UK surname
An English place name derived from topographical features such as a clearing or meadowland.
In the 1881 census there were 60 people recorded with the Rodes surname, ranking it #25,133 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 27, ranked #36,189, down from #25,133 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Wellington, Wrockwardine, Eyton-on-the-Moors, Preston-on-the-Moors, Stockport and St Leonard Shoreditch. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Rodes is 148 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 55.0%.
1881 census count
60
Ranked #25,133
Modern count
27
2016, ranked #36,189
Peak year
1861
148 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Rodes surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Rodes surname density by area, 1861 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 96 | #17,594 |
| 1861 | historical | 148 | #15,452 |
| 1881 | historical | 60 | #25,133 |
| 1891 | historical | 65 | #28,660 |
| 1901 | historical | 42 | #29,487 |
| 1911 | historical | 29 | #30,190 |
| 1997 | modern | 20 | #35,809 |
| 1998 | modern | 20 | #35,885 |
| 1999 | modern | 17 | #36,261 |
| 2000 | modern | 18 | #36,104 |
| 2001 | modern | 17 | #36,053 |
| 2002 | modern | 20 | #35,894 |
| 2003 | modern | 19 | #36,011 |
| 2004 | modern | 20 | #36,053 |
| 2005 | modern | 22 | #35,993 |
| 2006 | modern | 23 | #36,054 |
| 2007 | modern | 20 | #36,362 |
| 2008 | modern | 20 | #36,443 |
| 2009 | modern | 21 | #36,470 |
| 2010 | modern | 23 | #36,400 |
| 2011 | modern | 20 | #36,587 |
| 2012 | modern | 27 | #36,102 |
| 2013 | modern | 28 | #36,096 |
| 2014 | modern | 24 | #36,358 |
| 2015 | modern | 25 | #36,297 |
| 2016 | modern | 27 | #36,189 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Wellington, Wrockwardine, Eyton-on-the-Moors, Preston-on-the-Moors, Stockport, St Leonard Shoreditch, Toxteth Park and Warlingham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wellington, Wrockwardine, Eyton-on-the-Moors, Preston-on-the-Moors | Shropshire |
| 2 | Stockport | Cheshire |
| 3 | St Leonard Shoreditch | London (East Districts) |
| 4 | Toxteth Park | Lancashire |
| 5 | Warlingham | Surrey |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Rodes surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Rodes, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Rodes surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Rodes household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Rodes is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Rodes is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Rodes, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Rodes has its origins in England and dates back to the late 11th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "rod," which means a clearing or a small valley. The name is thought to have originated as a topographic name given to someone who lived near a clearing or a small valley.
The earliest recorded instance of the surname Rodes can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a survey of land ownership commissioned by William the Conqueror. The book mentions a person named Radulfus de Rodes, who held lands in Yorkshire.
During the medieval period, the surname was often spelled in various ways, including Rode, Rood, and Roode. These variations were common due to the lack of standardized spelling conventions at the time.
One notable early bearer of the surname was Sir John Rodes, who lived in the 14th century and served as the Lord Mayor of London in 1388. He was a wealthy merchant and played a significant role in the political affairs of the city.
In the 16th century, the surname Rodes gained prominence with the birth of John Rodes (1516-1588), an English jurist and scholar who served as the Regius Professor of Civil Law at the University of Cambridge. He is remembered for his contributions to the study of Roman law.
Another distinguished individual with the surname was Sir Godfrey Rodes (1588-1649), an English politician and military leader who fought for the Parliamentarian cause during the English Civil War. He served as a member of parliament and was appointed as the governor of Pontefract Castle.
In the 19th century, John Rodes (1784-1853) was a prominent English architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Church of St. Peter's in Pimlico and the Royal Pavilion in Brighton.
As the surname spread throughout England, it also found its way to other parts of the world through emigration. In the United States, for instance, Robert Emmett Rodes (1829-1864) was a Confederate general during the American Civil War, known for his bravery and leadership during several major battles.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Rodes surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Shropshire leads with 9 Rodes' recorded in 1881 and an index of 17.80x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Shropshire | 9 | 17.80x |
| Staffordshire | 9 | 4.56x |
| Yorkshire | 9 | 1.55x |
| Lancashire | 8 | 1.15x |
| Middlesex | 8 | 1.37x |
| Durham | 5 | 2.87x |
| Cheshire | 4 | 3.10x |
| Derbyshire | 3 | 3.27x |
| Surrey | 2 | 0.70x |
| Glamorgan | 1 | 0.98x |
| Hampshire | 1 | 0.83x |
| Kent | 1 | 0.50x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Gt Ness in Shropshire leads with 9 Rodes' recorded in 1881 and an index of 6923.08x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Gt Ness | 9 | 6923.08x |
| North Bedburn | 4 | 816.33x |
| Norton In Moors | 4 | 380.95x |
| Runcorn | 4 | 134.23x |
| Wolstanton | 4 | 66.67x |
| St George In East | 3 | 75.38x |
| Womersley | 3 | 3750.00x |
| Ashton Under Lyne | 2 | 13.18x |
| Burnley | 2 | 34.19x |
| Codnor Park | 2 | 952.38x |
| Flixton | 2 | 555.56x |
| Sheffield | 2 | 10.83x |
| St Marylebone London | 2 | 6.40x |
| Aldershot | 1 | 24.88x |
| Brimington | 1 | 142.86x |
| Camberwell | 1 | 2.68x |
| Cardiff St Mary | 1 | 17.83x |
| Clapham | 1 | 13.66x |
| Ecclesall Bierlow | 1 | 8.48x |
| Edmonton | 1 | 21.23x |
| Huyton With Roby | 1 | 123.46x |
| Islington London | 1 | 1.76x |
| Morley | 1 | 33.22x |
| Ovenden | 1 | 38.76x |
| Pendlebury | 1 | 68.03x |
| Pontefract | 1 | 80.00x |
| St George Hanover | 1 | 13.09x |
| Stoke Upon Trent | 1 | 4.77x |
| Tonbridge | 1 | 13.89x |
| Whitworth | 1 | 78.74x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Rodes surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Rodes surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Rodes households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 8 |
| Grocers Daur | 3 |
| Coal Miner | 2 |
| Grocers Son | 2 |
| Basket Maker | 1 |
| Boot Worker | 1 |
| Butcher | 1 |
| Butchers Son | 1 |
| Carpenter (Ship) | 1 |
| Cotton Rover | 1 |
| Cotton Warper | 1 |
| Cotton Weaver | 1 |
| Dressmaker | 1 |
| Engraver Artist | 1 |
| Gardener (Nd) | 1 |
| General Serv | 1 |
| General Servant | 1 |
| Grocer | 1 |
| Grocers Wife | 1 |
| Groom (D) | 1 |
| Ironworks Riddler Manuf | 1 |
| Journeyman Coachmaker | 1 |
| Laborer In Ironworks | 1 |
| Labourer | 1 |
| Laundress | 1 |
| Milliner | 1 |
| Miner | 1 |
| Monthly Nurse | 1 |
| Ord Seaman | 1 |
| Parlour Maid Domestic Serv | 1 |
| Porter | 1 |
| Reeler | 1 |
| Stage Professional (Actor) | 1 |
| Sub Gas Inspector | 1 |
| Warehouse Man | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 60 people were recorded with the Rodes surname. That placed it at #25,133 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 27 in 2016. That gives Rodes a modern rank of #36,189.
An English place name derived from topographical features such as a clearing or meadowland.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Rodes bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.