NameCensus.

UK surname

Roarty

An Anglicized form of the Irish Ó Ruairc surname meaning "descendant of Ruarc".

In the 1881 census there were 1 people recorded with the Roarty surname, ranking it #34,027 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 230, ranked #17,812, up from #34,027 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Toryglen and Oatlands, Kingspark North and Cathcart.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Roarty is 237 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 22900.0%.

1881 census count

1

Ranked #34,027

Modern count

230

2016, ranked #17,812

Peak year

2014

237 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Roarty had 1 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #34,027 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 230 in 2016, ranked #17,812.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 15 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Student Living and Professional Footholds.

Roarty surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Roarty surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Roarty 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
1861 historical 12 #32,329
1881 historical 1 #34,027
1891 historical 7 #33,665
1901 historical 15 #32,383
1911 historical 1 #34,332
1997 modern 194 #17,978
1998 modern 205 #17,850
1999 modern 214 #17,494
2000 modern 198 #18,330
2001 modern 190 #18,520
2002 modern 209 #17,803
2003 modern 203 #17,967
2004 modern 210 #17,644
2005 modern 211 #17,520
2006 modern 208 #17,835
2007 modern 222 #17,288
2008 modern 219 #17,597
2009 modern 221 #17,848
2010 modern 224 #18,047
2011 modern 217 #18,271
2012 modern 227 #17,630
2013 modern 229 #17,816
2014 modern 237 #17,528
2015 modern 231 #17,733
2016 modern 230 #17,812

Geography

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Where Roartys 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 Toryglen and Oatlands, Kingspark North, Cathcart, Bruntsfield and Penilee. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Toryglen and Oatlands Glasgow City
2 Kingspark North Glasgow City
3 Cathcart Glasgow City
4 Bruntsfield City of Edinburgh
5 Penilee Glasgow City

Forenames

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First names often paired with Roarty

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Roarty

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Student Living and Professional Footholds

Nationally, the Roarty surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Student Living and Professional Footholds, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Roarty household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

The Group includes many students, some of whom reside in communal residences. Single-person households are the most prevalent and the modal age band is 25 to 44. There are few families with dependent children. A significant number of White residents were born in EU countries (although UK-born residents are more common than in the rest of the Group), and households reflect a diversity of ethnic groups. Residential turnover is exceptionally high and, communal properties aside, flats are the norm. Some properties, including those in the private rental sector, are over-crowded. Many residents are professionals and technicians educated to degree level, and the Group is particularly common near the campuses of established university towns and cities.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Roarty is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Roarty 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

Roarty falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Roarty 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 - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Roarty

The surname Roarty originated from the Gaelic Irish name O'Ruairc, which means "descendant of Ruarc". The name Ruarc is derived from the Old Irish word 'ruadh', meaning red or reddish-brown, and likely referred to a person with red hair or a ruddy complexion. The O'Ruairc family belonged to the ancient Uí Briúin dynasty and were the ruling clan of the kingdom of Breifne, located in modern-day counties Leitrim and Cavan, Ireland.

The name first appeared in written records in the 12th century, with the mention of Tighernan Ua Ruairc, the King of Breifne, in the Annals of the Four Masters. This historical text, compiled in the early 17th century, chronicles the history of Ireland from ancient times to the 16th century.

In the 13th century, the name was anglicized to its modern spelling, Roarty, as the English administration in Ireland attempted to standardize Irish surnames. The earliest known example of this spelling dates back to 1285, when a John Roarty was recorded in the Pipe Rolls of Cloyne, County Cork.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Roarty family was prominent in County Leitrim, with several members holding important positions. One notable figure was Eoghan Roarty (c. 1560-1635), a renowned Irish poet and historian who served as the chief chronicler of the O'Rourke clan.

Another prominent individual was Aodh Roarty (c. 1620-1680), a Catholic priest and scholar who played a significant role in preserving Irish language and literature during the turbulent years of the English Reformation.

In the 18th century, the name Roarty was found in various parts of Ulster, particularly in counties Leitrim, Cavan, and Donegal. One notable bearer of the name was Seamus Roarty (1725-1795), a wealthy landowner and merchant from County Leitrim, who was known for his patronage of Irish arts and culture.

The 19th century saw the Roarty name spread further across Ireland and beyond, with many members of the family emigrating to other parts of the world, including England, the United States, and Australia, due to the Great Famine and other economic hardships.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Roarty families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Roarty 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 1 Roartys recorded in 1881 and an index of 32.05x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 1 32.05x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Shotts in Lanarkshire leads with 1 Roartys recorded in 1881 and an index of 2500.00x.

Place Total Index
Shotts 1 2500.00x

FAQ

Roarty surname: questions and answers

How common was the Roarty surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1 people were recorded with the Roarty surname. That placed it at #34,027 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Roarty surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 230 in 2016. That gives Roarty a modern rank of #17,812.

What does the Roarty surname mean?

An Anglicized form of the Irish Ó Ruairc surname meaning "descendant of Ruarc".

What does the Roarty map show?

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