NameCensus.

UK surname

Roads

A surname derived from Old English words referring to a path or road.

In the 1881 census there were 365 people recorded with the Roads surname, ranking it #8,506 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 232, ranked #17,694, down from #8,506 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Winslow, Acton and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Stratford-on-Avon, Aylesbury Vale and Wycombe.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Roads is 443 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 36.4%.

1881 census count

365

Ranked #8,506

Modern count

232

2016, ranked #17,694

Peak year

1861

443 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Roads had 365 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,506 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 232 in 2016, ranked #17,694.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 443 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Roads surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Roads surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Roads 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 358 #6,604
1861 historical 443 #5,835
1881 historical 365 #8,506
1891 historical 333 #10,223
1901 historical 374 #9,930
1911 historical 358 #10,110
1997 modern 252 #15,193
1998 modern 267 #15,016
1999 modern 262 #15,308
2000 modern 254 #15,578
2001 modern 242 #15,832
2002 modern 233 #16,590
2003 modern 232 #16,447
2004 modern 229 #16,684
2005 modern 228 #16,683
2006 modern 236 #16,384
2007 modern 231 #16,835
2008 modern 225 #17,282
2009 modern 236 #17,103
2010 modern 228 #17,844
2011 modern 227 #17,733
2012 modern 216 #18,251
2013 modern 217 #18,493
2014 modern 222 #18,355
2015 modern 223 #18,165
2016 modern 232 #17,694

Geography

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Where Roads' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Winslow, Acton, London parishes, Quainton, Shipton Lee and Grendon Underwood. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Stratford-on-Avon, Aylesbury Vale and Wycombe. 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 Winslow Buckinghamshire
2 Acton Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
3 London parishes London 3
4 Quainton, Shipton Lee Buckinghamshire
5 Grendon Underwood Buckinghamshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Stratford-on-Avon 012 Stratford-on-Avon
2 Aylesbury Vale 006 Aylesbury Vale
3 Aylesbury Vale 022 Aylesbury Vale
4 Aylesbury Vale 004 Aylesbury Vale
5 Wycombe 001 Wycombe

Forenames

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First names often paired with Roads

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Roads

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Roads 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

Roads 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

Roads falls in decile 8 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.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Roads

The surname ROADS is of English origin, tracing its roots back to the medieval period. This name is believed to have derived from the Old English word 'rod,' which referred to a clearing or a path through a forest or wooded area. It was common for individuals to take on surnames based on their occupation or location during this time.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the ROADS surname can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from the year 1191, which mentions a William de la Rode. This suggests that the name was likely used as a descriptive term for someone who lived near or maintained a road or path.

In the 13th century, the ROADS surname appeared in various forms, such as le Rode, atte Rode, and del Rode, reflecting the evolution of the English language and regional variations in spelling.

The Hundred Rolls of 1273 include references to individuals with the ROADS surname, including Robert de la Rode from Oxfordshire and Walter de la Rode from Wiltshire. These records provide valuable insight into the geographic distribution of the name during this period.

One notable person with the ROADS surname was John Roads (c. 1510-1547), an English Protestant reformer and martyr who was burned at the stake during the reign of Queen Mary I for his religious beliefs.

Another significant figure was Samuel Roads (1638-1719), a prominent English Puritan minister and author who served as the rector of St. Mary-le-Bow Church in London and was known for his theological writings.

In the 18th century, the ROADS surname gained further recognition with the birth of Thomas Roads (1765-1842), a renowned British naval officer who played a crucial role in several major battles during the Napoleonic Wars.

The name ROADS has also been associated with several place names in England, such as Roads Green in Essex and Roads Farm in Wiltshire, further reinforcing its connection to paths and routes.

Throughout history, the ROADS surname has been carried by various individuals, including authors, artists, and scholars, such as the 19th-century Scottish writer and poet James Roads (1813-1888) and the 20th-century American artist and illustrator Edna Roads (1900-1985).

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Roads families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Roads 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. Buckinghamshire leads with 167 Roads' recorded in 1881 and an index of 77.16x.

