NameCensus.

UK surname

Rixon

A topographic surname referring to someone who lived near a ridge or hill.

In the 1881 census there were 983 people recorded with the Rixon surname, ranking it #3,959 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,431, ranked #4,278, down from #3,959 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wellingborough, London parishes and Farringdon, Great. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Pembrokeshire, Aylesbury Vale and Wycombe.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Rixon is 1,598 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 45.6%.

1881 census count

983

Ranked #3,959

Modern count

1,431

2016, ranked #4,278

Peak year

1999

1,598 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Rixon had 983 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,959 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,431 in 2016, ranked #4,278.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,561 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Rixon surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Rixon surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Rixon 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 633 #4,103
1861 historical 556 #4,739
1881 historical 983 #3,959
1891 historical 1,284 #3,369
1901 historical 1,388 #3,621
1911 historical 1,561 #3,107
1997 modern 1,494 #3,918
1998 modern 1,564 #3,906
1999 modern 1,598 #3,882
2000 modern 1,534 #3,987
2001 modern 1,508 #3,964
2002 modern 1,524 #4,018
2003 modern 1,487 #4,034
2004 modern 1,488 #4,035
2005 modern 1,464 #4,039
2006 modern 1,451 #4,077
2007 modern 1,443 #4,133
2008 modern 1,443 #4,155
2009 modern 1,471 #4,178
2010 modern 1,501 #4,181
2011 modern 1,456 #4,237
2012 modern 1,439 #4,213
2013 modern 1,465 #4,220
2014 modern 1,471 #4,234
2015 modern 1,442 #4,262
2016 modern 1,431 #4,278

Geography

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Where Rixons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wellingborough, London parishes, Farringdon, Great and Risborough, Princes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Pembrokeshire, Aylesbury Vale, Wycombe, Northumberland and West Lancashire. 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 Wellingborough Northamptonshire
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Farringdon, Great Berkshire
5 Risborough, Princes Buckinghamshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Pembrokeshire 015 Pembrokeshire
2 Aylesbury Vale 023 Aylesbury Vale
3 Wycombe 001 Wycombe
4 Northumberland 006 Northumberland
5 West Lancashire 003 West Lancashire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Rixon

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Rixon

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

Rixon is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Rixon

The surname Rixon is believed to have originated in England, with its roots dating back to the medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Old English words "ric" meaning rich or powerful, and "tun" meaning a farm or settlement. This suggests that the name may have been initially given to someone who lived in or owned a prosperous farming community.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Ricstun" in reference to a place in Warwickshire. This historical document, commissioned by William the Conqueror, provides valuable insights into the distribution of surnames and place names across England during that era.

In the 13th century, the name appears to have evolved into various spellings such as "Rixon," "Rikeston," and "Ricston." These variations likely emerged due to regional dialects and the inconsistencies in spelling conventions before the standardization of the English language.

Notable individuals bearing the Rixon surname include:

1. Sir Rixon Tryon (1546-1619), an English politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament for Hertfordshire. 2. John Rixon (1661-1737), a renowned clockmaker from London, known for his contributions to the development of precision timekeeping. 3. Elizabeth Rixon (1763-1841), an English author and poet, whose work focused on themes of nature and spirituality. 4. William Rixon (1812-1889), an Australian explorer and surveyor, credited with mapping significant portions of New South Wales and Victoria. 5. Percival Rixon (1857-1938), a British military officer who served in the Boer War and World War I, earning the Distinguished Service Order for his bravery.

The name Rixon has also been associated with various place names across England, such as Rixon Gate in Staffordshire and Rixon Pond in Hampshire, further highlighting its historical roots and geographical spread.

While the exact origins of the surname Rixon may be subject to scholarly debate, its enduring presence throughout history and its association with notable individuals and locations underscore its significance as a distinct and storied English surname.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Rixon families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Rixon 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 178 Rixons recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.85x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 178 1.85x
Berkshire 113 15.68x
Buckinghamshire 101 17.40x
Northamptonshire 97 10.74x
Surrey 86 1.84x
Wiltshire 77 9.07x
Kent 63 1.92x
Hampshire 49 2.49x
Essex 45 2.37x
Oxfordshire 34 5.74x
Hertfordshire 28 4.23x
Lancashire 21 0.18x
Pembrokeshire 21 6.88x
Glamorgan 18 1.08x
Staffordshire 17 0.52x
Cheshire 11 0.52x
Gloucestershire 4 0.21x
Lanarkshire 4 0.13x
Yorkshire 4 0.04x
Leicestershire 3 0.28x
Somerset 3 0.19x
Cornwall 2 0.18x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.16x
Devon 1 0.05x
Dorset 1 0.16x
Durham 1 0.04x
Royal Navy 1 0.87x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Wellingborough in Northamptonshire leads with 52 Rixons recorded in 1881 and an index of 114.54x.

