NameCensus.

UK surname

Rodney

An English habitational surname derived from a place name meaning "Hroda's island" in Old English.

In the 1881 census there were 185 people recorded with the Rodney surname, ranking it #13,506 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 828, ranked #6,712, up from #13,506 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Hamilton, Workington (Workington), Clossocks and Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Harrogate, Allerdale and Camden.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Rodney is 828 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 347.6%.

1881 census count

185

Ranked #13,506

Modern count

828

2016, ranked #6,712

Peak year

2016

828 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Rodney had 185 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,506 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 828 in 2016, ranked #6,712.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 207 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Rodney surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Rodney surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Rodney 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 107 #16,402
1861 historical 143 #15,906
1881 historical 185 #13,506
1891 historical 207 #14,546
1901 historical 203 #14,969
1911 historical 155 #17,485
1997 modern 780 #6,675
1998 modern 760 #7,025
1999 modern 757 #7,098
2000 modern 695 #7,531
2001 modern 611 #8,182
2002 modern 651 #7,933
2003 modern 664 #7,707
2004 modern 679 #7,588
2005 modern 691 #7,421
2006 modern 705 #7,312
2007 modern 719 #7,277
2008 modern 740 #7,176
2009 modern 779 #7,031
2010 modern 804 #6,994
2011 modern 788 #7,045
2012 modern 794 #6,874
2013 modern 793 #7,011
2014 modern 802 #6,989
2015 modern 812 #6,843
2016 modern 828 #6,712

Geography

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Where Rodneys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Hamilton, Workington (Workington), Clossocks, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry, Greenock and Liverpool. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Harrogate, Allerdale, Camden and Haringey. 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 Hamilton Lanark
2 Workington (Workington), Clossocks Cumberland
3 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar
4 Greenock Renfrew
5 Liverpool Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Harrogate 001 Harrogate
2 Allerdale 011 Allerdale
3 Camden 008 Camden
4 Allerdale 010 Allerdale
5 Haringey 013 Haringey

Forenames

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First names often paired with Rodney

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Rodney

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

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Rodney surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Rodney household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Rodney 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

Rodney 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

Rodney falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Rodney 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
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Rodney

The surname Rodney has its origins in Normandy, France, dating back to the 11th century. It is derived from the Old French word "rondel," meaning "round hill" or "small fort." The name was likely given to someone who lived near a distinctive round hill or fortification.

The earliest recorded instance of the surname Rodney can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landholdings in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The book mentions a Norman noble named Walter de Rodeneye, who held lands in Wiltshire.

As the Rodney family established itself in England, variations in spelling emerged, including Rodeney, Rodenay, and Rodnay. Some of these variations were influenced by the places where the family settled, such as the village of Rodney Stoke in Somerset.

In the 13th century, Sir Walter de Rodney was a prominent figure in the court of King John. He was granted lands in Staffordshire and is believed to have played a role in the negotiations that led to the signing of the Magna Carta in 1215.

Another notable bearer of the surname was Sir John Rodney (c. 1531-1612), an English naval commander who served under Queen Elizabeth I during the Anglo-Spanish War. He was involved in several important naval battles, including the defeat of the Spanish Armada in 1588.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, the Rodney family produced several distinguished military leaders. George Brydges Rodney (1718-1792) was a British naval officer who achieved significant victories against the French and Spanish fleets during the American Revolutionary War.

Another famous Rodney was Caesar Rodney (1728-1784), an American patriot and signer of the Declaration of Independence. He was known for his daring midnight ride from Dover to Philadelphia in 1776 to cast a crucial vote in favor of independence.

In the 19th century, John Rodney (1789-1866) was a prominent American politician who served as a United States Senator from Delaware and as the Secretary of State under President John Quincy Adams.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Rodney families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Rodney 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. Middlesex leads with 28 Rodneys recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.55x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 28 1.55x
Lancashire 24 1.12x
Cumberland 13 8.37x
Devon 13 3.46x
Pembrokeshire 13 22.67x
Lanarkshire 12 2.06x
Yorkshire 11 0.62x
Hampshire 8 2.16x
Renfrewshire 8 5.72x
Surrey 8 0.91x
Angus 7 4.19x
Gloucestershire 5 1.41x
Hertfordshire 5 4.02x
Northumberland 5 1.86x
Durham 4 0.75x
Staffordshire 4 0.66x
Kent 3 0.49x
Midlothian 3 1.24x
Glamorgan 2 0.64x
Sussex 2 0.66x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.60x
Bedfordshire 1 1.07x
Herefordshire 1 1.35x
Leicestershire 1 0.50x
Monmouthshire 1 0.77x
Northamptonshire 1 0.59x
Selkirkshire 1 6.12x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Sheffield in Yorkshire leads with 11 Rodneys recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.32x.

