NameCensus.

UK surname

Rout

A surname derived from Old French "rote," referring to a disorderly retreat or rout in battle.

In the 1881 census there were 472 people recorded with the Rout surname, ranking it #7,076 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 798, ranked #6,931, up from #7,076 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Banham, London parishes and Colchester St Botolph, St Mary at the Walls, St Giles, St Mary Magdalen, Holy Trinity, St Runwald, a. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Norfolk, Suffolk Coastal and King's Lynn and West Norfolk.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Rout is 839 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 69.1%.

1881 census count

472

Ranked #7,076

Modern count

798

2016, ranked #6,931

Peak year

1999

839 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Rout had 472 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,076 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 798 in 2016, ranked #6,931.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 692 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Rout surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Rout surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Rout 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 326 #7,136
1861 historical 305 #8,321
1881 historical 472 #7,076
1891 historical 529 #7,085
1901 historical 669 #6,507
1911 historical 692 #6,137
1997 modern 811 #6,466
1998 modern 837 #6,515
1999 modern 839 #6,552
2000 modern 793 #6,822
2001 modern 760 #6,922
2002 modern 777 #6,940
2003 modern 751 #7,010
2004 modern 762 #6,944
2005 modern 749 #6,964
2006 modern 740 #7,061
2007 modern 733 #7,186
2008 modern 733 #7,238
2009 modern 765 #7,136
2010 modern 784 #7,144
2011 modern 772 #7,149
2012 modern 749 #7,236
2013 modern 762 #7,246
2014 modern 781 #7,135
2015 modern 783 #7,063
2016 modern 798 #6,931

Geography

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Where Routs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Banham, London parishes, Colchester St Botolph, St Mary at the Walls, St Giles, St Mary Magdalen, Holy Trinity, St Runwald, a, Portsmouth, Portsea and St Mary Islington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Norfolk, Suffolk Coastal, King's Lynn and West Norfolk and Breckland. 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 Banham Norfolk
2 London parishes London 3
3 Colchester St Botolph, St Mary at the Walls, St Giles, St Mary Magdalen, Holy Trinity, St Runwald, a Essex
4 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire
5 St Mary Islington London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Norfolk 011 South Norfolk
2 Suffolk Coastal 011 Suffolk Coastal
3 King's Lynn and West Norfolk 016 King's Lynn and West Norfolk
4 King's Lynn and West Norfolk 002 King's Lynn and West Norfolk
5 Breckland 013 Breckland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Rout

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Rout

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Rout, 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 Rout surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Rout 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

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Rout is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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 residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Rout is most concentrated in decile 6 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Rout

The surname Rout has its origins in England and dates back to the 12th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old French word "rute," which means a path or road. This suggests that the name initially referred to someone who lived near a well-traveled route or path.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire in 1176, where it appears as "Roger de la Rute." This indicates that the name was already in use during the medieval period and may have been associated with a specific location or village.

In the Domesday Book of 1086, there is a mention of a place called "Ruta" in Wiltshire, which could be related to the surname's origins. It is possible that the name Rout was initially a locational surname, referring to someone who hailed from this particular place or a similar location.

Notable individuals throughout history who bore the surname Rout include John Rout (1600-1670), an English merchant and Member of Parliament for Great Marlow. Another prominent figure was Sir William Rout (1789-1857), a British naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars and later became a Member of Parliament.

In the 17th century, a family of Routs settled in the American colonies, with Thomas Rout (1620-1690) being one of the earliest recorded members. He was a landowner and farmer in Rhode Island and is considered an ancestor of many Routs in the United States.

Samuel Rout (1677-1745), an English engraver and cartographer, is also noteworthy for his contributions to the field of mapmaking during the early 18th century.

More recently, John Rout (1921-2001) was a Canadian author and academic who specialized in the study of English literature and served as the President of the University of Toronto from 1970 to 1978.

While the surname Rout has undergone various spelling variations over time, such as Roote, Rowte, and Routt, its origins can be traced back to the Old French word "rute" and its association with paths or routes in medieval England.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Rout families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Rout 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. Norfolk leads with 120 Routs recorded in 1881 and an index of 17.13x.

County Total Index
Norfolk 120 17.13x
Middlesex 99 2.17x
Hampshire 44 4.71x
Suffolk 39 7.03x
Essex 38 4.23x
Huntingdonshire 31 34.27x
Surrey 25 1.13x
Sussex 20 2.60x
Yorkshire 17 0.38x
Kent 14 0.90x
Durham 4 0.30x
Berkshire 2 0.58x
Cambridgeshire 2 0.69x
Devon 2 0.21x
Northamptonshire 2 0.47x
Somerset 2 0.27x
Warwickshire 2 0.17x
Cheshire 1 0.10x
Derbyshire 1 0.14x
Lancashire 1 0.02x
Royal Navy 1 1.84x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Huntingdon St John in Huntingdonshire leads with 25 Routs recorded in 1881 and an index of 954.20x.

