NameCensus.

UK surname

Rix

A topographic surname referring to someone who lived near a hillside stream or tributary.

In the 1881 census there were 1,655 people recorded with the Rix surname, ranking it #2,593 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,735, ranked #2,457, up from #2,593 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St George Tombland, St Peter Mountergate, St John Timberhill, All Saints, St Michael at Thorn, St Ju, London parishes and East Dereham. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include King's Lynn and West Norfolk, Norwich and Broadland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Rix is 2,854 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 65.3%.

1881 census count

1,655

Ranked #2,593

Modern count

2,735

2016, ranked #2,457

Peak year

2010

2,854 bearers

Map years

6

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Rix had 1,655 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,593 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,735 in 2016, ranked #2,457.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,151 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Rix surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Rix surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Rix 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 1,165 #2,422
1881 historical 1,655 #2,593
1891 historical 7 #33,665
1901 historical 2,151 #2,502
1997 modern 2,661 #2,397
1998 modern 2,778 #2,389
1999 modern 2,815 #2,383
2000 modern 2,804 #2,375
2001 modern 2,732 #2,385
2002 modern 2,825 #2,372
2003 modern 2,728 #2,392
2004 modern 2,719 #2,401
2005 modern 2,658 #2,421
2006 modern 2,673 #2,410
2007 modern 2,688 #2,419
2008 modern 2,725 #2,413
2009 modern 2,802 #2,408
2010 modern 2,854 #2,414
2011 modern 2,792 #2,428
2012 modern 2,705 #2,456
2013 modern 2,813 #2,415
2014 modern 2,807 #2,437
2015 modern 2,752 #2,453
2016 modern 2,735 #2,457

Geography

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Where Rix' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St George Tombland, St Peter Mountergate, St John Timberhill, All Saints, St Michael at Thorn, St Ju, London parishes, East Dereham and Lakenham , Eaton St Andrew, Town Close, St Stephen, St Peter Mancroft, St Giles, St Andrew, St John. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to King's Lynn and West Norfolk, Norwich and Broadland. 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 St George Tombland, St Peter Mountergate, St John Timberhill, All Saints, St Michael at Thorn, St Ju Norfolk
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 East Dereham Norfolk
5 Lakenham , Eaton St Andrew, Town Close, St Stephen, St Peter Mancroft, St Giles, St Andrew, St John Norfolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 King's Lynn and West Norfolk 003 King's Lynn and West Norfolk
2 King's Lynn and West Norfolk 002 King's Lynn and West Norfolk
3 King's Lynn and West Norfolk 017 King's Lynn and West Norfolk
4 Norwich 007 Norwich
5 Broadland 006 Broadland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Rix

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Rix

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Rix, 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 Rix surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Rix 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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Rix is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, 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

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

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

Rix is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Rix falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Rix

The surname Rix has its origins in the Old English word "ric", meaning powerful or wealthy. It is believed to have originated in England during the Anglo-Saxon period, which lasted from the 5th to the 11th century.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Rix can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive record of landowners and their holdings compiled in 1086 under the orders of William the Conqueror. In this document, the name is spelled as "Ric" or "Ricx".

The Rix surname is also linked to various place names in England, such as Rixworth in Suffolk and Rixon in Yorkshire. These place names likely derived from individuals bearing the surname Rix who once lived or owned land in those areas.

In the 13th century, a notable bearer of the name was Sir Richard Rix, a knight who fought in the Crusades and is mentioned in several historical chronicles of the time. Another early recorded instance is John Rix, a merchant in London who lived during the reign of King Edward III (1327-1377).

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Rix surname became more widespread in England, with several prominent individuals bearing the name. One such person was William Rix (1561-1637), a successful merchant and philanthropist who funded the construction of several almshouses in his hometown of Warwick.

Another notable figure was Sir Edward Rix (1617-1692), a lawyer and politician who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1670. He was knighted by King Charles II for his services to the city.

In the 18th century, the Rix name gained prominence in the field of agriculture. Robert Rix (1720-1796) was a renowned agriculturist and writer who published several influential works on farming practices and land management.

Throughout history, the Rix surname has been present in various parts of England, particularly in counties such as Suffolk, Norfolk, Yorkshire, and Warwickshire, where many families bearing the name have lived for generations.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Rix families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Rix 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. Norfolk leads with 843 Rix' recorded in 1881 and an index of 34.06x.

County Total Index
Norfolk 843 34.06x
Middlesex 178 1.11x
Kent 89 1.62x
Surrey 84 1.07x
Yorkshire 73 0.46x
Essex 72 2.27x
Suffolk 67 3.42x
Lancashire 40 0.21x
Durham 37 0.77x
Cambridgeshire 24 2.35x
Lincolnshire 21 0.82x
Staffordshire 16 0.29x
Gloucestershire 11 0.35x
Hampshire 11 0.33x
Sussex 11 0.41x
Northumberland 10 0.42x
Hertfordshire 7 0.63x
Warwickshire 7 0.17x
Wiltshire 7 0.49x
Northamptonshire 6 0.40x
Devon 4 0.12x
Shropshire 4 0.29x
Berkshire 3 0.25x
Derbyshire 3 0.12x
Radnorshire 3 2.31x
Angus 2 0.13x
Caernarfonshire 2 0.31x
Dorset 2 0.19x
Glamorgan 2 0.07x
Royal Navy 2 1.04x
Somerset 2 0.08x
Herefordshire 1 0.15x
Kirkcudbrightshire 1 0.43x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.05x
Oxfordshire 1 0.10x
Rutland 1 0.85x
Stirlingshire 1 0.17x
Worcestershire 1 0.05x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Heigham in Norfolk leads with 55 Rix' recorded in 1881 and an index of 41.41x.