Place Total Index
Wellingborough 52 114.54x
Princes Risborough 51 656.37x
Boldre 24 340.43x
East Tisbury 24 819.11x
Kensington London 23 4.31x
Camberwell 21 3.43x
Swanscombe 20 135.96x
Cardiff St Mary 18 19.55x
Islington London 18 1.93x
Northampton St Giles 18 52.34x
Farnworth 15 21.98x
Hammersmith London 15 6.34x
Hurley 14 373.33x
St Pancras London 14 1.81x
Great Faringdon 13 125.60x
Hambleden 13 262.10x
West Ham 13 3.11x
Fawley 12 1212.12x
Manor Bier 12 579.71x
Richmond 12 18.31x
Sawbridgeworth 12 119.76x
Bushey 11 69.84x
Clerkenwell London 11 4.86x
Hurst 11 116.65x
Kingsthorpe 11 109.67x
Minster In Sheppey 11 20.27x
Aldershot 10 15.17x
Birkenhead 10 5.92x
Chilmark 10 549.45x
Lambeth 10 1.19x
Long Wittenham 10 540.54x
Hampstead Norris 9 198.68x
Matching 9 459.18x
Pembroke St Mary 9 22.91x
Stafford St Mary 9 19.62x
Wardour 9 361.45x
Watlington 9 148.27x
West Hendred 9 769.23x
Willesden 9 9.95x
Bromley London 8 3.79x
Cookham 8 35.62x
Cranleigh 8 116.96x
Hackney London 8 1.49x
Shoreditch London 8 1.92x
East West Challow 7 374.33x
Harrow On The Hill 7 36.50x
Little Marlow 7 218.07x
Southwark St George Martyr 7 3.62x
Swindon 7 10.63x
Weston Favell 7 386.74x
Charlton 6 722.89x
Chigwell 6 33.56x
Ealing 6 6.99x
Lewknor 6 344.83x
Oxford St Thomas 6 21.69x
St Anne Soho London 6 10.94x
Stone In Dartford 6 71.43x
Wargrave 6 96.93x
Bermondsey 5 1.75x
Chatham 5 5.55x
Devizes St James 5 44.33x
Feltham 5 52.19x
Great Dunmow 5 50.66x
Great Marlow 5 31.93x
Pinner 5 59.45x
St Marylebone London 5 0.98x
Stoke Upon Trent 5 1.46x
Battersea 4 1.13x
Beauchamp Roothing 4 526.32x
Bethnal Green London 4 0.96x
Compton 4 256.41x
Govan 4 0.52x
Plumstead 4 3.66x
Portsea 4 1.04x
Radnage 4 285.71x
Rodbourne Cheney 4 61.07x
Rotherfield Greys 4 63.69x
St George Hanover 4 3.19x
Warminster 4 21.51x
West Tisbury 4 152.67x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 63
John 60
George 35
James 35
Thomas 24
Charles 18
Henry 16
Arthur 15
Frederick 12
Robert 12
Alfred 11
Edwin 8
Herbert 8
Walter 8
Harry 7
Albert 6
Joseph 6
Ernest 4
Richard 4
Theodore 4
Benjamin 3
Daniel 3
Edward 3
Isaac 3
Samuel 3
Abel 2
Augustus 2
Chas. 2
Dan 2
Edmund 2
Eli 2
Frank 2
Fred 2
Jesse 2
Philip 2
Silas 2
Willm. 2
Wm. 2
Adolphus 1
Amos 1
Conrad 1
Elijah 1
Ellis 1
Francis 1
Fredc. 1
Horace 1
J. 1
Joseh 1
Leonard 1
Won. 1

FAQ

Rixon surname: questions and answers

How common was the Rixon surname in 1881?

In 1881, 983 people were recorded with the Rixon surname. That placed it at #3,959 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Rixon surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,431 in 2016. That gives Rixon a modern rank of #4,278.

What does the Rixon surname mean?

A topographic surname referring to someone who lived near a ridge or hill.

What does the Rixon map show?

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