NameCensus.

UK surname

Rorison

A Scottish surname originating as a variant of the name Robertson.

In the 1881 census there were 83 people recorded with the Rorison surname, ranking it #21,808 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 193, ranked #20,039, up from #21,808 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Port Glasgow, New Cumnock and Greenock. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Earlston and Hurlford Rural, Barassie and Inverness West Rural.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Rorison is 200 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 132.5%.

1881 census count

83

Ranked #21,808

Modern count

193

2016, ranked #20,039

Peak year

2014

200 bearers

Map years

5

1891 to 2016

Key insights

  • Rorison had 83 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #21,808 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 193 in 2016, ranked #20,039.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 142 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Rorison surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Rorison surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Rorison 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 47 #24,810
1861 historical 68 #25,196
1881 historical 83 #21,808
1891 historical 106 #23,105
1901 historical 142 #18,633
1911 historical 40 #28,913
1997 modern 176 #19,091
1998 modern 189 #18,737
1999 modern 193 #18,642
2000 modern 197 #18,384
2001 modern 194 #18,287
2002 modern 191 #18,817
2003 modern 178 #19,489
2004 modern 191 #18,723
2005 modern 192 #18,640
2006 modern 191 #18,825
2007 modern 188 #19,204
2008 modern 186 #19,524
2009 modern 188 #19,797
2010 modern 193 #19,880
2011 modern 188 #20,067
2012 modern 186 #20,141
2013 modern 187 #20,436
2014 modern 200 #19,713
2015 modern 192 #20,138
2016 modern 193 #20,039

Geography

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Where Rorisons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Port Glasgow, New Cumnock, Greenock, Glasgow and Dalton-in-Furness. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Earlston and Hurlford Rural, Barassie, Inverness West Rural, Upper Nithsdale and Troon. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Port Glasgow Renfrew
2 New Cumnock Ayr
3 Greenock Renfrew
4 Glasgow Lanark
5 Dalton-in-Furness Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Earlston and Hurlford Rural East Ayrshire
2 Barassie South Ayrshire
3 Inverness West Rural Highland
4 Upper Nithsdale Dumfries and Galloway
5 Troon South Ayrshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Rorison

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Rorison

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

Legacy Communities

Group

Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities

Nationally, the Rorison surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Rorison household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Households in these areas often include divorced or separated parents and commonly include children and young adults. The age structure is heavily skewed towards the most advanced age groups. Individuals identifying as members of ethnic minorities are not present in large numbers. Flats predominate, with some terraced, semi-detached, and detached units. Multiple car ownership is low, and housing is predominantly in the private and social rented sectors. Employment is less skewed towards traditional routine industrial occupations. Levels of educational attainment are generally low. The Group occurs principally in the Central Lowlands of Scotland and other Scottish towns.

Wider pattern

These neighbourhoods characteristically comprise pockets of flats that are scattered across the UK, particularly in towns that retain or have legacies of heavy industry or are in more remote seaside locations. Employed residents of these neighbourhoods work mainly in low-skilled occupations. Residents typically have limited educational qualifications. Unemployment is above average. Some residents live in overcrowded housing within the social rented sector and experience long-term disability. All adult age groups are represented, although there is an overall age bias towards elderly people in general and the very old in particular. Individuals identifying as belonging to ethnic minorities or Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups are uncommon.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Rorison is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Rorison is most concentrated in decile 2 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Rorison falls in decile 4 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Rorison

The surname Rorison is of Scottish origin, derived from the ancient Gaelic name 'Roraston' or 'Roriston'. It is believed to have originated in the Scottish Highlands during the 12th century. The name is thought to have evolved from the Gaelic words 'ror' meaning 'great' and 'ston' meaning 'estate' or 'land'.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Rorison can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a collection of homage rolls from Scottish nobles who pledged allegiance to King Edward I of England. The name appears as 'Roriston', with the entry referring to a landowner from the Highlands region.

The Rorison surname is closely associated with the historic town of Dingwall in Ross and Cromarty, where a prominent family of that name held significant land and influence during the 15th and 16th centuries. A notable member of this family was Sir William Rorison (c. 1480 - 1558), who served as the Provost of Dingwall and played a crucial role in the town's governance.

Another notable figure bearing the Rorison name was James Rorison (1570 - 1635), a Scottish clergyman and scholar who served as the Rector of the University of Edinburgh. He was renowned for his contributions to theological studies and his leadership within the Church of Scotland.

In the 17th century, the Rorison surname gained prominence in the Scottish Borders region, particularly in the towns of Jedburgh and Hawick. One noteworthy individual from this era was Robert Rorison (1610 - 1678), a respected landowner and merchant who played a significant role in the local economy.

The 18th century saw the emergence of a prominent Rorison family in the Orkney Islands. This branch of the family produced several influential figures, including John Rorison (1725 - 1793), a successful trader and ship owner who amassed considerable wealth and influence in the region.

As the Rorison surname spread throughout Scotland and beyond, it underwent various spelling variations, such as Roriston, Rorieston, and Roryson. These variations were often influenced by regional dialects and transcription errors in historical records.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Rorison families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Rorison 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. Ayrshire leads with 25 Rorisons recorded in 1881 and an index of 41.27x.

County Total Index
Ayrshire 25 41.27x
Renfrewshire 21 33.48x
Lanarkshire 16 6.11x
Dumfriesshire 8 44.74x
Angus 3 4.00x
Caithness 3 27.08x
Lancashire 3 0.31x
Argyllshire 2 8.88x
Kent 1 0.36x
Somerset 1 0.77x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. New Cumnock in Ayrshire leads with 19 Rorisons recorded in 1881 and an index of 1809.52x.

Place Total Index
New Cumnock 19 1809.52x
Barony 13 19.62x
Port Glasgow 9 297.03x
Hutton 7 3043.48x
Paisley High Church 6 120.24x
West Greenock 6 53.29x
Kilmaurs 3 291.26x
Ochiltree 3 714.29x
Rescobie 3 1578.95x
Thurso 3 173.41x
Toxteth Park 3 9.22x
Govan 2 3.09x
Lochgoilhead 2 1333.33x
Dover St Mary Virgin 1 37.45x
Glasgow 1 2.15x
Penpont 1 303.03x
Wincanton 1 149.25x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Florence 1
Frances 1
Janet 1
Vernona 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 1

Top occupations

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 Rorison households.

FAQ

Rorison surname: questions and answers

How common was the Rorison surname in 1881?

In 1881, 83 people were recorded with the Rorison surname. That placed it at #21,808 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Rorison surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 193 in 2016. That gives Rorison a modern rank of #20,039.

What does the Rorison surname mean?

A Scottish surname originating as a variant of the name Robertson.

What does the Rorison map show?

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