NameCensus.

UK surname

Rubens

A surname of Dutch origin, derived from the Germanic name Rubinus meaning "bright" or "ruddy".

In the 1881 census there were 33 people recorded with the Rubens surname, ranking it #28,965 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 124, ranked #26,975, up from #28,965 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Westminster, Bury and Hertsmere.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Rubens is 147 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 275.8%.

1881 census count

33

Ranked #28,965

Modern count

124

2016, ranked #26,975

Peak year

2002

147 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Rubens had 33 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #28,965 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 124 in 2016, ranked #26,975.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 43 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Rubens surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Rubens surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Rubens 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 11 #31,309
1861 historical 8 #32,887
1881 historical 33 #28,965
1891 historical 26 #32,189
1901 historical 40 #29,678
1911 historical 43 #28,581
1997 modern 125 #23,567
1998 modern 140 #22,615
1999 modern 139 #22,884
2000 modern 137 #23,048
2001 modern 139 #22,541
2002 modern 147 #22,197
2003 modern 147 #21,977
2004 modern 140 #22,793
2005 modern 144 #22,367
2006 modern 137 #23,270
2007 modern 134 #23,931
2008 modern 139 #23,635
2009 modern 130 #25,176
2010 modern 129 #25,900
2011 modern 130 #25,547
2012 modern 127 #25,992
2013 modern 138 #25,020
2014 modern 133 #25,851
2015 modern 130 #26,093
2016 modern 124 #26,975

Geography

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Where Rubens' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Westminster, Bury and Hertsmere. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Westminster 012 Westminster
2 Bury 019 Bury
3 Bury 026 Bury
4 Hertsmere 010 Hertsmere
5 Westminster 002 Westminster

Forenames

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First names often paired with Rubens

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Rubens

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Rubens surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Rubens 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 includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles

Group

European Enclaves

Within London, Rubens is most associated with areas classed as European Enclaves, 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

Many residents of these accessible neighbourhoods have wide-ranging non-UK European origins. Typically residing in privately rented flats, many residents live alone and are beyond normal retirement age. There are more students than elsewhere in the Supergroup, some of which live in communal establishments. Household residents are often drawn from different ethnic groups.

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

Rubens is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Rubens 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 Rubens is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Rubens

The surname Rubens is of Dutch origin, and it is believed to have originated in the Low Countries, which encompassed parts of modern-day Belgium, the Netherlands, and northern France, during the medieval period.

The name is thought to be derived from the Dutch word "rood," meaning "red," or "robijn," meaning "ruby." It may have been initially used as a descriptive surname, referring to a person with red hair or a ruddy complexion, or it could have been an occupational name for someone who worked with red dyes or rubies.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Rubens can be found in the Ghent Patrician Register from 1368, which lists a person named Johannis Rubens. The name also appears in various historical records from the 15th and 16th centuries in the Low Countries.

The most famous bearer of the surname Rubens was undoubtedly the Flemish artist Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640), considered one of the most influential painters of the Baroque era. His works, which include masterpieces like "The Descent from the Cross" and "The Rape of the Sabine Women," are celebrated for their vibrant colors, dramatic compositions, and sensual depictions of the human form.

Another notable figure with the surname Rubens was Albert Rubens (1786-1847), a Belgian painter and lithographer who specialized in portraiture and historical scenes. He was also known for his contributions to the development of lithographic printing techniques.

In the realm of literature, the Dutch writer and poet Jan Rubens (1619-1661) is remembered for his collection of poems titled "Bellaria" (1635), which was highly regarded in his time.

The surname Rubens also gained prominence in the field of music with the Dutch composer and organist Johannes Rubens (1590-1637), who served as the organist at St. Peter's Church in Leiden and composed numerous works for organ and other instruments.

Finally, Maria Rubens (1800-1859) was a Dutch painter and lithographer known for her portraits and genre scenes. She was one of the few female artists of her time to achieve recognition and success in the Netherlands.

While the surname Rubens has its roots in the Low Countries, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and intermarriage, ensuring that the legacy of this name continues to be celebrated across various cultures and disciplines.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Rubens families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Rubens 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 14 Rubens' recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.35x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 14 4.35x
Lancashire 8 2.10x
Surrey 5 3.19x
Yorkshire 5 1.57x
Lanarkshire 1 0.96x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Liverpool in Lancashire leads with 8 Rubens' recorded in 1881 and an index of 34.51x.

Place Total Index
Liverpool 8 34.51x
Kensington London 6 33.56x
Leeds 5 27.78x
Wandsworth 5 161.29x
St George Hanover 4 95.24x
Wapping London 3 1200.00x
Glasgow 1 5.41x
Islington London 1 3.21x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Abraham 2
Ferdinand 2
Auguste 1
Frederick 1
Herbert 1
Hermann 1
Kurchtegot 1
Maurice 1
Maurico 1
Paul 1
Ruben 1
Victor 1
Walter 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Rubens households.

FAQ

Rubens surname: questions and answers

How common was the Rubens surname in 1881?

In 1881, 33 people were recorded with the Rubens surname. That placed it at #28,965 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Rubens surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 124 in 2016. That gives Rubens a modern rank of #26,975.

What does the Rubens surname mean?

A surname of Dutch origin, derived from the Germanic name Rubinus meaning "bright" or "ruddy".

What does the Rubens map show?

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