NameCensus.

UK surname

Roath

A locational surname derived from the district of Roath in Cardiff, Wales.

In the 1881 census there were 43 people recorded with the Roath surname, ranking it #27,575 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 129, ranked #26,270, up from #27,575 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Southampton and North Warwickshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Roath is 155 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 200.0%.

1881 census count

43

Ranked #27,575

Modern count

129

2016, ranked #26,270

Peak year

2010

155 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Roath had 43 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #27,575 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 129 in 2016, ranked #26,270.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 72 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Roath surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Roath surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Roath 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 26 #28,667
1861 historical 41 #28,839
1881 historical 43 #27,575
1891 historical 68 #28,300
1901 historical 50 #28,590
1911 historical 72 #25,642
1997 modern 124 #23,669
1998 modern 117 #25,190
1999 modern 128 #24,017
2000 modern 132 #23,562
2001 modern 125 #24,011
2002 modern 124 #24,616
2003 modern 125 #24,265
2004 modern 116 #25,580
2005 modern 116 #25,564
2006 modern 133 #23,711
2007 modern 141 #23,137
2008 modern 144 #23,037
2009 modern 152 #22,716
2010 modern 155 #22,985
2011 modern 142 #24,182
2012 modern 132 #25,289
2013 modern 131 #25,932
2014 modern 128 #26,490
2015 modern 133 #25,729
2016 modern 129 #26,270

Geography

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Where Roaths 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 Southampton and North Warwickshire. 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 Southampton 022 Southampton
2 Southampton 003 Southampton
3 Southampton 021 Southampton
4 North Warwickshire 002 North Warwickshire
5 Southampton 029 Southampton

Forenames

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First names often paired with Roath

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Roath

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

Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students

Nationally, the Roath surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Roath household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Married couples with dependent children are common in this Group, with many parents born in Africa or the EU. The representation of residents amongst different ethnic minority groups is high, particularly for individuals of Pakistani ethnic group. For many residents, English is not their main language, and affiliation to Christian religions is less common. Privately rented terrace properties predominate and levels of overcrowding are high. Part time work is common, with many employed in elementary occupations and sales and customer services. There are also many students living within these areas, and overall unemployment levels are high.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Roath is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Roath 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

Roath falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Roath 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
Other Ethnic Group

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

Meaning and origin of Roath

The surname "ROATH" is believed to have originated in Wales during the Middle Ages. It is thought to be derived from the Old Welsh word "rhos," meaning "moor" or "moorland." This suggests that the earliest bearers of the name likely resided in or near a marshy or boggy area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Rohaut." This entry likely refers to a location or settlement in Wales, possibly named after an individual or family with the surname.

During the 13th century, the name was often spelled as "Rohaute" or "Rohaught," reflecting the Welsh pronunciation and spelling conventions of the time. By the 15th century, the spelling had evolved closer to the modern form, with variations such as "Roath" and "Roathe" appearing in historical records.

In the 16th century, a notable figure bearing the name was William Roath (c. 1510–1572), a Welsh landowner and member of the gentry from Monmouthshire. Another notable individual was John Roath (1594–1655), a clergyman and author who served as the Vicar of Eardisley in Herefordshire.

The name can also be found in connection with various place names in Wales, such as Roath Park in Cardiff and the district of Roath itself, which was likely named after an early settler or landowner with the surname.

Other notable individuals with the surname include:

1. Thomas Roath (1720–1795), a British naval officer who served during the American Revolutionary War. 2. Mary Roath (1793–1867), a Welsh diarist and author known for her detailed accounts of life in 19th-century Wales. 3. John Roath Jones (1814–1891), a Welsh industrialist and entrepreneur who founded the Roath Brewery in Cardiff. 4. Evan Roath (1856–1925), a Welsh historian and writer who published several works on the history and culture of Wales. 5. Gwyneth Roath (1892–1978), a Welsh artist and painter known for her landscapes and portraits depicting rural life in Wales.

Over the centuries, the name "ROATH" has maintained its Welsh roots and connections, with many bearers of the surname tracing their ancestry back to the historic counties and regions of Wales.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Roath families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Roath 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. Warwickshire leads with 28 Roaths recorded in 1881 and an index of 26.48x.

County Total Index
Warwickshire 28 26.48x
Lancashire 6 1.21x
Lanarkshire 3 2.21x
Nottinghamshire 2 3.54x
Worcestershire 2 3.65x
Glamorgan 1 1.37x
Shropshire 1 2.76x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Birmingham in Warwickshire leads with 21 Roaths recorded in 1881 and an index of 59.61x.

Place Total Index
Birmingham 21 59.61x
Aston 7 24.05x
Pemberton 6 303.03x
Barony 3 8.74x
Kings Norton 2 40.73x
Norwell 2 3333.33x
Cardiff St Mary 1 24.88x
Ludford 1 1428.57x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Alice 4
Mary 4
Elizabeth 2
Ada 1
Edith 1
Ellen 1
Emily 1
Harriet 1
Harriett 1
Jane 1
Louisa 1
Margaret 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 4
Albert 2
Charles 2
John 2
Richard 2
William 2
Arthur 1
Geoe.Fredk. 1
George 1
Joseph 1
Richd.Harry 1
Stanley 1
Wallace 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 Roath households.

FAQ

Roath surname: questions and answers

How common was the Roath surname in 1881?

In 1881, 43 people were recorded with the Roath surname. That placed it at #27,575 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Roath surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 129 in 2016. That gives Roath a modern rank of #26,270.

What does the Roath surname mean?

A locational surname derived from the district of Roath in Cardiff, Wales.

What does the Roath map show?

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