NameCensus.

UK surname

Rodger

An English occupational surname derived from the Old Norse name Röðgar meaning a famous spearman.

In the 1881 census there were 4,228 people recorded with the Rodger surname, ranking it #1,061 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 5,160, ranked #1,312, down from #1,061 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Govan Combination, Edinburgh and Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Summerston North, The Glens and Stobswell.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Rodger is 5,160 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 22.0%.

1881 census count

4,228

Ranked #1,061

Modern count

5,160

2016, ranked #1,312

Peak year

2016

5,160 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Rodger had 4,228 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,061 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 5,160 in 2016, ranked #1,312.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 5,022 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Rodger surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Rodger surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Rodger 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 3,257 #887
1861 historical 3,934 #710
1881 historical 4,228 #1,061
1891 historical 4,900 #954
1901 historical 5,022 #1,116
1911 historical 948 #4,751
1997 modern 4,615 #1,420
1998 modern 4,850 #1,399
1999 modern 4,872 #1,404
2000 modern 4,899 #1,392
2001 modern 4,764 #1,395
2002 modern 4,888 #1,392
2003 modern 4,778 #1,391
2004 modern 4,745 #1,392
2005 modern 4,747 #1,373
2006 modern 4,744 #1,381
2007 modern 4,783 #1,379
2008 modern 4,878 #1,361
2009 modern 4,906 #1,387
2010 modern 5,040 #1,381
2011 modern 4,942 #1,388
2012 modern 4,889 #1,372
2013 modern 5,009 #1,365
2014 modern 5,105 #1,345
2015 modern 5,108 #1,335
2016 modern 5,160 #1,312

Geography

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Where Rodgers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Govan Combination, Edinburgh, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry, Greenock and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Summerston North, The Glens, Stobswell, Maybole and Fort William South. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Govan Combination Lanark
2 Edinburgh Edinburgh
3 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar
4 Greenock Renfrew
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Summerston North Glasgow City
2 The Glens Dundee City
3 Stobswell Dundee City
4 Maybole South Ayrshire
5 Fort William South Highland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Rodger

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Rodger

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

Legacy Communities

Group

Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities

Nationally, the Rodger surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Rodger household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Households in these areas often include divorced or separated parents and commonly include children and young adults. The age structure is heavily skewed towards the most advanced age groups. Individuals identifying as members of ethnic minorities are not present in large numbers. Flats predominate, with some terraced, semi-detached, and detached units. Multiple car ownership is low, and housing is predominantly in the private and social rented sectors. Employment is less skewed towards traditional routine industrial occupations. Levels of educational attainment are generally low. The Group occurs principally in the Central Lowlands of Scotland and other Scottish towns.

Wider pattern

These neighbourhoods characteristically comprise pockets of flats that are scattered across the UK, particularly in towns that retain or have legacies of heavy industry or are in more remote seaside locations. Employed residents of these neighbourhoods work mainly in low-skilled occupations. Residents typically have limited educational qualifications. Unemployment is above average. Some residents live in overcrowded housing within the social rented sector and experience long-term disability. All adult age groups are represented, although there is an overall age bias towards elderly people in general and the very old in particular. Individuals identifying as belonging to ethnic minorities or Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups are uncommon.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Rodger 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

Rodger is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Rodger 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 Rodger 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 - British

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

Meaning and origin of Rodger

The surname Rodger originated from the Scots and northern English diminutive form of the male given name Roger, which was itself derived from the Old German name Rodger. This Germanic name was composed of the elements hrod, meaning "fame," and ger, meaning "spear."

The Rodger surname is believed to have first appeared in the Scottish Lowlands and northern England around the 12th century. It was common for diminutive suffixes like "er" to be added to given names to form surnames during this period. Early variations of the spelling included Rodgere, Rogere, and Roddyer.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Rodger surname can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which documented those who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England. The rolls mention a person named Hugo Rogger from the county of Berwick, Scotland.

In the 14th century, the surname appeared in various records from Yorkshire, England. The Yorkshire Poll Tax of 1379 listed a John Rodger as a resident of Bubwith. The nearby village of Rodgerfield, mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086, may have derived its name from an early bearer of the surname.

Notable figures with the Rodger surname include William Rodger (c. 1460-1528), a Scottish historian and theologian who served as Principal of the University of Glasgow. John Rodger (1740-1811) was a British naval officer who commanded HMS Foudroyant at the Battle of Camperdown in 1797.

