NameCensus.

UK surname

Rosborough

A locational surname derived from a place name in Yorkshire, England.

In the 1881 census there were 6 people recorded with the Rosborough surname, ranking it #32,926 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 116, ranked #28,197, up from #32,926 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bedford, Calderdale and Richmond upon Thames.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Rosborough is 131 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 1833.3%.

1881 census count

6

Ranked #32,926

Modern count

116

2016, ranked #28,197

Peak year

2014

131 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Rosborough had 6 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #32,926 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 116 in 2016, ranked #28,197.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 35 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Rosborough surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Rosborough surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Rosborough 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 8 #31,867
1861 historical 35 #29,571
1881 historical 6 #32,926
1891 historical 24 #32,320
1901 historical 15 #32,383
1911 historical 25 #30,654
1997 modern 97 #27,342
1998 modern 106 #26,689
1999 modern 114 #25,766
2000 modern 120 #24,950
2001 modern 113 #25,489
2002 modern 111 #26,291
2003 modern 111 #26,091
2004 modern 112 #26,159
2005 modern 117 #25,433
2006 modern 119 #25,413
2007 modern 120 #25,606
2008 modern 122 #25,638
2009 modern 124 #25,957
2010 modern 119 #27,250
2011 modern 111 #28,294
2012 modern 116 #27,550
2013 modern 116 #27,992
2014 modern 131 #26,089
2015 modern 123 #27,088
2016 modern 116 #28,197

Geography

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Where Rosboroughs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bedford, Calderdale, Richmond upon Thames and East Hertfordshire. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bedford 014 Bedford
2 Calderdale 027 Calderdale
3 Richmond upon Thames 023 Richmond upon Thames
4 Bedford 016 Bedford
5 East Hertfordshire 003 East Hertfordshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Rosborough

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Rosborough

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Rosborough surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Rosborough household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Rosborough is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Rosborough is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Rosborough falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Rosborough

The surname Rosborough is believed to have originated in Scotland, with the earliest known records dating back to the 16th century. It is thought to be a variant of the Scottish surname Rossborough, which itself is derived from a place name that incorporates the elements "ross," meaning a promontory or headland, and "burgh," meaning a fortified town or castle.

One of the earliest known references to the name Rosborough can be found in the Scottish Church Records from the Parish of Kilwinning, Ayrshire, where a certain Robert Rosborough was recorded as having been baptized in 1612. Additional early records show the name appearing in various spellings, such as Rossborough, Rossburrow, and Rossboro, reflecting the fluid nature of surname spellings in those times.

In the 17th century, the name Rosborough appears to have been particularly concentrated in the regions of Ayrshire, Lanarkshire, and Renfrewshire, with several families bearing the name recorded in parish registers and other local records from those areas. One notable individual from this period was John Rosborough, a merchant and burgess of Glasgow, who was born around 1650 and played an active role in the city's affairs.

As the centuries progressed, the Rosborough name continued to spread across Scotland and beyond, with some families eventually settling in other parts of the British Isles and, later, in various parts of the world as a result of emigration. In the 19th century, for instance, a certain James Rosborough (1812-1887) was a prominent Scottish-born businessman and philanthropist who made his fortune in the cotton trade in Manchester, England.

Other notable individuals bearing the surname Rosborough throughout history include Robert Rosborough (1808-1854), a Scottish-born poet and journalist who lived and worked in Canada; William Rosborough (1829-1908), an Irish-born politician and businessman who served as a member of the New Zealand Parliament; and David Rosborough (1914-1972), a Scottish-born artist and illustrator best known for his work in children's books.

While the Rosborough surname may have had a relatively modest presence compared to some other Scottish surnames, its history and evolution reflect the rich tapestry of Scotland's cultural heritage and the diverse journeys undertaken by families over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Rosborough families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Rosborough 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. Northumberland leads with 4 Rosboroughs recorded in 1881 and an index of 46.03x.

County Total Index
Northumberland 4 46.03x
Buckinghamshire 1 28.33x
Sussex 1 10.15x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Prudhoe in Northumberland leads with 4 Rosboroughs recorded in 1881 and an index of 6666.67x.

Place Total Index
Prudhoe 4 6666.67x
Akeley 1 10000.00x
Brighton 1 50.25x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Frances 1
Hannah 1
Mary 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Charles 1
John 1
Thomas 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 Rosborough households.

FAQ

Rosborough surname: questions and answers

How common was the Rosborough surname in 1881?

In 1881, 6 people were recorded with the Rosborough surname. That placed it at #32,926 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Rosborough surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 116 in 2016. That gives Rosborough a modern rank of #28,197.

What does the Rosborough surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place name in Yorkshire, England.

What does the Rosborough map show?

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