NameCensus.

UK surname

Roebuck

An English occupational surname referring to a male roe deer or someone who hunted them.

In the 1881 census there were 2,028 people recorded with the Roebuck surname, ranking it #2,170 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,595, ranked #2,561, down from #2,170 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Kirkheaton, Rawmarsh, Wath-on-Dearn (Swinton) and Almondbury. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Rotherham, Barnsley and Kirklees.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Roebuck is 2,719 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 28.0%.

1881 census count

2,028

Ranked #2,170

Modern count

2,595

2016, ranked #2,561

Peak year

1998

2,719 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Roebuck had 2,028 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,170 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,595 in 2016, ranked #2,561.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,480 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Roebuck surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Roebuck surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Roebuck 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 1,101 #2,554
1861 historical 1,173 #2,410
1881 historical 2,028 #2,170
1891 historical 2,119 #2,200
1901 historical 2,480 #2,202
1911 historical 2,352 #2,173
1997 modern 2,611 #2,434
1998 modern 2,719 #2,439
1999 modern 2,700 #2,467
2000 modern 2,676 #2,475
2001 modern 2,623 #2,471
2002 modern 2,699 #2,456
2003 modern 2,635 #2,460
2004 modern 2,623 #2,469
2005 modern 2,535 #2,514
2006 modern 2,551 #2,500
2007 modern 2,549 #2,525
2008 modern 2,535 #2,553
2009 modern 2,613 #2,547
2010 modern 2,655 #2,563
2011 modern 2,644 #2,544
2012 modern 2,612 #2,527
2013 modern 2,640 #2,543
2014 modern 2,646 #2,549
2015 modern 2,609 #2,555
2016 modern 2,595 #2,561

Geography

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Where Roebucks are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Kirkheaton, Rawmarsh, Wath-on-Dearn (Swinton), Almondbury, Sheffield and Huddersfield. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Rotherham, Barnsley, Kirklees and Sheffield. 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 Kirkheaton Yorkshire, West Riding
2 Rawmarsh, Wath-on-Dearn (Swinton) Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Almondbury Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Huddersfield Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Rotherham 005 Rotherham
2 Barnsley 024 Barnsley
3 Barnsley 027 Barnsley
4 Kirklees 058 Kirklees
5 Sheffield 002 Sheffield

Forenames

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First names often paired with Roebuck

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Roebuck

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

Nationally, the Roebuck surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Roebuck household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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

Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles

Group

Inner London Working Professionals

Within London, Roebuck is most associated with areas classed as Inner London Working Professionals, part of Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles. 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

These primarily Inner London neighbourhoods are more densely populated than the Supergroup average. Residents have a younger over-all age profile than the Supergroup as a whole, and are less likely to be owner occupiers. Full time employment is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup and multiple car ownership is uncommon. Chinese and non-EU-born European migrants are less in evidence than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

These neighbourhoods house people of all ages, predominantly of White British or European extraction. Resident turnover is low. Religious affiliation is less common than average and tends to be Christian if expressed. Homeownership, typically of terraced houses, is common but use of the social rented sector is not. Employment is typically in professional, managerial and associate professional or technical occupations. There are few full-time students. Level 4 qualifications are common. More households lack dependent children than have them which, considered alongside low levels of crowding and over-all age structure, indicates that many households may be post child-rearing and in late middle age. Incidence of disability is low, as is residence in communal establishments.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Roebuck is most concentrated in decile 7 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Roebuck

The surname Roebuck has its roots in England, originating in the 13th century. It is derived from the Old English words 'ra' meaning a roe deer and 'buc' meaning a male deer, referring to the roe buck or male roe deer. This indicates that the name was likely an occupational surname for someone who kept, hunted, or dealt with roe deer.

The earliest known records of the name Roebuck can be traced back to the 13th century in various parts of England, including Yorkshire, Derbyshire, and Lincolnshire. It was often spelled as 'Robuck' or 'Roebucke' in its early forms. The name is also found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which were census records compiled during the reign of King Edward I.

In the 14th century, the surname Roebuck appeared in the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire in 1327, where a John Robuck was listed as a taxpayer. The name was also recorded in the Poll Tax records of 1379, which suggests its widespread use across different social classes at the time.

One of the earliest known individuals with the surname Roebuck was Thomas Roebuck, who was born in Yorkshire, England, around 1440. He was a landowner and is mentioned in various legal documents from the 15th century.

Another notable figure was Sir John Roebuck (1638-1718), an English politician and landowner from Hertfordshire. He served as a Member of Parliament for several constituencies, including Bodmin and Huntingdonshire, during the late 17th and early 18th centuries.

In the 18th century, Benjamin Roebuck (1711-1794) was a renowned metallurgist and inventor from Sheffield, England. He is credited with developing new methods for producing sulfuric acid and improving the production of lead.

John Arthur Roebuck (1801-1879) was a British politician and lawyer from Madras, India. He served as a Member of Parliament for several constituencies, including Bath and Sheffield, and was a prominent advocate for various political reforms.

John Roebuck (1718-1794), born in Warwickshire, England, was a renowned physician and inventor. He is best known for his contributions to the development of the modern condensing steam engine, working closely with James Watt.

