NameCensus.

UK surname

Routh

Derived from a place name meaning "person from Routh," a village in East Yorkshire, England.

In the 1881 census there were 439 people recorded with the Routh surname, ranking it #7,455 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 458, ranked #10,679, down from #7,455 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Darlington, Gateshead and St Marylebone. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Burnley, Bradford and Bath and North East Somerset.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Routh is 559 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 4.3%.

1881 census count

439

Ranked #7,455

Modern count

458

2016, ranked #10,679

Peak year

1911

559 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Routh had 439 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,455 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 458 in 2016, ranked #10,679.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 559 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Routh surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Routh surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Routh 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 355 #6,654
1861 historical 292 #8,626
1881 historical 439 #7,455
1891 historical 448 #8,099
1901 historical 496 #8,098
1911 historical 559 #7,195
1997 modern 523 #9,003
1998 modern 514 #9,383
1999 modern 526 #9,295
2000 modern 523 #9,304
2001 modern 508 #9,344
2002 modern 505 #9,563
2003 modern 499 #9,501
2004 modern 494 #9,589
2005 modern 467 #9,925
2006 modern 489 #9,633
2007 modern 492 #9,677
2008 modern 478 #9,977
2009 modern 494 #9,953
2010 modern 495 #10,127
2011 modern 493 #10,056
2012 modern 471 #10,313
2013 modern 476 #10,385
2014 modern 473 #10,509
2015 modern 465 #10,572
2016 modern 458 #10,679

Geography

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Where Rouths are most common

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

The modern local-area list points to Burnley, Bradford, Bath and North East Somerset and Stockton-on-Tees. 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 Darlington Durham
2 Gateshead Durham
3 St Marylebone London (North Districts)
4 Aysgarth Yorkshire, North Riding
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Burnley 010 Burnley
2 Bradford 024 Bradford
3 Bath and North East Somerset 010 Bath and North East Somerset
4 Stockton-on-Tees 005 Stockton-on-Tees
5 Bradford 057 Bradford

Forenames

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First names often paired with Routh

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Routh

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

Ageing Communities

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

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Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Routh is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Routh 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

Routh falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Routh is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Routh, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Routh

The surname Routh is of English origin, derived from the Old English word 'routh,' meaning 'roughness' or 'coarseness.' It is believed to have originated as a descriptive nickname for someone who had a rough or coarse appearance or demeanor.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be traced back to the late 12th century. One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Walter Routh, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1197. The Pipe Rolls were a series of financial records maintained by the English Exchequer.

During the medieval period, the name was primarily concentrated in the northern counties of England, particularly Yorkshire and Lancashire. It is likely that the name was derived from a place name or topographical feature in one of these regions.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as Rouhe, Rughe, and Rowghe, reflecting the different pronunciations and spellings of the time. One notable bearer of the name was John Routh, a clergyman who served as Bishop of Durham from 1286 to 1295.

The Routh family established roots in various parts of England, and the name can be found in numerous historical records and documents. One notable example is the Domesday Book of 1086, which recorded the name Routh as a landowner in Lincolnshire.

Over the centuries, several individuals with the surname Routh have left their mark on history. One such person was Edward Routh (1600-1676), an English clergyman and mathematician who served as the sixth President of Corpus Christi College, Oxford.

Another notable figure was Sir Randolph Routh (1756-1837), a British naval officer who served during the American Revolutionary War and the Napoleonic Wars. He was renowned for his bravery and tactical skills, earning him the nickname "The Gallant Routh."

In the field of science, Edward John Routh (1831-1907) was a prominent British mathematician and physicist. He made significant contributions to the fields of mechanics and dynamical systems, and his work on the theory of stability is widely recognized.

The surname Routh has also been associated with various literary figures. One such individual was Martha Routh (1856-1935), an American writer and educator who published numerous works of fiction and non-fiction, including "The Arden Acres" and "The Graded Literature Readers."

Despite its English origins, the surname Routh has spread to other parts of the world through emigration and migration. However, it remains predominantly concentrated in England and other English-speaking countries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Routh families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Routh 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 214 Rouths recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.01x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 214 5.01x
Middlesex 44 1.02x
Durham 35 2.73x
Lancashire 21 0.41x
Kent 17 1.16x
Surrey 15 0.71x
Lincolnshire 13 1.89x
Suffolk 12 2.29x
Sussex 12 1.65x
Berkshire 10 3.09x
Hampshire 9 1.02x
Cambridgeshire 8 2.93x
Warwickshire 7 0.64x
Leicestershire 4 0.84x
Oxfordshire 4 1.50x
Somerset 4 0.58x
Channel Islands 3 2.35x
Essex 2 0.24x
Gloucestershire 2 0.24x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.25x
Bedfordshire 1 0.45x
Cheshire 1 0.11x
Glamorgan 1 0.13x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.17x
Shropshire 1 0.27x

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 36 Rouths recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.92x.