Place Total Index
Sheffield 11 19.32x
Wembury 9 2647.06x
Kensington London 8 7.97x
St Pancras London 8 5.51x
Dundee 7 11.22x
Hamilton 7 43.00x
Liverpool 7 5.38x
Salford 6 9.53x
Workington 6 67.42x
Abbey 5 23.43x
Stannington 5 781.25x
Uzmaston 5 1428.57x
Alverstoke 4 29.87x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 4 12.00x
Chelsea London 4 7.36x
Quernmore 4 1111.11x
Rickergate 4 121.58x
Tenby St Mary In 4 136.99x
Walsall Borough 4 84.57x
Croydon 3 6.15x
Epsom 3 70.09x
Middle Greenock 3 78.53x
Portsea 3 4.14x
Willesden 3 17.64x
Ashtead 2 350.88x
Barton Upon Irwell 2 12.41x
Chatham 2 11.81x
Cockermouth 2 61.16x
Dalserf 2 34.36x
Govan 2 1.39x
Hastings St Leonards 2 44.74x
Hitchin 2 35.65x
Llantwit Lower 2 72.46x
Monkwearmouth Shore 2 19.08x
Pembroke St Mary 2 27.06x
Watford 2 20.75x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 1 3.20x
Berry Pomeroy 1 161.29x
Brampton Bryan 1 384.62x
Cheltenham 1 3.66x
Chipping Barnet 1 45.87x
Cramond 1 54.64x
Crawcrook 1 357.14x
Dalston 1 83.33x
Dunstable 1 34.84x
Edinburgh Buccleuch 1 17.48x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 1 1.03x
Exeter St Mary Steps 1 117.65x
Exeter St Thomas The 1 26.11x
Glasgow 1 0.97x
Gorton 1 4.97x
Hampstead London 1 3.56x
Hythe St Leonard 1 45.87x
Leicester St Margaret 1 2.05x
Llawhaden 1 303.03x
Manchester 1 1.04x
Northampton All Sts 1 17.36x
Orell Ford 1 256.41x
Plympton Maurice 1 140.85x
Selkirk 1 21.74x
Shadwell London 1 19.80x
Sharples 1 43.10x
Southwick 1 19.69x
St Andrew Holborn 1 16.34x
St George In East 1 8.15x
St Matthew Friday 1 5000.00x
St Woollos 1 6.87x
Steynton 1 54.05x
Ventnor 1 28.41x
Warrington 1 3.94x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 9
Ann 6
Jane 6
Sarah 5
Martha 4
Augusta 3
Elizabeth 3
Ellen 3
Margaret 3
Alice 2
Caroline 2
Catherine 2
Diana 2
Emily 2
Isabella 2
Maria 2
May 2
A.G. 1
An 1
Anna 1
Anne 1
Annie 1
Berttha 1
Charlotte 1
Clemuntine 1
Dacca 1
Edith 1
Eliza 1
Elizth. 1
Evelyn 1
Francis 1
Harriett 1
Henrietta 1
Henriette 1
Isabel 1
Julia 1
Kate 1
Katherine 1
Minnie 1
Nora 1
Norah 1
Philipp 1
Philippa 1
Rebecca 1
Sara 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Thomas 11
John 9
William 7
James 6
George 3
Joseph 3
Alfred 2
Charles 2
Edward 2
Lennox 2
Patrick 2
Robert 2
Anthony 1
Austin 1
Auther 1
Bertram 1
Frank 1
Frederick 1
Fredk.J. 1
Fredrick 1
G.B.H.D. 1
Harley 1
Harry 1
Henry 1
Moses 1
Reginald 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Rodney surname: questions and answers

How common was the Rodney surname in 1881?

In 1881, 185 people were recorded with the Rodney surname. That placed it at #13,506 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Rodney surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 828 in 2016. That gives Rodney a modern rank of #6,712.

What does the Rodney surname mean?

An English habitational surname derived from a place name meaning "Hroda's island" in Old English.

What does the Rodney map show?

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