Place Total Index
Huntingdon St John 25 954.20x
Stanhoe 24 3478.26x
Islington London 22 4.98x
Kensington London 15 5.92x
Portsea 15 8.20x
Dedham 12 439.56x
Banham 11 614.53x
Andover 10 113.38x
Capel St Mary 10 1123.60x
Wormingford 10 1351.35x
Brighton 9 5.81x
Deptford St Nicholas 9 72.99x
Mile End Old Town 9 12.52x
North Wootton 9 1764.71x
Portsmouth 9 41.86x
Thorpe Next Norwich 9 121.29x
Clerkenwell London 8 7.44x
Heigham 8 21.28x
West Lynn 8 888.89x
Bethnal Green London 7 3.54x
Camberwell 7 2.41x
Diss 7 116.67x
St Marylebone London 7 2.88x
Alconbury Weston 6 923.08x
Farringdon 6 659.34x
Newington 6 3.57x
Poplar London 6 6.98x
South Lynn 6 75.95x
Washbrook 6 1111.11x
Colchester St Botolph 5 65.36x
Gomersal 5 23.73x
Sculcoates 5 6.99x
Slindon 5 632.91x
Southwark St George Martyr 5 5.45x
Sproughton 5 515.46x
St George Hanover 5 8.41x
St Pancras London 5 1.36x
Bow London 4 6.90x
Copdock 4 800.00x
Croxton 4 833.33x
Fring 4 1481.48x
Great Wenham 4 1111.11x
Snettisham 4 206.19x
Thornham 4 392.16x
Wandsworth 4 9.12x
Westoe 4 5.21x
Chelsea London 3 2.19x
East Bergholt 3 162.16x
Ipswich St Clement 3 21.28x
Kings Lynn St Margaret 3 14.27x
Lambeth 3 0.76x
Middlesbrough 3 5.10x
Norwich St Mary At Coslany 3 150.00x
South Stoneham 3 14.81x
Tendring 3 227.27x
Winfarthing 3 319.15x
Brightside Bierlow 2 2.26x
Devonport 2 18.35x
Enborne 2 312.50x
Leyton Low 2 10.94x
Norwich St Helen 2 229.89x
Norwich St Peter Mancroft 2 56.82x
Peterborough 2 6.45x
Pyecombe 2 377.36x
St Luke London 2 2.74x
Stow Bedon 2 392.16x
Strood 2 22.55x
Taunton St Mary 2 14.86x
Walthamstow 2 6.18x
Westminster St James 2 4.27x
Willingham 2 80.97x
Darenth 1 41.67x
Hackney London 1 0.39x
Kingston By Sea 1 81.97x
Rushmere 1 82.64x
Shimpling 1 370.37x
St Faith Winchester 1 22.99x
St Lawrence 1 9.35x
Tattingstone 1 116.28x
Weeley 1 106.38x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 28
Elizabeth 21
Sarah 15
Jane 11
Alice 10
Eliza 9
Louisa 9
Emma 8
Maria 8
Emily 7
Ann 5
Annie 5
Hannah 5
Margaret 5
Rosa 5
Rebecca 4
Laura 3
Susan 3
Susannah 3
Ada 2
Agnes 2
Catherine 2
Ellen 2
Fanny 2
Florence 2
Frances 2
Harriet 2
Helen 2
Johanna 2
Kate 2
Lucy 2
Martha 2
Robert 2
Anne 1
Bessie 1
Blanch 1
Caroline 1
Charlotte 1
Constance 1
Edith 1
Eleanor 1
Esther 1
Eve 1
Henrietta 1
J.M. 1
Jessie 1
Levina 1
Lizze 1
Lucretia 1
Tway 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 32
George 25
John 18
Charles 14
Henry 14
Thomas 12
James 9
Edward 8
Harry 8
Robert 7
Walter 7
Arthur 6
Frederick 6
Benjamin 5
Joseph 5
Samuel 5
Wm. 4
Albert 3
Alfred 3
Daniel 3
Edmund 2
Frances 2
Francis 2
Lambert 2
Michael 2
Richard 2
Abner 1
Chas. 1
Chas.Henry 1
David 1
Ernest 1
Fred 1
Fredk. 1
Fredr.Jno. 1
Fredrick 1
Gorge 1
Herbert 1
Hy. 1
J.T.H. 1
Jacob 1
Jno. 1
Job 1
Johua 1
Joshua 1
Peter 1
Richd.P. 1
Stephen 1
Sydney 1
Will. 1
Wm.H. 1

FAQ

Rout surname: questions and answers

How common was the Rout surname in 1881?

In 1881, 472 people were recorded with the Rout surname. That placed it at #7,076 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Rout surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 798 in 2016. That gives Rout a modern rank of #6,931.

What does the Rout surname mean?

A surname derived from Old French "rote," referring to a disorderly retreat or rout in battle.

What does the Rout map show?

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