Place Total Index
Leeds 36 14.92x
Hunslet 29 43.53x
Darlington 19 38.36x
Hawes 19 681.00x
Lee 11 51.50x
Gilling 10 775.19x
Yeadon 10 103.63x
Bainbridge 8 792.08x
Gateshead 8 8.33x
Islington London 8 1.91x
St Marylebone London 8 3.48x
St Pancras London 8 2.31x
St Giles Cambridge 7 198.30x
Stradbroke 7 395.48x
Thornaby 7 43.86x
Winteringham 7 707.07x
Bradford 6 5.80x
Burnley 6 13.92x
Denby 6 259.74x
Drypool 6 91.74x
Middleton Tyas 6 740.74x
Roundhay 6 500.00x
Wandsworth 6 14.45x
Birmingham 5 1.38x
Halifax 5 7.97x
Linthorpe 5 19.61x
Tilehurst 5 76.45x
Amport 4 400.00x
Askrigg 4 434.78x
Carthorpe 4 833.33x
Castle Donnington 4 101.01x
Hastings St Leonards 4 37.42x
Kensington London 4 1.67x
Layton With Warbreck 4 21.31x
Reading St Giles 4 12.60x
Sculcoates 4 5.90x
Selby 4 44.79x
St Peterat Gowts Lincoln 4 41.24x
Swalcliffe 4 434.78x
Whalley 4 53.62x
York St Lawrence 4 89.69x
Bathwick 3 39.06x
Burton Cum Walden 3 454.55x
Charlton Next Woolwich 3 19.56x
Chiswick 3 12.73x
Doncaster 3 9.61x
Ealing 3 7.79x
Edmonton 3 8.64x
Farleigh Wallop 3 1875.00x
Hastings St Mary 3 16.58x
Manchester 3 1.30x
Moulton 3 731.71x
Southcoates 3 12.65x
St Giles 3 37.45x
St Peter Port 3 12.69x
Aston 2 0.67x
Bristol St Augustine 2 14.65x
Easington 2 107.53x
Egham 2 15.50x
Filey 2 57.97x
Frimley 2 33.44x
Habergham Eaves 2 4.28x
Hemingbrough 2 238.10x
Ipswich St Nicholas 2 69.20x
Lambeth 2 0.53x
St George Hanover 2 3.55x
Sykehouse 2 333.33x
Thoralby 2 625.00x
Well 2 416.67x
West Ham 2 1.06x
Widley 2 126.58x
Aberdeen Old Machar 1 1.20x
Bexhill 1 27.62x
Crook Billy Row 1 6.09x
Eastbourne 1 2.99x
Giggleswick 1 69.44x
Heene 1 80.00x
Kildwick 1 25.71x
Lewisham 1 1.27x
New Sleaford 1 22.62x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 25
Sarah 24
Elizabeth 19
Jane 12
Ann 11
Margaret 10
Emma 9
Alice 7
Ellen 7
Hannah 7
Annie 5
Ada 4
Caroline 4
Emily 4
Florence 4
Frances 4
Agnes 3
Clara 3
Eliza 3
Harriet 3
Mabel 3
Amelia 2
Catherine 2
Edith 2
Grace 2
Henrietta 2
Isabel 2
Kate 2
Laura 2
Louisa 2
Lucy 2
Susannah 2
Adela 1
Anni 1
Arabella 1
Beatrice 1
Beatrix 1
Belinda 1
Cathern 1
Constance 1
Dorothy 1
E.M.Grace 1
Eliz.Ann 1
Elizh. 1
Francis 1
Helen 1
Hilda 1
Honour 1
Isabella 1
Virginia 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 31
William 25
Thomas 16
James 13
Henry 12
George 8
Joseph 8
Robert 7
Edward 6
Richard 6
Oswald 5
Charles 4
Christopher 4
Arthur 3
Harry 3
Alfred 2
Anthony 2
Cuthbert 2
Frederick 2
Matthew 2
Samuel 2
Tom 2
Walter 2
Alexander 1
Arnaud 1
Benjamin 1
Chas.H.F. 1
Cyril 1
Fred 1
Fred. 1
Gordon 1
Harold 1
Herbert 1
Jabez 1
Jim 1
Laycock 1
Leonee 1
Marma 1
Martin 1
R.H.F. 1
R.S.Arden 1
Ralph 1
Randolph 1
Rupert 1
Saumerey 1
Slater 1
Son 1
Theo.Ellis 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Routh surname: questions and answers

How common was the Routh surname in 1881?

In 1881, 439 people were recorded with the Routh surname. That placed it at #7,455 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Routh surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 458 in 2016. That gives Routh a modern rank of #10,679.

What does the Routh surname mean?

Derived from a place name meaning "person from Routh," a village in East Yorkshire, England.

What does the Routh map show?

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