NameCensus.

UK surname

Rothery

Originally referring to someone who lived in an area overgrown with brushwood.

In the 1881 census there were 1,105 people recorded with the Rothery surname, ranking it #3,598 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,558, ranked #3,975, down from #3,598 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St Bees, Halifax and Birstall. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Copeland, Calderdale and County Durham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Rothery is 1,640 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 41.0%.

1881 census count

1,105

Ranked #3,598

Modern count

1,558

2016, ranked #3,975

Peak year

2000

1,640 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Rothery had 1,105 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,598 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,558 in 2016, ranked #3,975.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,525 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Rothery surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Rothery surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Rothery 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 558 #4,543
1861 historical 654 #4,101
1881 historical 1,105 #3,598
1891 historical 1,180 #3,633
1901 historical 1,350 #3,715
1911 historical 1,525 #3,179
1997 modern 1,545 #3,813
1998 modern 1,631 #3,767
1999 modern 1,626 #3,811
2000 modern 1,640 #3,760
2001 modern 1,576 #3,830
2002 modern 1,601 #3,849
2003 modern 1,543 #3,900
2004 modern 1,557 #3,870
2005 modern 1,504 #3,951
2006 modern 1,506 #3,951
2007 modern 1,520 #3,949
2008 modern 1,551 #3,900
2009 modern 1,621 #3,839
2010 modern 1,632 #3,889
2011 modern 1,601 #3,908
2012 modern 1,579 #3,899
2013 modern 1,607 #3,895
2014 modern 1,610 #3,918
2015 modern 1,588 #3,928
2016 modern 1,558 #3,975

Geography

Back to top

Where Rotherys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St Bees, Halifax, Birstall, Batley and Huddersfield. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Copeland, Calderdale, County Durham and Allerdale. 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 St Bees Cumberland
2 Halifax Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Birstall Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Batley Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Huddersfield Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Copeland 003 Copeland
2 Copeland 008 Copeland
3 Calderdale 018 Calderdale
4 County Durham 053 County Durham
5 Allerdale 009 Allerdale

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Rothery

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Rothery

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Young Families in Industrial Towns

Nationally, the Rothery surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Rothery household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Rothery 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

Rothery 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

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

Meaning and origin of Rothery

The surname Rothery is of English origin, tracing its roots back to the medieval period. It is believed to have originated as a locational name, derived from a place called Rothery or a similar spelling variation.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire from 1301, which mentions a John de Rothery. This suggests that the name may have originated in Yorkshire or a neighboring region.

The name Rothery is thought to be derived from the Old English words "rother," meaning cattle or oxen, and "ey," meaning an island or a place near water. This indicates that the name may have initially referred to a place where cattle were kept or grazed, possibly an island or a location near a river or stream.

In the Domesday Book of 1086, a survey of landholdings commissioned by William the Conqueror, there are several entries that may be related to the name Rothery, such as "Roderi" and "Roderic," which could be variations of the same name or place.

Among the notable historical figures bearing the surname Rothery, one can mention:

1. Sir John Rothery (1529-1599), an English lawyer and judge who served as a Justice of the King's Bench during the reign of Elizabeth I.

2. Thomas Rothery (1670-1745), an English clergyman and author who wrote several religious works, including "A Treatise on the Lord's Supper."

3. William Rothery (1763-1832), a British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars and was present at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805.

4. Eleanor Rothery (1882-1961), a British artist and illustrator known for her watercolor paintings and book illustrations, particularly for children's books.

5. James Rothery (1907-1987), a British actor and playwright who appeared in numerous films and television shows, including roles in "The Prisoner" and "Doctor Who."

The name Rothery has also been linked to various place names in England, such as Rothery Town in Derbyshire, Rothery Lane in Hertfordshire, and Rothery Hill in Cheshire, further reinforcing its locational origins.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Rothery families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Rothery 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 688 Rotherys recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.45x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 688 6.45x
Cumberland 177 19.09x
Lancashire 53 0.41x
Middlesex 36 0.33x
Surrey 34 0.65x
Durham 26 0.81x
Cheshire 24 1.01x
Westmorland 21 8.87x
Devon 15 0.67x
Somerset 7 0.40x
Hampshire 5 0.23x
Ayrshire 3 0.37x
Gloucestershire 3 0.14x
Northumberland 3 0.19x
Oxfordshire 3 0.45x
Warwickshire 2 0.07x
Bedfordshire 1 0.18x
Brecknockshire 1 0.46x
Glamorgan 1 0.05x
Kent 1 0.03x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Leeds in Yorkshire leads with 72 Rotherys recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.95x.