These are just a few examples of notable individuals throughout history who have borne the surname Roebuck, which has its origins in England and is associated with the roe deer, likely reflecting an occupational connection in its early days.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Roebuck families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Roebuck 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. Yorkshire leads with 1,466 Roebucks recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.48x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 1,466 7.48x
Lancashire 142 0.60x
Cheshire 85 1.95x
Lincolnshire 48 1.52x
Nottinghamshire 47 1.76x
Middlesex 42 0.21x
Derbyshire 36 1.16x
Surrey 22 0.23x
Leicestershire 18 0.82x
Lanarkshire 15 0.23x
Kent 14 0.21x
Selkirkshire 14 7.82x
Worcestershire 11 0.43x
Dumfriesshire 9 2.06x
Staffordshire 9 0.13x
Devon 8 0.19x
Oxfordshire 8 0.65x
Angus 7 0.38x
Essex 5 0.13x
Gloucestershire 5 0.13x
Durham 3 0.05x
Berwickshire 2 0.83x
Cornwall 2 0.09x
Renfrewshire 2 0.13x
Somerset 2 0.06x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.05x
Bedfordshire 1 0.10x
Dunbartonshire 1 0.19x
Flintshire 1 0.19x
Northamptonshire 1 0.05x
Royal Navy 1 0.42x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Almondbury in Yorkshire leads with 99 Roebucks recorded in 1881 and an index of 104.44x.

Place Total Index
Almondbury 99 104.44x
Rawmarsh 64 92.41x
Thurlstone 63 325.92x
Saddleworth 58 38.36x
Batley 47 25.23x
Bradfield 41 54.25x
Hepworth 41 517.68x
Huddersfield 41 14.36x
Wooldale 41 123.31x
Honley 39 113.67x
Sheffield 37 5.93x
Leeds 34 3.07x
Kimberworth 33 30.33x
Lepton 33 161.13x
Worsbrough 32 55.71x
Kirkheaton 31 97.51x
Dukinfield 28 13.88x
Barnsley 26 12.86x
Nether Hallam 26 9.80x
Dalton In Huddersfield 24 54.64x
Cartworth 23 141.89x
Mexborough 23 59.11x
Ecclesfield 22 15.31x
Shepley 21 194.26x
Upperthong 21 125.97x
Ashton Under Lyne 20 3.90x
Rastrick 20 36.73x
Swinton In Rotherham 20 38.58x
Soothill 19 26.83x
Ecclesall Bierlow 18 4.51x
Thurgoland 18 136.05x
Great Grimsby 17 8.47x
Wortley In Wortley 17 220.49x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 16 8.76x
Lockwood 16 22.69x
Oldham 16 2.11x
Openshaw 16 14.55x
Wakefield 16 10.63x
Nottingham St Mary 15 2.17x
Brierley 14 426.83x
Selkirk 14 27.77x
Barony 13 0.80x
Dewsbury 13 6.47x
Ingbirchworth 13 572.69x
Horton In Bradford 12 3.92x
Barugh 11 66.43x
Beswick 11 18.32x
Mirfield 11 10.22x
Owston 11 122.49x
Rotherham 11 9.95x
Stayley 11 22.04x
Brightside Bierlow 10 2.60x
Deptford St Paul 10 1.92x
Hayfield 10 52.63x
Holme In Huddersfield 10 217.86x
Lund 10 320.51x
Manchester 10 0.95x
Tintwistle 10 42.84x
Denby 9 85.07x
Doncaster 9 6.28x
Farnley Tyas 9 216.35x
Hackney London 9 0.81x
Ossett Cum Gawthorpe 9 12.85x
St Pancras London 9 0.57x
Stretford 9 6.97x
Camberwell 8 0.63x
Handsworth 8 15.44x
Oxford St Clement 8 25.95x
South Crosland 8 38.76x
Tranmere 8 4.98x
Walsall Foreign 8 2.32x
Worksop 8 10.12x
Beeston 7 22.85x
Chorlton On Medlock 7 1.88x
Frisby On The Wreake 7 261.19x
Knottingley 7 20.32x
Salford 7 1.01x
Shoreditch London 7 0.82x
Silkstone 7 72.16x
Upper Hallam 7 41.10x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 134
Sarah 81
Elizabeth 65
Annie 45
Hannah 44
Martha 43
Emma 37
Ann 36
Alice 29
Ellen 29
Clara 25
Jane 25
Eliza 22
Harriet 20
Emily 18
Edith 16
Fanny 16
Lucy 15
Ada 13
Charlotte 12
Frances 10
Lydia 9
Florence 8
Ruth 8
Louisa 7
Sophia 7
Gertrude 6
Lily 6
Maria 5
Minnie 5
Rachel 5
Ethel 4
Harriett 4
Margaret 4
Rebecca 4
Amelia 3
Amy 3
Betty 3
Elizth. 3
Jessie 3
Julia 3
Kate 3
Lilly 3
Lizzie 3
Selina 3
Teresa 3
Caroline 2
Catherine 2
Elizia 2
Lavinia 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 105
William 94
George 74
Joseph 58
James 47
Thomas 43
Arthur 35
Henry 35
Harry 24
Charles 21
Alfred 18
Fred 18
Herbert 18
Walter 17
Benjamin 16
Robert 16
Ernest 14
Frank 14
Tom 14
Albert 13
Samuel 12
Jonathan 10
David 9
Edward 9
Matthew 8
Sam 8
Ben 7
Joe 7
Luke 7
Mark 7
Richard 7
Wm. 7
Jonas 6
Wilfred 6
Allen 5
Amos 5
Frederick 5
Willie 5
Abel 4
Enoch 4
Francis 4
Jno. 4
Joshua 4
Edmund 3
Edwin 3
Ellis 3
Fred. 3
Lewis 3
Luther 3
Thos. 3

FAQ

Roebuck surname: questions and answers

How common was the Roebuck surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,028 people were recorded with the Roebuck surname. That placed it at #2,170 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Roebuck surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,595 in 2016. That gives Roebuck a modern rank of #2,561.

What does the Roebuck surname mean?

An English occupational surname referring to a male roe deer or someone who hunted them.

What does the Roebuck map show?

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