 355 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,679 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 494 in 2016, ranked #10,067.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 382 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Risk surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Risk surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Risk 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 293 #7,783
1861 historical 316 #8,054
1881 historical 355 #8,679
1891 historical 362 #9,569
1901 historical 382 #9,775
1911 historical 168 #16,620
1997 modern 493 #9,399
1998 modern 505 #9,518
1999 modern 505 #9,587
2000 modern 487 #9,819
2001 modern 468 #9,949
2002 modern 484 #9,869
2003 modern 479 #9,793
2004 modern 473 #9,905
2005 modern 469 #9,892
2006 modern 473 #9,871
2007 modern 499 #9,574
2008 modern 506 #9,548
2009 modern 506 #9,759
2010 modern 511 #9,882
2011 modern 509 #9,821
2012 modern 498 #9,886
2013 modern 506 #9,936
2014 modern 502 #10,050
2015 modern 500 #10,009
2016 modern 494 #10,067

Geography

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Where Risks are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Drymen, Govan Combination, Edinburgh, St. Ninians and Kippen. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Falkirk - Bainsford and Langlees, Townhead, Plymouth, South Oxfordshire and Larbert - South Broomage and Village. 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 Drymen Stirling
2 Govan Combination Lanark
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 St. Ninians Stirling
5 Kippen Stirling

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Falkirk - Bainsford and Langlees Falkirk
2 Townhead North Lanarkshire
3 Plymouth 030 Plymouth
4 South Oxfordshire 012 South Oxfordshire
5 Larbert - South Broomage and Village Falkirk

Forenames

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First names often paired with Risk

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Risk

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

Risk is most concentrated in decile 3 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Risk falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Risk 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 Risk, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Risk

The surname RISK originated in Germany, where it first appeared in the late 13th century. It is derived from the German word "risch," which means "rush" or "reed." This suggests that the name may have been given to someone who lived near a reed-covered marsh or body of water.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname RISK can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus Brandenburgensis, a collection of historical documents from the Brandenburg region of Germany. In this text, a man named Johannes Risch is mentioned in a record from the year 1290.

During the Middle Ages, the surname RISK was primarily concentrated in the regions of Brandenburg and Saxony, with some instances also appearing in Silesia and East Prussia. Various spellings of the name, such as Risch, Rische, and Risscher, were common during this time.

In the 16th century, the surname RISK began to spread more widely across Germany and neighboring regions. One notable individual bearing this name was Johann RISK, a Protestant theologian born in Saxony in 1537. He was a prominent figure in the Lutheran Reformation and authored several theological works.

Another historical figure with the surname RISK was Hans RISK, a German merchant and explorer who lived from 1565 to 1628. He was among the first Europeans to establish trade relations with the Inuit peoples of Greenland and is credited with bringing back valuable information about their culture and way of life.

In the 18th century, the RISK surname found its way to North America, with some of the earliest recorded instances appearing in Pennsylvania and other German-settled areas. One individual of note was Johann Michael RISK, a Hessian soldier who fought for the British during the American Revolutionary War. He was captured at the Battle of Trenton in 1776 and later settled in Pennsylvania after being released.

Another notable bearer of the RISK surname was Friedrich Wilhelm RISK, a German-born artist and engraver who lived from 1777 to 1857. He is best known for his intricate etchings and engravings depicting landscapes and architecture, many of which can be found in museums across Europe.

Throughout its history, the surname RISK has been associated with various place names and locations, such as Rischau (now Rzyszów) in Poland, and Rischingen (now Rischtingen) in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. These places may have served as the ancestral homes of different RISK family lines.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Risk families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Risk 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. Lanarkshire leads with 88 Risks recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.86x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 88 7.86x
Stirlingshire 73 57.16x
Renfrewshire 52 19.38x
Midlothian 24 5.17x
Kent 17 1.44x
Devon 13 1.80x
Middlesex 13 0.38x
Lancashire 9 0.22x
Surrey 9 0.53x
Buteshire 8 38.13x
Cumberland 8 2.68x
Staffordshire 8 0.68x
Derbyshire 4 0.74x
Dunbartonshire 4 4.30x
Perthshire 4 2.57x
Cheshire 3 0.39x
Anglesey 2 3.26x
Ayrshire 2 0.77x
Caernarfonshire 2 1.43x
Durham 2 0.19x
Yorkshire 2 0.06x
Angus 1 0.31x
Argyllshire 1 1.04x
Clackmannanshire 1 3.50x
Cornwall 1 0.26x
Glamorgan 1 0.17x
Hampshire 1 0.14x
Royal Navy 1 2.42x
Shropshire 1 0.33x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Barony in Lanarkshire leads with 52 Risks recorded in 1881 and an index of 18.35x.