County Total Index
Buckinghamshire 167 77.16x
Middlesex 68 1.90x
Hertfordshire 22 8.92x
Surrey 20 1.15x
Yorkshire 13 0.37x
Cambridgeshire 12 5.29x
Lincolnshire 10 1.75x
Monmouthshire 7 2.70x
Northamptonshire 7 2.08x
Warwickshire 7 0.78x
Staffordshire 6 0.50x
Bedfordshire 5 2.70x
Lancashire 4 0.09x
Huntingdonshire 3 4.22x
Derbyshire 2 0.36x
Oxfordshire 2 0.90x
Royal Navy 2 4.69x
Cardiganshire 1 1.15x
Denbighshire 1 0.74x
Gloucestershire 1 0.14x
Hampshire 1 0.14x
Lanarkshire 1 0.09x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.21x
Shropshire 1 0.32x
Somerset 1 0.17x
Sussex 1 0.17x
Worcestershire 1 0.21x

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 30 Roads' recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.65x.

Place Total Index
Islington London 30 8.65x
Winslow 23 1127.45x
East Barnet 21 429.45x
Acton 20 95.28x
Quainton 18 1698.11x
Aylesbury 17 177.27x
Swanbourne 17 2881.36x
Waddesdon Westcott 12 1764.71x
Hillesden 10 3703.70x
Newington 10 7.56x
Steeple Claydon 10 952.38x
Mentmore 8 2051.28x
Orwell 8 816.33x
St Pancras London 8 2.78x
Trevethin 7 28.64x
Clapham 6 13.41x
Ellerby In Skirlaugh 6 1428.57x
Kenilworth 6 117.88x
Bierton With Broughton 5 500.00x
Chelsea London 5 4.64x
Great Horwood 5 574.71x
Grendon Underwood 5 1020.41x
Scunthorpe 5 194.55x
Wingrave 5 450.45x
Aston Abbotts 4 1111.11x
Croughton 4 540.54x
Dinton 4 470.59x
Harborne 4 10.33x
Houghton Regis 4 135.14x
Thornborough 4 563.38x
Bromley London 3 3.81x
East Claydon 3 714.29x
Foxton 3 576.92x
Glatton 3 441.18x
North Crawley 3 348.84x
Peterborough 3 12.31x
Chilton 2 526.32x
Ribchester 2 124.22x
Royal Navy 2 5.48x
Sheffield 2 1.77x
Thame 2 49.75x
Waddesdon 2 194.17x
Whitchurch 2 224.72x
Windlesham 2 60.98x
Ashton Under Lyne 1 1.08x
Audley 1 8.36x
Barrow On Humber 1 30.12x
Birmingham 1 0.33x
Boston 1 5.76x
Bradford 1 1.16x
Bramdean 1 312.50x
Broadwater 1 7.23x
Broughton 1 500.00x
Cirencester 1 10.52x
Croydon 1 1.03x
Elmton 1 158.73x
Felmersham 1 166.67x
Gainsborough 1 7.41x
Gresford Gwersyllt 1 23.87x
Haddenham 1 56.18x
Hemel Hempstead 1 8.99x
Heston 1 8.41x
Lambeth 1 0.32x
Leigh 1 17.64x
Linslade 1 47.17x
Ludgershall 1 192.31x
Madeley 1 8.82x
Manchester 1 0.52x
Marsh Gibbon 1 109.89x
Odcombe 1 131.58x
Old Monkland 1 2.18x
Ossett Cum Gawthorpe 1 7.89x
Pinxton 1 35.09x
Sculcoates 1 1.78x
Soothill 1 7.81x
St Andrewthe Less 1 3.86x
Sutton Cum Duckmanton 1 172.41x
Tetford 1 136.99x
Weston Turville 1 99.01x
Wolstanton Chesterton 1 16.18x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 25
George 16
Thomas 14
Joseph 11
Harry 10
James 10
John 10
Alfred 9
Edward 7
Charles 6
Robert 6
Arthur 5
Richard 5
Albert 3
David 3
Eli 3
Henry 3
Francis 2
Frank 2
Helen 2
Jonathan 2
Peter 2
Samuel 2
Walter 2
Aaron 1
Benjamen 1
Calab 1
Earnest 1
Edgar 1
Ernest 1
Frederic 1
Frederick 1
Fredrick 1
Geore 1
Harper 1
Herbert 1
Horace 1
Hy. 1
Jessie 1
Josiah 1
Maurice 1
Montague 1
Nowen 1
Philip 1
Ren 1
Sydney 1

FAQ

Roads surname: questions and answers

How common was the Roads surname in 1881?

In 1881, 365 people were recorded with the Roads surname. That placed it at #8,506 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Roads surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 232 in 2016. That gives Roads a modern rank of #17,694.

What does the Roads surname mean?

A surname derived from Old English words referring to a path or road.

What does the Roads map show?

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