NameCensus.

UK surname

Roughton

An English locational surname derived from the town of Roughton in Norfolk, England.

In the 1881 census there were 515 people recorded with the Roughton surname, ranking it #6,619 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 550, ranked #9,280, down from #6,619 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, London parishes and Northampton St Giles, Northampton St Sepulchre, Northampton Priory. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Kettering, Fenland and Charnwood.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Roughton is 824 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 6.8%.

1881 census count

515

Ranked #6,619

Modern count

550

2016, ranked #9,280

Peak year

1911

824 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Roughton had 515 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,619 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 550 in 2016, ranked #9,280.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 824 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Roughton surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Roughton surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Roughton 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 307 #7,502
1861 historical 424 #6,061
1881 historical 515 #6,619
1891 historical 624 #6,199
1901 historical 729 #6,071
1911 historical 824 #5,351
1997 modern 630 #7,862
1998 modern 674 #7,699
1999 modern 671 #7,757
2000 modern 649 #7,942
2001 modern 623 #8,048
2002 modern 637 #8,090
2003 modern 605 #8,270
2004 modern 591 #8,442
2005 modern 567 #8,608
2006 modern 557 #8,729
2007 modern 559 #8,789
2008 modern 561 #8,822
2009 modern 566 #8,969
2010 modern 593 #8,862
2011 modern 576 #8,955
2012 modern 584 #8,773
2013 modern 589 #8,855
2014 modern 585 #8,966
2015 modern 568 #9,068
2016 modern 550 #9,280

Geography

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Where Roughtons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, London parishes, Northampton St Giles, Northampton St Sepulchre, Northampton Priory, Doddington and Kettering. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Kettering, Fenland, Charnwood, East Lindsey and Leeds. 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 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Northampton St Giles, Northampton St Sepulchre, Northampton Priory Northamptonshire
4 Doddington Cambridgeshire
5 Kettering Northamptonshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Kettering 002 Kettering
2 Fenland 003 Fenland
3 Charnwood 009 Charnwood
4 East Lindsey 017 East Lindsey
5 Leeds 103 Leeds

Forenames

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First names often paired with Roughton

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Roughton

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

Rural Amenity

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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, Roughton 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

Roughton 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

Roughton falls in decile 9 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Roughton

The surname Roughton has its origins in England, specifically in the county of Norfolk. It is believed to have emerged in the late 12th or early 13th century as a locational name, derived from the village of Roughton, located near the town of Cromer.

The earliest known written record of the name Roughton dates back to the 13th century, appearing in the Rotuli Hundredorum, a collection of historical records compiled during the reign of King Edward I. In these records, the name is spelled as 'Roughton' and 'Rughton'.

Roughton is thought to be derived from the Old English words 'ruh' and 'tun', which together mean 'rough or rugged village'. This likely refers to the rugged terrain or geographical features of the area where the village was established.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Roughton was John de Roughton, who was mentioned in the Norfolk Feet of Fines (legal records) in the year 1312. Another notable figure was William Roughton, a prominent landowner in Norfolk during the 15th century.

In the 16th century, the Roughton family was well-established in the village of Roughton and surrounding areas. Thomas Roughton (1505-1572) was a respected landowner and member of the local gentry, while his son, Robert Roughton (1542-1611), served as a magistrate and played an active role in local affairs.

During the 17th century, the name Roughton appeared in various historical records, including the parish registers of Norfolk. One notable individual from this period was John Roughton (1623-1682), a Puritan minister who served as the vicar of St. Mary's Church in Roughton.

In the 18th and 19th centuries, several members of the Roughton family made notable contributions in various fields. Robert Roughton (1735-1810) was a renowned architect who designed several notable buildings in Norfolk, while Thomas Roughton (1792-1872) was a successful merchant and philanthropist in the city of Norwich.

Throughout its history, the surname Roughton has maintained a strong presence in the county of Norfolk, particularly in the village from which it originated. While not a widespread name, it has been carried by individuals of various professions and social standings, contributing to the rich tapestry of local history and culture.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Roughton families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Roughton 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. Northamptonshire leads with 121 Roughtons recorded in 1881 and an index of 25.91x.

