UK surname
A locational or topographic surname derived from an Old English word meaning a rootstock or root.
In the 1881 census there were 57 people recorded with the Roote surname, ranking it #25,575 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 57, ranked #34,511, down from #25,575 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Heston, Boreham and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Roote is 114 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 0.0%.
1881 census count
57
Ranked #25,575
Modern count
57
2016, ranked #34,511
Peak year
1911
114 bearers
Map years
3
1891 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Roote surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Roote surname density by area, 1911 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 37 | #26,673 |
| 1861 | historical | 50 | #27,636 |
| 1881 | historical | 57 | #25,575 |
| 1891 | historical | 111 | #22,421 |
| 1901 | historical | 110 | #21,604 |
| 1911 | historical | 114 | #21,064 |
| 1997 | modern | 60 | #31,629 |
| 1998 | modern | 62 | #31,735 |
| 1999 | modern | 58 | #32,268 |
| 2000 | modern | 65 | #31,641 |
| 2001 | modern | 57 | #32,275 |
| 2002 | modern | 61 | #32,286 |
| 2003 | modern | 58 | #32,619 |
| 2004 | modern | 51 | #33,478 |
| 2005 | modern | 49 | #33,859 |
| 2006 | modern | 49 | #34,152 |
| 2007 | modern | 50 | #34,347 |
| 2008 | modern | 51 | #34,439 |
| 2009 | modern | 51 | #34,612 |
| 2010 | modern | 57 | #34,421 |
| 2011 | modern | 55 | #34,502 |
| 2012 | modern | 56 | #34,510 |
| 2013 | modern | 54 | #34,666 |
| 2014 | modern | 56 | #34,601 |
| 2015 | modern | 56 | #34,571 |
| 2016 | modern | 57 | #34,511 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Heston, Boreham, London parishes, Soham and Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Heston | Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts) |
| 2 | Boreham | Essex |
| 3 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 4 | Soham | Cambridgeshire |
| 5 | Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars | Leicestershire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Roote surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Roote, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Roote surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Roote household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Roote is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Roote is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Roote, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname ROOTE originates from England, where it first appeared in the late 12th century. It is derived from the Old English word 'rot', meaning a root or stem of a plant. This suggests that the name may have been initially given to someone who lived near a prominent tree or plant.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the ROOTE surname can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1195, which mentions a William Roote. The name is also present in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1273, listing a Robert Roote.
During the medieval period, the surname ROOTE was predominantly found in the counties of Yorkshire, Cambridgeshire, and Norfolk. It is likely that the name originated in one of these regions and spread from there.
The ROOTE surname has also been linked to various place names in England, such as Root Hill in Lincolnshire and Root Farm in Worcestershire. These locations may have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the name over time.
Notable individuals with the surname ROOTE include:
1. Philip Roote (c. 1592 - 1668), an English clergyman and academic who served as the President of Magdalen College, Oxford.
2. Thomas Roote (1608 - 1668), an English lawyer and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Tamworth during the English Civil War.
3. Etheldreda Roote (1635 - 1692), an English Puritan writer and religious leader who authored several works on spiritual subjects.
4. John Roote (1722 - 1804), a British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the American Revolutionary War.
5. William Roote (1784 - 1859), an English architect and surveyor who designed several notable buildings in London and the surrounding areas.
While the ROOTE surname has ancient roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and immigration. However, its origins can be traced back to the early medieval period in the English counties mentioned above.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Roote surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 19 Rootes recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.61x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 19 | 3.61x |
| Essex | 8 | 7.69x |
| Cambridgeshire | 7 | 20.98x |
| Hampshire | 6 | 5.56x |
| Surrey | 4 | 1.56x |
| Derbyshire | 3 | 3.64x |
| Yorkshire | 2 | 0.38x |
| Cumberland | 1 | 2.21x |
| Devon | 1 | 0.91x |
| Durham | 1 | 0.64x |
| Sussex | 1 | 1.13x |
| Warwickshire | 1 | 0.75x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Heston in Middlesex leads with 8 Rootes recorded in 1881 and an index of 457.14x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Heston | 8 | 457.14x |
| Soham | 7 | 972.22x |
| St Martin In Fields | 6 | 190.48x |
| West Ham | 5 | 21.78x |
| Bursledon | 4 | 3333.33x |
| Lambeth | 4 | 8.71x |
| St Giles In Fields | 4 | 219.78x |
| Dronfield | 3 | 283.02x |
| Rawcliffe In Goole | 2 | 666.67x |
| Romford | 2 | 121.95x |
| St Peter Cheesehill | 2 | 1333.33x |
| Aston | 1 | 2.73x |
| Felstead | 1 | 277.78x |
| Harrington | 1 | 181.82x |
| Paignton | 1 | 120.48x |
| Rottingdean | 1 | 333.33x |
| St Marylebone London | 1 | 3.56x |
| Stranton | 1 | 18.94x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Roote surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Roote surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Roote households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 9 |
| Dividends | 3 |
| Dressmaker | 2 |
| Antiquity Shop | 1 |
| Baker Employing 1 Man | 1 |
| Chelsea Pensioner | 1 |
| Clerk To Shippers | 1 |
| Coachmans Wife | 1 |
| Dom Servant | 1 |
| Groom Serv | 1 |
| Horsekeeper | 1 |
| Housekeeper (Dom) | 1 |
| Laborer | 1 |
| Market Gardener (N D) | 1 |
| Nurse (Domestic Serv.) | 1 |
| Plater (Artizan) | 1 |
| Police Constable | 1 |
| Salesman French Warehouse | 1 |
| Seaman | 1 |
| Surgeon M.D. M.R.C.P. S.LA. | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 57 people were recorded with the Roote surname. That placed it at #25,575 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 57 in 2016. That gives Roote a modern rank of #34,511.
A locational or topographic surname derived from an Old English word meaning a rootstock or root.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Roote bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.