Place Total Index
Leeds 72 11.95x
Halifax 63 40.21x
Golcar 42 148.83x
Preston Quarter 39 150.12x
Batley 38 37.47x
Northowram 37 49.45x
Ovenden 36 75.79x
Mirfield 35 59.74x
Crigglestone 32 311.28x
Liversedge 32 67.35x
Skircoat 28 66.54x
Heckmondwike 27 78.67x
Alverthorpe Cum Thornes 22 56.76x
Longwood 21 122.09x
Stockley 21 517.24x
Egremont 20 90.46x
Horbury 20 107.12x
Wombwell 19 61.05x
Wakefield 18 21.97x
Liverpool 16 2.06x
Cleator 15 38.87x
Great Clifton 15 417.83x
Camberwell 13 1.89x
Hackney London 13 2.15x
Gomersal 11 22.08x
Beckermet St Bridget 10 409.84x
Crosscanonby 10 32.62x
Harrington 10 89.37x
Southowram 10 30.70x
Broughton In Salford 9 7.70x
Elland Cum Greetland 9 18.72x
Newington 9 2.26x
Whitehaven 9 18.21x
Chapel Allerton 8 50.09x
Cleckheaton 8 20.35x
Crofton 8 303.03x
Dewsbury 8 7.31x
Huddersfield 8 5.15x
Nether Hallam 8 5.54x
Patterdale 8 305.34x
St Budeaux 8 114.61x
St Mary 8 112.20x
Beckermet St John 7 303.03x
Parton 7 127.97x
Southwark St George Martyr 7 3.23x
Walcot 7 7.58x
Bilton Cum Harrogate 6 16.44x
Hunslet 6 3.61x
Liscard 6 14.01x
St Bees 6 139.86x
Bow London 5 3.65x
Everton 5 1.23x
Manchester 5 0.87x
Paddington London 5 1.26x
Poulton Cum Seacombe 5 18.29x
Rydal Loughrigg 5 271.74x
Stockport 5 4.09x
Ashton Under Lyne 4 1.43x
Conisbrough 4 39.96x
Embleton 4 312.50x
Islington London 4 0.38x
Lamplugh 4 86.02x
Ormside 4 512.82x
Thornhill 4 12.85x
Usworth 4 23.52x
Almondbury 3 5.81x
Banbury 3 22.52x
East Stonehouse 3 6.79x
Holme St Cuthbert 3 109.09x
Hyde 3 4.28x
Irvine 3 13.40x
Lockwood 3 7.81x
Martindale 3 576.92x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 3 3.13x
North Meols 3 2.40x
Overton 3 56.82x
Sandwith 3 218.98x
West Derby 3 0.80x
Workington 3 5.65x
Ossett Cum Gawthorpe 2 5.25x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 70
William 59
Joseph 45
Thomas 32
Henry 30
George 29
James 25
Charles 15
Arthur 14
Harry 14
Alfred 13
Walter 10
Fred 9
Herbert 9
David 8
Albert 7
Robert 7
Willie 7
Frederick 6
Benjamin 5
Isaac 5
Clement 4
Edward 4
Edwin 4
Tom 4
Abraham 3
Ben 3
Ernest 3
Frank 3
Joe 3
Mossop 3
Richard 3
Sam 3
Samuel 3
Thos. 3
Aaron 2
Christopher 2
Daniel 2
Eli 2
Fredrick 2
Geo.W. 2
Isacc 2
Lewis 2
Luke 2
Saml. 2
Wilfred 2
Wm. 2
Wright 2
Edwerd 1
Elijah 1

FAQ

Rothery surname: questions and answers

How common was the Rothery surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,105 people were recorded with the Rothery surname. That placed it at #3,598 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Rothery surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,558 in 2016. That gives Rothery a modern rank of #3,975.

What does the Rothery surname mean?

Originally referring to someone who lived in an area overgrown with brushwood.

What does the Rothery map show?

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