Place Total Index
Heigham 55 41.41x
East Dereham 47 150.30x
Islington London 32 2.05x
Norwich St Martin At Oak 25 166.11x
West Ham 23 3.28x
Bethnal Green London 22 3.15x
Lambeth 21 1.50x
Norwich St Lawrence 21 621.30x
Swinton In Rotherham 21 49.79x
Great Yarmouth 20 9.76x
Norwich St Peter 19 117.00x
St Pancras London 19 1.47x
Tonbridge 19 9.59x
Cromer 18 204.55x
Norwich St Clement 17 59.25x
Wiggenhall St Mary 17 443.86x
Elsing 16 744.19x
Kings Lynn St Margaret 16 21.53x
Salford 16 2.85x
Swanton Morley 16 421.05x
Camberwell 15 1.46x
Wells Next Sea 15 103.95x
Boughton 14 1076.92x
Lowestoft 14 15.12x
Stoke Upon Trent 14 2.43x
Swaffham 14 69.55x
East Tuddenham 13 520.00x
Tasburgh 13 528.46x
Wendling 13 653.27x
Wisbech St Peter 13 25.43x
Acle 12 237.62x
Great Witchingham 12 383.39x
Greenwich 12 4.68x
Hackney London 12 1.33x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 12 5.79x
Richmond 12 10.92x
Sedgeford 12 286.40x
Ashwellthorpe 11 539.22x
Barking 11 11.83x
Bow London 11 5.37x
Holt 11 130.02x
Hornsey 11 5.40x
Little Dunham 11 666.67x
Norwich St Augustine 11 110.22x
Norwich St Benedict 11 99.73x
Deptford St Paul 10 2.36x
Shipdham 10 119.05x
Shoreditch London 10 1.43x
Brancaster 9 212.26x
Minster In Sheppey 9 9.89x
North Wootton 9 502.79x
Norwich St John Sepulchre 9 56.04x
Tuddenham St Mary 9 422.54x
Beccles 8 25.36x
Eccles 8 689.66x
Guisbrough 8 22.96x
Little Barningham 8 714.29x
Norwich St Michael At 8 55.71x
Poringland 8 307.69x
Saxthorpe 8 439.56x
South Lynn 8 28.64x
Sparham 8 470.59x
Stockton On Tees 8 3.47x
Waldringfield 8 536.91x
Bexley 7 14.42x
Blofield 7 111.11x
Braintree 7 24.54x
Gillingham 7 6.18x
Heckingham 7 384.62x
Huddersfield 7 3.01x
Little Walsingham 7 125.00x
Raveningham 7 530.30x
South Stoneham 7 9.78x
Swanton Abbott 7 251.80x
Thorpe 7 208.33x
Aston 6 0.54x
Norwich St Mary At Coslany 6 84.75x
South Walsham St Mary 6 294.12x
Sutton 6 33.00x
Warham All Sts 6 447.76x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 84
Elizabeth 60
Sarah 59
Eliza 30
Ann 26
Ellen 25
Alice 22
Emily 22
Harriet 22
Jane 19
Maria 19
Edith 18
Emma 18
Martha 17
Hannah 16
Charlotte 13
Annie 12
Louisa 12
Florence 10
Fanny 9
Harriett 9
Margaret 9
Susan 9
Anna 8
Caroline 8
Catherine 8
Eleanor 8
Julia 7
Ada 6
Clara 6
Henrietta 6
Lydia 6
Rachel 6
Agnes 5
Anne 5
Elizth. 5
Jessie 5
Kate 5
Lucy 5
Mabel 5
Matilda 5
Rose 5
Susanna 5
Susannah 5
Esther 4
Ethel 4
Helen 4
Laura 4
Nellie 4
Violet 4

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 109
George 90
John 75
Robert 45
Thomas 38
Henry 37
Charles 34
James 33
Alfred 26
Walter 25
Arthur 23
Albert 19
Edward 16
Herbert 16
Frederick 14
Samuel 13
Benjamin 9
Ernest 9
Harry 7
Richard 6
Horace 5
Wm. 5
Edwin 4
Frank 4
Frederic 4
Isaac 4
Joseph 4
Nathaniel 4
Thos. 4
Chas. 3
Francis 3
Fred 3
Fredrick 3
Jno. 3
Leonard 3
Reginald 3
Sidney 3
Abraham 2
Alexander 2
Allen 2
Augustus 2
Austin 2
Benj. 2
Bertie 2
Edgar 2
Fred. 2
Oliver 2
Sydney 2
Timothy 2
Tom 2

FAQ

Rix surname: questions and answers

How common was the Rix surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,655 people were recorded with the Rix surname. That placed it at #2,593 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Rix surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,735 in 2016. That gives Rix a modern rank of #2,457.

What does the Rix surname mean?

A topographic surname referring to someone who lived near a hillside stream or tributary.

What does the Rix map show?

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