Other prominent individuals include Alexander Rodger (1784-1846), a Scottish miniature painter known for his portrait work, and George Rodger (1908-1995), a British photojournalist and co-founder of the Magnum Photos agency. James Rodger (1841-1895) was a Scottish architect responsible for designing several notable buildings in Glasgow, including the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Rodger families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Rodger 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 943 Rodgers recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.10x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 943 7.10x
Fife 496 20.40x
Ayrshire 380 12.36x
Angus 369 9.70x
Renfrewshire 356 11.19x
Midlothian 285 5.18x
Yorkshire 272 0.67x
Lancashire 140 0.29x
Dunbartonshire 118 10.69x
Perthshire 111 6.02x
Roxburghshire 85 11.43x
Wigtownshire 82 15.04x
Aberdeenshire 55 1.45x
Middlesex 52 0.13x
Selkirkshire 40 10.77x
Kincardineshire 35 7.00x
Durham 32 0.26x
East Lothian 31 5.70x
Argyllshire 28 2.45x
Cumberland 26 0.74x
Stirlingshire 25 1.65x
Surrey 22 0.11x
Somerset 18 0.27x
Clackmannanshire 16 4.72x
Peeblesshire 16 8.28x
Cheshire 14 0.15x
Dumfriesshire 14 1.54x
Glamorgan 13 0.18x
Berwickshire 11 2.21x
Kirkcudbrightshire 11 1.85x
Derbyshire 9 0.14x
Kent 8 0.06x
Kinross-shire 8 7.71x
Lincolnshire 8 0.12x
Buteshire 7 2.81x
Essex 7 0.09x
Warwickshire 7 0.07x
West Lothian 7 1.13x
Northumberland 6 0.10x
Sussex 6 0.09x
Banffshire 5 0.59x
Staffordshire 5 0.04x
Huntingdonshire 3 0.37x
Merionethshire 3 0.40x
Nottinghamshire 3 0.05x
Berkshire 2 0.06x
Carmarthenshire 2 0.12x
Gloucestershire 2 0.02x
Leicestershire 2 0.04x
Morayshire 2 0.31x
Royal Navy 2 0.41x
Bedfordshire 1 0.05x
Channel Islands 1 0.08x
Cornwall 1 0.02x
Devon 1 0.01x
Hampshire 1 0.01x
Isle of Man 1 0.13x
Monmouthshire 1 0.03x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.08x
Suffolk 1 0.02x
Worcestershire 1 0.02x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Barony in Lanarkshire leads with 249 Rodgers recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.41x.

Place Total Index
Barony 249 7.41x
Govan 132 4.02x
Dundee 114 8.03x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 114 5.15x
Glasgow 105 4.45x
Abbey 89 18.33x
West Greenock 75 13.13x
Old Monkland 71 13.47x
Hamilton 68 18.36x
Wemyss 64 62.22x
Kilmarnock 61 16.68x
St Andrews 50 45.20x
Forfar 43 20.87x
Barrow In Furness 40 6.04x
Cupar 38 35.94x
Row 38 26.62x
Kirkoswald 37 147.47x
South Leith 37 5.98x
Wilton 37 45.33x
East Greenock 36 11.98x
Hawick 35 21.02x
Monifieth 34 25.30x
St Vigeans 34 16.56x
Cambusnethan 33 11.19x
Liff Benvie 33 5.71x
Markinch 32 38.77x
Dalserf 31 23.39x
Stewarton 31 50.98x
Bothwell 30 8.33x
Dalziel 30 21.00x
Dumbarton 30 19.53x
Kirkcaldy 29 24.05x
Kirkintilloch 29 19.34x
Port Glasgow 28 18.20x
Selkirk 27 25.80x
Abbotshall 25 27.52x
Ecclesfield 24 8.04x
Irvine 24 28.11x
Shotts 24 15.10x
Ceres 23 78.69x
North Leith 23 9.03x
Shettleston 22 18.50x
Inveresk 21 14.10x
Rutherglen 21 10.78x
Neilston 20 12.52x
Arbroath 19 15.07x
Ayr 19 13.10x
Eastwood 19 9.69x
Largs 19 26.24x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 18 4.75x
Beith 18 19.63x
Cathcart 18 10.45x
Erskine 18 77.82x
New Monkland 18 4.58x
Newburgh 18 58.29x
Perth East Church 18 10.36x
Prestonpans 18 49.34x
Leuchars 17 55.30x
Montrose 17 7.37x
Paisley High Church 17 6.71x
Scoonie 17 32.29x
St Quivox 17 16.36x
Lesmahagow 16 11.39x
Aberdeen Old Machar 15 1.89x
Colinton 15 24.45x
Dysart 15 9.16x
Newton On Ayr 15 16.30x
Perth West Church 15 17.15x
West Kilbride 15 51.23x
Carluke 14 11.61x
Lasswade 14 11.13x
Maryhill 14 5.38x
Salford 14 0.98x
Brechin 13 8.69x
Dunfermline 13 3.48x
Inverkeillor 13 55.11x
Kilconquhar 13 44.94x
Stainburn 13 530.61x
Glasserton 12 70.96x
Kilrenny 12 26.68x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 44
William 39
James 30
George 24
Henry 18
Thomas 16
Robert 13
Joseph 12
David 8
Peter 7
Arthur 6
Edward 6
Alfred 5
Charles 5
Matthew 5
Samuel 5
Alexander 4
Francis 4
Harry 4
Richard 4
Walter 4
Albert 3
Ernest 3
Frank 3
Fred 3
Frederick 3
Abraham 2
Beckett 2
Benjamin 2
Daniel 2
Herbert 2
Joe 2
Jonathan 2
Michael 2
Wm. 2
Amos 1
Andrew 1
Arnold 1
Atkinson 1
Ben 1
Chas. 1
Dennis 1
Edwin 1
Frederic 1
Hugh 1
Humphrey 1
Isaac 1
J.Edward 1
Jas. 1
Wm.J. 1

FAQ

Rodger surname: questions and answers

How common was the Rodger surname in 1881?

In 1881, 4,228 people were recorded with the Rodger surname. That placed it at #1,061 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Rodger surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 5,160 in 2016. That gives Rodger a modern rank of #1,312.

What does the Rodger surname mean?

An English occupational surname derived from the Old Norse name Röðgar meaning a famous spearman.

What does the Rodger map show?

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