NameCensus.

UK surname

Rodway

An English toponymic surname derived from any of several locations named Rodway.

In the 1881 census there were 938 people recorded with the Rodway surname, ranking it #4,107 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 939, ranked #6,102, down from #4,107 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Hawkesbury, Churcham, Sandhurst, St Mary-de-Lode, St Catherine Longford, Barnwood, Wootton Ville, North Hamlet, and St Leonard Shoreditch. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Forest of Dean, South Somerset and Powys.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Rodway is 1,123 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 0.1%.

1881 census count

938

Ranked #4,107

Modern count

939

2016, ranked #6,102

Peak year

1911

1,123 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Rodway had 938 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,107 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 939 in 2016, ranked #6,102.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,123 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Rodway surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Rodway surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Rodway 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 589 #4,340
1861 historical 538 #4,878
1881 historical 938 #4,107
1891 historical 1,014 #4,099
1901 historical 1,107 #4,362
1911 historical 1,123 #4,140
1997 modern 1,008 #5,468
1998 modern 1,065 #5,388
1999 modern 1,064 #5,417
2000 modern 1,072 #5,374
2001 modern 1,046 #5,382
2002 modern 1,035 #5,538
2003 modern 982 #5,674
2004 modern 969 #5,748
2005 modern 953 #5,766
2006 modern 944 #5,826
2007 modern 942 #5,888
2008 modern 958 #5,839
2009 modern 972 #5,891
2010 modern 984 #5,953
2011 modern 964 #5,992
2012 modern 961 #5,923
2013 modern 974 #5,950
2014 modern 976 #5,971
2015 modern 954 #6,054
2016 modern 939 #6,102

Geography

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Where Rodways are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Hawkesbury, Churcham, Sandhurst, St Mary-de-Lode, St Catherine Longford, Barnwood, Wootton Ville, North Hamlet,, St Leonard Shoreditch, London parishes and Cheltenham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Forest of Dean, South Somerset, Powys, Gloucester and Stroud. 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 Hawkesbury Gloucestershire
2 Churcham, Sandhurst, St Mary-de-Lode, St Catherine Longford, Barnwood, Wootton Ville, North Hamlet, Gloucestershire
3 St Leonard Shoreditch London (East Districts)
4 London parishes London 3
5 Cheltenham Gloucestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Forest of Dean 004 Forest of Dean
2 South Somerset 024 South Somerset
3 Powys 008 Powys
4 Gloucester 014 Gloucester
5 Stroud 006 Stroud

Forenames

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First names often paired with Rodway

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Rodway

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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Rodway surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Rodway 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 comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Rodway is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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 concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Rodway 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

Rodway falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Rodway 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 Rodway, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Rodway

The surname RODWAY is of English origin, derived from a locational name indicating someone who lived by a road or clearing. It is believed to have originated in the 13th century, with the earliest recorded spelling being found as "Rodewaye" in the Cartulary of Malmesbury Abbey in Wiltshire, England, dated 1296.

In the Domesday Book of 1086, the name is not directly mentioned, but there are several references to places with similar names, such as "Rodesgate" in Norfolk and "Rodburne" in Wiltshire, suggesting the existence of the name or its variants at that time.

One of the earliest recorded bearers of the name was Robert Rodway, who was mentioned in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1327. Another early example is John Rodway, who was recorded in the Pipe Rolls of Somerset in 1379.

The surname RODWAY has been associated with various place names throughout England, such as Rodway Hill in Gloucestershire and Rodway Farm in Wiltshire. These place names likely influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname over time.

Notable individuals with the surname RODWAY include:

1. Sir John Rodway (c. 1550-1612), an English soldier and explorer who served in Ireland and is credited with establishing the first English settlement in Guiana (now Guyana) in 1609.

2. Walter Rodway (1820-1888), an English-born Australian botanist and naturalist who made significant contributions to the study of the flora and fauna of Queensland.

3. James Rodway (1848-1926), a Guyanese historian and journalist known for his works on the history and culture of Guyana, including "A History of British Guiana" published in 1891.

4. Ethel Rodway (1862-1949), an Australian artist and painter who specialized in portraiture and landscapes, particularly of the Blue Mountains region in New South Wales.

5. Robert Rodway (1907-1980), a British trade unionist and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Kidderminster from 1945 to 1970.

While the surname RODWAY has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly through migration and colonization. However, the earliest recorded instances and historical references remain firmly rooted in England, reflecting the surname's origins as a locational name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Rodway families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Rodway 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. Gloucestershire leads with 279 Rodways recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.50x.

