NameCensus.

UK surname

Rouse

An English occupational surname for a maker or seller of ropes and nets, or a nickname for an agile person.

In the 1881 census there were 4,295 people recorded with the Rouse surname, ranking it #1,041 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 5,073, ranked #1,338, down from #1,041 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St Pancras and Lambeth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Tendring, Broadland and Salford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Rouse is 5,485 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 18.1%.

1881 census count

4,295

Ranked #1,041

Modern count

5,073

2016, ranked #1,338

Peak year

1999

5,485 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Rouse had 4,295 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,041 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 5,073 in 2016, ranked #1,338.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 5,349 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Rouse surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Rouse surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Rouse 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 2,775 #1,053
1861 historical 2,483 #1,177
1881 historical 4,295 #1,041
1891 historical 4,186 #1,149
1901 historical 4,918 #1,149
1911 historical 5,349 #977
1997 modern 5,268 #1,238
1998 modern 5,434 #1,248
1999 modern 5,485 #1,249
2000 modern 5,394 #1,264
2001 modern 5,281 #1,259
2002 modern 5,309 #1,282
2003 modern 5,173 #1,281
2004 modern 5,152 #1,288
2005 modern 5,050 #1,296
2006 modern 5,064 #1,291
2007 modern 5,057 #1,305
2008 modern 5,117 #1,300
2009 modern 5,181 #1,313
2010 modern 5,300 #1,313
2011 modern 5,261 #1,303
2012 modern 5,133 #1,309
2013 modern 5,210 #1,314
2014 modern 5,186 #1,328
2015 modern 5,111 #1,333
2016 modern 5,073 #1,338

Geography

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Where Rouses are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St Pancras, Lambeth and St Marylebone. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Tendring, Broadland, Salford, North East Lincolnshire and Fenland. 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 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 St Pancras London (North Districts)
4 Lambeth London (South Districts)
5 St Marylebone London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Tendring 008 Tendring
2 Broadland 001 Broadland
3 Salford 004 Salford
4 North East Lincolnshire 016 North East Lincolnshire
5 Fenland 003 Fenland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Rouse

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Rouse

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Rouse, 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 Rouse surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Rouse 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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Rouse 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

Rouse 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

Rouse falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Rouse

The surname ROUSE is of English origin and dates back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Old French word "rous" meaning red or ruddy, likely referring to someone with a reddish complexion or hair color. The name was initially found in areas of Oxfordshire and Northamptonshire.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire from 1195, which mentions a Roger Rouse. The Hundred Rolls of 1273 also lists a Thomas le Rous from Oxfordshire. This spelling variation, using "le" before the surname, was common during the medieval period.

The surname is also mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a survey of landowners commissioned by William the Conqueror. The book includes references to individuals with similar names such as "Radulfus Russus" and "Hugo Russatus."

During the 13th century, the name was found in various locations across England, including the counties of Berkshire, Gloucestershire, and Wiltshire. Several place names, such as Rouse Lench in Worcestershire and Rouse Hill in Oxfordshire, are also thought to be derived from this surname.

Notable individuals with the surname ROUSE throughout history include:

1. John Rouse (c. 1420-1491), an English monk and historian who wrote the "Historia Regum Angliae" (History of the Kings of England).

2. Edward Rouse (1619-1677), an English politician and member of the Parliament of England during the English Civil War.

3. Henry Rouse (1744-1800), a British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the American Revolutionary War and the French Revolutionary Wars.

4. James Rouse (1914-1996), an American entrepreneur and pioneer of the modern shopping mall concept, known for developing projects like Columbia, Maryland.

5. John Rouse (1923-2015), an American philosopher and scholar who taught at Yale University and made significant contributions to the study of ancient Greek philosophy.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Rouse families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Rouse 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. Middlesex leads with 673 Rouses recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.61x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 673 1.61x
Suffolk 338 6.62x
Yorkshire 274 0.66x
Surrey 266 1.30x
Warwickshire 257 2.43x
Kent 224 1.57x
Essex 219 2.65x
Lincolnshire 208 3.10x
Worcestershire 206 3.77x
Norfolk 145 2.25x
Lancashire 144 0.29x
Oxfordshire 129 4.99x
Cornwall 114 2.40x
Devon 89 1.02x
Gloucestershire 87 1.06x
Leicestershire 84 1.81x
Staffordshire 84 0.59x
Derbyshire 82 1.25x
Nottinghamshire 75 1.33x
Berkshire 74 2.35x
Hampshire 70 0.82x
Somerset 57 0.85x
Wiltshire 53 1.43x
Sussex 41 0.58x
Durham 40 0.32x
Herefordshire 34 1.98x
Northumberland 33 0.53x
Cambridgeshire 26 0.98x
Glamorgan 25 0.34x
Northamptonshire 25 0.63x
Buckinghamshire 22 0.87x
Dunbartonshire 12 1.07x
Rutland 10 3.25x
Hertfordshire 8 0.28x
Brecknockshire 7 0.84x
Cheshire 7 0.08x
Bedfordshire 6 0.28x
Denbighshire 6 0.38x
Pembrokeshire 5 0.38x
Shropshire 5 0.14x
Huntingdonshire 4 0.48x
Carmarthenshire 3 0.17x
Cumberland 3 0.08x
Kirkcudbrightshire 3 0.49x
Midlothian 3 0.05x
Royal Navy 3 0.60x
Channel Islands 2 0.16x
Lanarkshire 2 0.01x
Monmouthshire 2 0.07x
Anglesey 1 0.13x
Angus 1 0.03x
Dorset 1 0.04x
Renfrewshire 1 0.03x
Stirlingshire 1 0.06x
Westmorland 1 0.11x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Islington London in Middlesex leads with 60 Rouses recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.48x.

