NameCensus.

UK surname

Rodgerson

An Anglicized surname derived from the Old Norse name Hrodgar, meaning "famous spear" or "famous warrior."

In the 1881 census there were 377 people recorded with the Rodgerson surname, ranking it #8,309 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 410, ranked #11,674, down from #8,309 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Gateshead and Lancaster. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include County Durham, North Tyneside and Selkirk.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Rodgerson is 555 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 8.8%.

1881 census count

377

Ranked #8,309

Modern count

410

2016, ranked #11,674

Peak year

1891

555 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Rodgerson had 377 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,309 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 410 in 2016, ranked #11,674.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 555 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Rodgerson surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Rodgerson surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Rodgerson 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 274 #8,176
1861 historical 323 #7,888
1881 historical 377 #8,309
1891 historical 555 #6,831
1901 historical 391 #9,638
1911 historical 323 #10,842
1997 modern 410 #10,800
1998 modern 398 #11,377
1999 modern 412 #11,203
2000 modern 399 #11,422
2001 modern 399 #11,252
2002 modern 407 #11,294
2003 modern 391 #11,441
2004 modern 384 #11,625
2005 modern 361 #12,090
2006 modern 374 #11,822
2007 modern 377 #11,900
2008 modern 379 #11,960
2009 modern 381 #12,174
2010 modern 392 #12,186
2011 modern 394 #11,997
2012 modern 401 #11,699
2013 modern 409 #11,714
2014 modern 416 #11,660
2015 modern 412 #11,642
2016 modern 410 #11,674

Geography

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Where Rodgersons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Gateshead, Lancaster, Glasgow and Liverpool. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to County Durham, North Tyneside and Selkirk. 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 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
2 Gateshead Durham
3 Lancaster Lancashire
4 Glasgow Lanark
5 Liverpool Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 County Durham 015 County Durham
2 North Tyneside 027 North Tyneside
3 Selkirk Scottish Borders
4 North Tyneside 020 North Tyneside
5 North Tyneside 015 North Tyneside

Forenames

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First names often paired with Rodgerson

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Rodgerson

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Rodgerson surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Rodgerson household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Rodgerson 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

Rodgerson 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

Rodgerson 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 Rodgerson 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 Rodgerson, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Rodgerson

The surname Rodgerson is of English origin, and it first emerged during the late medieval period in the English Midlands. It is believed to be a locational name derived from a place called Rogerson or Rodgerson, which was likely a small hamlet or village that has since been absorbed into a larger town or city.

The name is thought to be a combination of two Old English words: "rod" meaning a clearing or a path, and "ger" which means a spear or a javelin. Thus, the name Rodgerson may have initially referred to someone who lived near a clearing or path associated with spear-making or hunting with javelins.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Rodgerson can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Staffordshire, dated 1327, where a Thomas Rodgerson is mentioned as a taxpayer. This suggests that the name was already in use by the early 14th century.

In the 16th century, a variant spelling of the name, "Rodgerson," appears in the Lay Subsidy Rolls of Nottinghamshire from 1524, where a John Rodgerson is listed. This indicates that the name had spread to other parts of the English Midlands by that time.

Notable individuals with the surname Rodgerson include:

1. William Rodgerson (c. 1595 - 1668), an English clergyman and author who published several theological works in the mid-17th century.

2. Elizabeth Rodgerson (c. 1620 - 1692), a Quaker preacher and activist who was imprisoned several times for her religious beliefs during the 17th century in England.

3. Thomas Rodgerson (c. 1675 - 1741), an English landowner and Member of Parliament who represented the borough of Newark-on-Trent in the House of Commons from 1722 to 1727.

4. John Rodgerson (c. 1710 - 1778), a notable English landscape architect and garden designer who worked on several prominent estates in the 18th century.

5. Mary Rodgerson (c. 1780 - 1853), an English philanthropist and social reformer who founded several schools and orphanages in the early 19th century.

While the surname Rodgerson is not among the most common English surnames, it has a long and interesting history that can be traced back to the medieval period in the English Midlands. The name's origins are thought to be locational, reflecting the geographical features and activities of the area where it first emerged.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Rodgerson families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Rodgerson 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. Lancashire leads with 106 Rodgersons recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.48x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 106 2.48x
Durham 73 6.80x
Lanarkshire 39 3.34x
Yorkshire 36 1.01x
Cumberland 30 9.65x
Northumberland 22 4.10x
Cheshire 8 1.00x
Renfrewshire 8 2.86x
Surrey 8 0.45x
Ayrshire 7 2.59x
Dumfriesshire 7 8.78x
Gloucestershire 6 0.85x
Fife 4 1.87x
Kirkcudbrightshire 4 7.66x
Midlothian 4 0.83x
Staffordshire 3 0.25x
Westmorland 2 2.52x
Cornwall 1 0.24x
Roxburghshire 1 1.53x
Royal Navy 1 2.33x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Lower Upper Holker in Lancashire leads with 17 Rodgersons recorded in 1881 and an index of 2931.03x.