County Total Index
Gloucestershire 279 15.50x
Middlesex 126 1.37x
Warwickshire 97 4.19x
Monmouthshire 62 9.34x
Worcestershire 54 4.50x
Wiltshire 53 6.53x
Somerset 47 3.18x
Surrey 41 0.92x
Lancashire 30 0.28x
Staffordshire 15 0.48x
Buckinghamshire 14 2.52x
Devon 13 0.68x
Shropshire 12 1.51x
Hertfordshire 11 1.74x
Kent 11 0.35x
Derbyshire 10 0.70x
Durham 10 0.37x
Northumberland 10 0.73x
Yorkshire 8 0.09x
Herefordshire 7 1.86x
Cardiganshire 6 2.68x
Hampshire 6 0.32x
Leicestershire 6 0.59x
Sussex 4 0.26x
Oxfordshire 2 0.35x
Suffolk 2 0.18x
Essex 1 0.06x
Glamorgan 1 0.06x
Midlothian 1 0.08x
Royal Navy 1 0.91x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Aston in Warwickshire leads with 47 Rodways recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.37x.

Place Total Index
Aston 47 7.37x
Shoreditch London 36 9.05x
Birmingham 31 4.02x
Dudley 25 17.16x
Hawkesbury 25 407.83x
Cheltenham 23 16.56x
Bedwellty 20 17.07x
Gloucester Barton St Mary 19 57.68x
Wickwar 19 657.44x
Kensington London 15 2.94x
Wotton Under Edge 15 141.38x
Trowbridge 14 39.02x
Camberwell 13 2.22x
Eastington 12 201.34x
Hardwicke 12 588.24x
Rodbourne Cheney 12 191.39x
Welland 12 436.36x
Gloucester St Michael 11 266.99x
Great Crosby 11 37.04x
St Luke London 11 7.47x
Stroud 11 31.40x
Bushey 10 66.40x
Sutton Coldfield 10 41.10x
Trevethin 10 15.96x
Walcot 10 12.71x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 9 5.31x
Flaxley 9 222.77x
Lyncombe Widcombe 9 23.26x
Newington 9 2.65x
Shenley Brook End 9 1304.35x
St Woollos 9 12.15x
Wellington 9 20.19x
Bedlington 8 17.54x
Chelsea London 8 2.89x
Gloucester St Mary Lode 8 189.57x
Kingstanley 8 120.30x
Lidford 8 93.24x
Lytham 8 48.11x
Minchinhampton 8 55.79x
Colwall 7 149.89x
Fairford 7 145.53x
Hanley Castle 7 97.63x
Sherston Magna 7 143.15x
Winterbourne 7 70.35x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 6 7.08x
Bedminster 6 4.32x
Bilston 6 9.99x
Hilperton 6 231.66x
Hugglescote 6 40.08x
Painswick 6 47.13x
Stratton St Margaret 6 48.19x
Westbury On Severn East 6 14.74x
Weston Super Mare 6 16.08x
Westonsuper Mare 6 199.34x
Willesden 6 6.93x
Berkeley 5 49.90x
Evesham All Sts 5 89.45x
Heworth 5 9.29x
Litchurch 5 8.65x
Llandygwydd 5 171.82x
Llanover 5 22.07x
Mile End Old Town 5 3.45x
Paddington London 5 1.48x
Southwark St George Martyr 5 2.71x
St Bartholomew Less 5 105.93x
Stoke Upon Trent 5 1.52x
Upton St Leonards 5 109.41x
Westminster St John 5 4.47x
Wycombe 5 12.09x
Bath St James 4 25.96x
Birkdale 4 14.51x
Colerne 4 120.12x
Croydon 4 1.61x
Deptford St Paul 4 1.66x
Graig 4 134.23x
Haresfield 4 222.22x
Long Ditton 4 54.79x
Marshfield 4 245.40x
Rodborough 4 46.03x
Whittington 4 20.12x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 63
George 39
John 36
Thomas 27
James 25
Henry 17
Joseph 17
Alfred 15
Arthur 14
Charles 14
Albert 11
Frederick 11
Samuel 11
Edwin 8
Edward 7
Ernest 6
Francis 6
Harry 6
Robert 6
Richard 5
Fredrick 4
Isaac 4
Daniel 3
David 3
Frank 3
Harold 3
Sydney 3
Walter 3
Fredk. 2
Geo. 2
Gilbert 2
Jacob 2
Jas. 2
Ralph 2
Rowland 2
Sidney 2
Thos. 2
Wm. 2
Abbot 1
Amariah 1
Benjamin 1
Cecil 1
Charlie 1
Elijah 1
Emanuel 1
Eusebries 1
Euseriess 1
Hy. 1
Irah 1
Wm.J. 1

FAQ

Rodway surname: questions and answers

How common was the Rodway surname in 1881?

In 1881, 938 people were recorded with the Rodway surname. That placed it at #4,107 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Rodway surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 939 in 2016. That gives Rodway a modern rank of #6,102.

What does the Rodway surname mean?

An English toponymic surname derived from any of several locations named Rodway.

What does the Rodway map show?

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