NameCensus.

UK surname

Rita

A phonetic form of the Spanish name Rita, meaning "pearl" or "little pearl".

In the 1881 census there were 12 people recorded with the Rita surname, ranking it #31,914 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 119, ranked #27,704, up from #31,914 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Three Rivers, Breckland and Lewisham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Rita is 119 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 891.7%.

1881 census count

12

Ranked #31,914

Modern count

119

2016, ranked #27,704

Peak year

2016

119 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • Rita had 12 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #31,914 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 119 in 2016, ranked #27,704.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 28 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Rita surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Rita surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Rita 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 18 #30,094
1861 historical 21 #31,242
1881 historical 12 #31,914
1891 historical 17 #32,787
1901 historical 15 #32,383
1911 historical 28 #30,296
1997 modern 34 #34,282
1998 modern 32 #34,633
1999 modern 32 #34,717
2000 modern 32 #34,705
2001 modern 31 #34,648
2002 modern 36 #34,480
2003 modern 38 #34,361
2004 modern 45 #33,957
2005 modern 47 #34,011
2006 modern 56 #33,587
2007 modern 66 #32,948
2008 modern 60 #33,743
2009 modern 62 #33,832
2010 modern 58 #34,346
2011 modern 68 #33,613
2012 modern 93 #31,409
2013 modern 108 #29,379
2014 modern 114 #28,608
2015 modern 104 #30,269
2016 modern 119 #27,704

Geography

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Where Ritas are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Three Rivers, Breckland, Lewisham, Chelmsford and Rochford. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Three Rivers 003 Three Rivers
2 Breckland 016 Breckland
3 Lewisham 007 Lewisham
4 Chelmsford 015 Chelmsford
5 Rochford 002 Rochford

Forenames

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First names often paired with Rita

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Rita

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Rita surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Rita 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 is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Rita is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Rita is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Rita falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Rita 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 - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Rita

The surname Rita is believed to have originated in Italy, specifically in the region of Lombardy. It is thought to have derived from the Italian word "rito," which means "rite" or "ritual." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone involved in religious ceremonies or practices.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Rita can be found in the Codice Diplomatico Longobardo, a collection of historical documents from the Lombard period in Italy, dating back to the 8th century. This suggests that the name has a long history and was present during the reign of the Lombards in the region.

In the 13th century, the name Rita appears in the Estimo Della Parte Guelfa, a tax record from the city of Florence. This document lists several individuals with the surname Rita, indicating that the name was well-established in the area by this time.

One notable individual with the surname Rita was Giovanna Rita, a 14th-century Italian painter from the city of Faenza. She was known for her religious paintings and is considered one of the earliest documented female artists in Italian history.

Another individual of historical significance was Giacomo Rita, a 15th-century Venetian merchant and trader. He was involved in the lucrative spice trade between Europe and the East, and his name is mentioned in several records from the Venetian Republic.

In the 16th century, the surname Rita can be found in the records of the Spanish Inquisition, as several individuals with this name were persecuted for their religious beliefs during this period.

During the 17th century, a notable figure with the surname Rita was Antonio Rita, an Italian architect and sculptor from the city of Genoa. He was responsible for the design and construction of several churches and palaces in the region, including the Chiesa di San Matteo in Genoa.

Another individual of historical note was Maria Rita, a 17th-century Italian painter from the city of Bologna. She was known for her religious and mythological paintings, and her works can be found in various churches and museums throughout Italy.

While the surname Rita is most commonly associated with Italy, it has also spread to other parts of the world, particularly through Italian immigration. However, the oldest and most well-documented instances of the name can be traced back to the regions of Lombardy and other parts of Northern Italy.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Rita families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Rita 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. Middlesex leads with 12 Ritas recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.27x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 12 10.27x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Islington London in Middlesex leads with 6 Ritas recorded in 1881 and an index of 52.96x.

Place Total Index
Islington London 6 52.96x
Bethnal Green London 5 98.43x
Clerkenwell London 1 36.23x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Alice 1
Annie 1
Emily 1
Emma 1
Margaret 1
Minnies 1
Thirlsa 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Alfred 2
Edward 1
Frederick 1
Peter 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 Rita households.

FAQ

Rita surname: questions and answers

How common was the Rita surname in 1881?

In 1881, 12 people were recorded with the Rita surname. That placed it at #31,914 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Rita surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 119 in 2016. That gives Rita a modern rank of #27,704.

What does the Rita surname mean?

A phonetic form of the Spanish name Rita, meaning "pearl" or "little pearl".

What does the Rita map show?

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