Place Total Index
Islington London 60 1.48x
Lambeth 56 1.53x
St Marylebone London 55 2.46x
St Pancras London 54 1.60x
Great Yarmouth 53 9.93x
Hackney London 47 2.00x
Bowling 35 8.51x
Kensington London 34 1.46x
Newington 33 2.13x
Alderminster 32 453.26x
Bermondsey 32 2.57x
Brightlingsea 32 67.71x
West Ham 30 1.64x
Norwood 29 30.27x
Birmingham 28 0.80x
Leicester St Margaret 27 2.38x
Feckenham 26 41.52x
Paddington London 26 1.69x
Salford 26 1.78x
Exeter St Sidwell 25 12.52x
Southwark St George Martyr 25 2.97x
Hethe 24 446.10x
Rotherhithe 24 4.64x
Portsea 23 1.37x
Aston 22 0.76x
Gorleston 21 16.20x
Blockley 20 64.66x
Clerkenwell London 20 2.02x
Ealing 20 5.34x
Heckmondwike 20 14.98x
Lanlivery 20 100.40x
Lewisham 20 2.62x
Liversedge 20 10.82x
Manthorpe Cum Little 19 37.10x
Matlock 19 21.57x
Shoreditch London 19 1.05x
Stoke Newington London 19 5.82x
Chelsea London 18 1.43x
Clapham 18 3.44x
Nottingham St Mary 18 1.23x
St George Hanover 18 3.29x
Ardleigh 17 74.14x
Hammersmith London 17 1.65x
Henstead 17 220.21x
Litchurch 16 6.06x
Bradford 15 1.49x
Brightside Bierlow 15 1.84x
Bristol St Paul In 15 6.85x
Camberwell 15 0.56x
Kings Norton 15 3.06x
Lyncombe Widcombe 15 8.50x
Souldern 15 223.55x
St Ives 15 16.16x
Batley 14 3.55x
Brighton 14 0.98x
Bury St Edmunds St James 14 10.27x
Deeping St Nicholas 14 71.36x
Woodbridge 14 21.46x
Battersea 13 0.84x
Bethnal Green London 13 0.71x
Bremhill 13 77.89x
Carlton Colville 13 69.44x
Castleton 13 2.62x
Cheltenham 13 2.05x
Leamington Priors 13 5.00x
Minster In Sheppey 13 5.49x
Murston 13 103.01x
Neath 13 8.76x
Romford 13 9.94x
Sittingbourne 13 11.52x
Tredington 13 86.90x
Aylsham 12 31.29x
Bourn 12 22.18x
Deal 12 9.84x
Grantham 12 13.74x
Ilmington 12 105.36x
Mansfield Woodhouse 12 31.94x
South Shoebury 12 36.12x
St George Bloomsbury 12 4.99x
Willesden 12 3.04x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 251
Elizabeth 157
Sarah 144
Ann 84
Eliza 84
Jane 82
Ellen 69
Alice 68
Emma 67
Annie 64
Emily 61
Louisa 53
Hannah 42
Fanny 35
Martha 35
Charlotte 30
Maria 29
Ada 27
Caroline 25
Clara 25
Florence 25
Edith 24
Harriet 24
Anne 22
Rebecca 21
Margaret 20
Sophia 20
Kate 19
Frances 17
Lucy 17
Amelia 16
Catherine 16
Harriett 16
Rose 15
Matilda 13
Susan 13
Agnes 12
Esther 12
Lydia 12
Julia 11
Susannah 11
Amy 9
Gertrude 9
Jessie 9
Anna 8
Elizth. 8
Laura 8
Ruth 8
Flora 7
Minnie 7

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 296
John 223
George 158
James 144
Henry 93
Thomas 86
Charles 77
Joseph 68
Edward 65
Robert 49
Frederick 48
Richard 46
Arthur 42
Walter 41
Alfred 39
Samuel 33
Albert 28
Harry 27
Frank 20
Herbert 18
Ernest 16
Edwin 14
Benjamin 12
Stephen 11
Wm. 11
David 10
Fred 10
Fredrick 10
Willie 7
Alexander 6
Daniel 6
Thos. 6
Archibald 5
Chas. 5
Christopher 5
Geo. 5
Harold 5
Philip 5
Sidney 5
Jonathan 4
Martin 4
Michael 4
Percy 4
Phillip 4
Earnest 3
Francis 3
Frederic 3
Isaac 3
Jacob 3
Saml. 3

FAQ

Rouse surname: questions and answers

How common was the Rouse surname in 1881?

In 1881, 4,295 people were recorded with the Rouse surname. That placed it at #1,041 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Rouse surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 5,073 in 2016. That gives Rouse a modern rank of #1,338.

What does the Rouse surname mean?

An English occupational surname for a maker or seller of ropes and nets, or a nickname for an agile person.

What does the Rouse map show?

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