Place Total Index
Barony 52 18.35x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 19 10.18x
Falkirk 15 50.17x
Cathcart 14 96.42x
Drymen 14 818.71x
Glasgow 11 5.53x
St Ninians 10 78.99x
Govan 9 3.25x
Minster In Sheppey 9 45.99x
Newington 9 7.04x
Paisley High Church 9 42.12x
Paisley Middle Church 9 57.62x
Denny 8 117.82x
Manchester 8 4.33x
Campsie 7 99.86x
Clerkenwell London 7 8.56x
Kilbride 7 271.32x
Paisley Low Church 7 82.35x
West Greenock 7 14.53x
Abbey 6 14.65x
Harborne 6 16.02x
Gargunnock 5 602.41x
Kippen 5 290.70x
Margate St John Baptist 5 23.12x
Maryhill 5 22.81x
New Monkland 5 15.10x
Plymouth St Andrew 5 9.00x
South Leith 5 9.58x
Stirling 5 31.06x
Stoke Damerel 5 9.91x
West Linton 5 961.54x
Bradwell 4 330.58x
Balfron 3 189.87x
Caldewgate 3 18.36x
Liscard 3 21.79x
Plymouth Charles The 3 9.45x
Rutherglen 3 18.26x
Beaumaris 2 88.50x
Bonhill 2 13.39x
Dwygyfylchi 2 77.22x
Faversham 2 17.75x
Hampstead London 2 3.71x
Harrow On The Hill 2 28.90x
Islington London 2 0.60x
Kirkintilloch 2 15.82x
Leeds 2 1.03x
Logie 2 35.84x
Monzievaird Strowan 2 240.96x
Old Monkland 2 4.50x
Stone 2 13.38x
Westoe 2 3.42x
Ayr 1 8.18x
Clackmannan 1 18.48x
Cumbrae 1 45.25x
Dundee 1 0.83x
Dunoon Kilmun 1 13.30x
Folkestone 1 4.36x
Gorbals 1 15.04x
Hound 1 20.75x
Kilbirnie 1 16.08x
Larbert 1 13.09x
Oystermouth 1 21.41x
Royal Navy 1 2.83x
Scilly Islands 1 142.86x
St Martin 1 29.85x
Toxteth Park 1 0.72x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 5
Mary 4
Sarah 4
Alice 3
Agnes 2
Ann 2
Caroline 2
Clara 2
Ellen 2
Jane 2
Jessie 2
Lucy 2
Margaret 2
Anna 1
Constance 1
Edith 1
Elizth. 1
Ethel 1
Florence 1
Frances 1
Grace 1
Hannah 1
Harriet 1
Isabella 1
Katherine 1
Laura 1
Maria 1
Mariana 1
May 1
Nina 1
Nora 1
Rebecca 1
Teamce 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 8
James 6
John 5
Henry 2
Robert 2
Thomas 2
Walter 2
Albert 1
Andrew 1
Archibald 1
Bouverie 1
David 1
Duncan 1
E.J.E. 1
Erskine 1
Francis 1
Herbert 1
Jno. 1
Reginald 1
Richard 1
Robt. 1
Stephen 1
W.B. 1

FAQ

Risk surname: questions and answers

How common was the Risk surname in 1881?

In 1881, 355 people were recorded with the Risk surname. That placed it at #8,679 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Risk surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 494 in 2016. That gives Risk a modern rank of #10,067.

What does the Risk surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to one whose job involved significant risk or danger.

What does the Risk map show?

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