County Total Index
Northamptonshire 121 25.91x
Cambridgeshire 48 15.26x
Yorkshire 45 0.91x
Lincolnshire 41 5.16x
Middlesex 38 0.77x
Nottinghamshire 38 5.68x
Derbyshire 25 3.22x
Leicestershire 25 4.54x
Surrey 25 1.03x
Staffordshire 21 1.25x
Warwickshire 19 1.52x
Cheshire 17 1.55x
Lancashire 9 0.15x
Kent 7 0.41x
Norfolk 7 0.92x
Shropshire 6 1.40x
Essex 3 0.31x
Hertfordshire 3 0.88x
Huntingdonshire 2 2.03x
Northumberland 2 0.27x
Sussex 2 0.24x
Dorset 1 0.31x
Durham 1 0.07x
Royal Navy 1 1.69x
Suffolk 1 0.17x
Wiltshire 1 0.23x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kettering in Northamptonshire leads with 37 Roughtons recorded in 1881 and an index of 195.87x.

Place Total Index
Kettering 37 195.87x
Wisbech St Peter 25 158.53x
Alfreton 18 76.21x
Cheadle 16 76.45x
March 13 123.46x
Southcoates 12 43.94x
Aston 11 3.19x
Oundle 11 210.73x
Ashby De La Zouch 10 78.37x
Friskney 10 396.83x
Hammersmith London 10 8.18x
Hugglescote 10 123.46x
Northampton St Sepulchre 10 42.09x
Nottingham St Mary 10 5.78x
Holy Trinity 9 7.61x
Isham 9 1384.62x
Northampton Priory St 9 32.12x
Coventry Holy Trinity 8 21.40x
Kingswinford 8 13.15x
Marske In Guisbrough 8 91.53x
Camberwell 7 2.21x
Corby 7 542.64x
Lambeth 7 1.62x
Radford 7 20.59x
Beeston 6 78.02x
Bettws 6 645.16x
Chatteris 6 74.81x
Melbourne 6 112.99x
Nottingham St Nicholas 6 65.86x
Rawmarsh 6 34.52x
St Pancras London 6 1.50x
Thurlby Obthorpe 6 566.04x
Wellingborough 6 25.55x
Fulham London 5 6.94x
Newcastle Under Lyme 5 16.86x
St Marylebone London 5 1.89x
Toxteth Park 5 2.51x
Bow London 4 6.33x
Burton Upon Trent 4 10.20x
Coningsby 4 175.44x
Denford 4 470.59x
Finedon 4 97.80x
Newington 4 2.18x
Peterborough 4 11.83x
Ringstead 4 246.91x
St Swithin Lincoln 4 32.05x
Walsoken 4 87.15x
East Barnet 3 44.18x
Frensham 3 84.51x
Islington London 3 0.62x
Louth 3 16.49x
Newington 3 22.14x
Northampton St Peter 3 105.63x
Tamworth 3 33.48x
Whaplode 3 110.70x
Whitwick 3 42.86x
Wood Ditton 3 114.07x
Wortley In Bramley 3 7.70x
Basford 2 6.48x
Battersea 2 1.09x
Bramcote 2 156.25x
Byker 2 5.48x
Dagenham 2 34.31x
Deal 2 13.84x
Grantham 2 19.32x
Great Harrowden 2 769.23x
Langar 2 277.78x
Liverpool 2 0.56x
Northampton St Giles 2 11.24x
Piddington 2 232.56x
Ramsgate 2 7.23x
Rochester St Margaret 2 11.20x
Sculcoates 2 2.56x
Spalding 2 12.69x
St George Hanover 2 3.09x
St Peterat Gowts Lincoln 2 17.91x
Streatham 2 5.43x
Terrington St Clement 2 57.97x
Bishopwearmouth 1 0.79x
Eastbourne 1 2.60x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 32
John 27
Charles 15
Henry 14
Samuel 13
James 12
Thomas 12
Arthur 11
George 11
Joseph 11
Frederick 8
Robert 7
Walter 7
Alfred 6
Edward 4
Harry 4
Albert 3
Edwin 3
Frank 3
Francis 2
Fredrick 2
Geo. 2
Herbert 2
Horace 2
Josiah 2
Lewis 2
Willie 2
Benjamin 1
Christopher 1
David 1
Earnest 1
Ephraim 1
Ernest 1
Fanny 1
Fredk. 1
Geo.W. 1
Gervis 1
Henary 1
Hy. 1
Isaac 1
Jeremiah 1
Jervis 1
Jn.Wm. 1
Jno.Wm. 1
Kirkman 1
La. 1
Lemuel 1
Richard 1
Stephen 1
Wm.O. 1

FAQ

Roughton surname: questions and answers

How common was the Roughton surname in 1881?

In 1881, 515 people were recorded with the Roughton surname. That placed it at #6,619 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Roughton surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 550 in 2016. That gives Roughton a modern rank of #9,280.

What does the Roughton surname mean?

An English locational surname derived from the town of Roughton in Norfolk, England.

What does the Roughton map show?

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