Place Total Index
Lower Upper Holker 17 2931.03x
Bishopwearmouth 15 16.28x
Overton 15 3750.00x
Bridekirk 13 524.19x
Carluke 13 122.64x
Glasgow 11 5.31x
Liverpool 10 3.84x
Blackburn 9 7.90x
Barony 8 2.71x
Crumpsall 8 79.29x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 8 17.20x
Iveston 8 161.62x
Monk Bretton 8 220.99x
Tynemouth 8 27.82x
Handsworth 7 74.07x
Heaton With Oxcliffe 7 4117.65x
Lamesley 7 121.11x
Crosscanonby 6 58.37x
Monkwearmouth Shore 6 28.63x
Nether Hallam 6 12.40x
Newton 6 18.18x
Newtown In Glendale 6 6666.67x
Warrington 6 11.82x
Auckinleck 5 59.81x
Cambusnethan 5 19.29x
Keir 5 543.48x
Lambeth 5 1.59x
Poulton Cum Seacombe 5 54.59x
Tewkesbury 5 79.11x
West Greenock 5 9.96x
Workington 5 28.11x
Burntisland 4 67.00x
Chirton 4 32.92x
Ecclesall Bierlow 4 5.50x
Kirkdale 4 5.55x
Lochrutton 4 526.32x
Rothwell 4 55.40x
Willington 4 64.52x
Wingate 4 54.35x
Audley 3 24.90x
Bishop Auckland 3 20.83x
Chester Le Street 3 36.36x
Cramond 3 81.97x
East Greenock 3 11.36x
Ribchester 3 185.19x
Stanhope 3 27.05x
Thornton In Fylde 3 32.02x
Barrow In Furness 2 3.43x
Birtley 2 45.66x
Mirfield 2 10.18x
Monk Hesleden 2 66.89x
Northen Etchells 2 215.05x
Old Cumnock 2 33.28x
Pendleton In Salford 2 3.92x
Preston 2 1.75x
Southwick 2 19.67x
Sunderland 2 10.55x
Bradford 1 1.16x
Brigham 1 68.03x
Cadder 1 11.60x
Catterall 1 131.58x
Chorlton On Medlock 1 1.47x
Govan 1 0.35x
Great Clifton 1 83.33x
Kendal 1 6.89x
Kingston On Thames 1 2.37x
Little Hulton 1 14.10x
Lochmaben 1 28.65x
Muggleswick 1 96.15x
Otterburn 1 243.90x
Pennington In Leigh 1 12.17x
Penrith 1 8.71x
Royal Navy 1 2.72x
Ryhope 1 13.42x
Sheffield 1 0.88x
Skelmersdale 1 14.01x
South Hiendley 1 222.22x
Tanfield 1 7.83x
Whitwell Selside 1 322.58x
Wigan 1 1.67x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 29
Elizabeth 19
Alice 11
Sarah 11
Jane 9
Ellen 6
Ann 5
Emily 5
Isabella 5
Margaret 5
Martha 4
Emma 3
Hannah 3
A. 2
Agnes 2
Annie 2
Catherine 2
Eleanor 2
Ester 2
Esther 2
Harriet 2
Ada 1
Amelia 1
Barbery 1
Betsy 1
Christiana 1
Clara 1
Dorothy 1
Eliza 1
Ethel 1
Grace 1
Harriett 1
Henrietta 1
Kate 1
Lilley 1
Lilly 1
Louisa 1
Margret 1
Margt. 1
Marianne 1
Prescilla 1
Rebecca 1
S. 1
Susanna 1
Thomas 1
Willamina 1
Williamina 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 26
William 17
Thomas 15
James 14
George 9
Joseph 9
Robert 5
Richard 4
Alfred 3
Edward 3
Henry 3
Patrick 3
Ralph 3
Mathias 2
Michael 2
Abel 1
Albert 1
Atkinson 1
Benjamin 1
David 1
Fred 1
Frederick 1
Geo. 1
Harry 1
Isaac 1
Jacob 1
Ken 1
Lawrence 1
Matthew 1
Nicholas 1
Peter 1
S. 1
Samuel 1
Septimus 1
Stephen 1

FAQ

Rodgerson surname: questions and answers

How common was the Rodgerson surname in 1881?

In 1881, 377 people were recorded with the Rodgerson surname. That placed it at #8,309 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Rodgerson surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 410 in 2016. That gives Rodgerson a modern rank of #11,674.

What does the Rodgerson surname mean?

An Anglicized surname derived from the Old Norse name Hrodgar, meaning "famous spear" or "famous warrior."

What does the Rodgerson map show?

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