NameCensus.

UK surname

Rubinstein

A Jewish ornamental surname referring to someone who traded or worked with rubies or other precious stones.

In the 1881 census there were 38 people recorded with the Rubinstein surname, ranking it #28,285 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 149, ranked #23,844, up from #28,285 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St George in the East, London parishes and Hull Holy Trinity. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Salford, Bury and Hertsmere.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Rubinstein is 261 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 292.1%.

1881 census count

38

Ranked #28,285

Modern count

149

2016, ranked #23,844

Peak year

1911

261 bearers

Map years

5

1901 to 2016

Key insights

  • Rubinstein had 38 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #28,285 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 149 in 2016, ranked #23,844.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 261 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Rubinstein surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Rubinstein surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Rubinstein 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 1 #33,412
1861 historical 1 #34,435
1881 historical 38 #28,285
1891 historical 75 #27,414
1901 historical 154 #17,775
1911 historical 261 #12,526
1997 modern 154 #20,780
1998 modern 153 #21,387
1999 modern 165 #20,535
2000 modern 166 #20,426
2001 modern 160 #20,616
2002 modern 155 #21,431
2003 modern 154 #21,308
2004 modern 151 #21,720
2005 modern 150 #21,786
2006 modern 154 #21,576
2007 modern 158 #21,464
2008 modern 157 #21,766
2009 modern 158 #22,168
2010 modern 163 #22,205
2011 modern 159 #22,382
2012 modern 158 #22,460
2013 modern 148 #23,884
2014 modern 148 #24,075
2015 modern 150 #23,718
2016 modern 149 #23,844

Geography

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Where Rubinsteins are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St George in the East, London parishes, Hull Holy Trinity, St Mary Whitechapel and Paddington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Salford, Bury, Hertsmere and Liverpool. 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 St George in the East London (East Districts)
2 London parishes London 1
3 Hull Holy Trinity Yorkshire, East Riding
4 St Mary Whitechapel London (East Districts)
5 Paddington London (West Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Salford 010 Salford
2 Bury 026 Bury
3 Hertsmere 007 Hertsmere
4 Bury 019 Bury
5 Liverpool 047 Liverpool

Forenames

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First names often paired with Rubinstein

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Rubinstein

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Rubinstein, 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 Rubinstein surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Rubinstein 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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Rubinstein is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, 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

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

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

Rubinstein 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

Rubinstein 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 Rubinstein 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 - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Rubinstein

The surname Rubinstein has its origins in Eastern Europe, particularly in areas that were once part of the Russian Empire. It is a Jewish surname that is derived from the Yiddish word "rubin," which means "ruby" in English. This suggests that the name may have been given to someone who worked with rubies or had a connection to the gemstone trade.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Rubinstein can be found in the 1784 revision of the Prussian census, which listed several individuals with this surname living in the region of Pomerania (now part of modern-day Poland and Germany). The name may have also appeared in other historical records and documents from the 18th and 19th centuries in areas with significant Jewish populations.

In the 19th century, the Rubinstein surname gained prominence with the birth of Anton Rubinstein (1829-1894), a renowned Russian pianist, composer, and founder of the St. Petersburg Conservatory. His brother, Nikolai Rubinstein (1835-1881), was also a respected pianist and composer.

Another notable figure with the Rubinstein surname was Ida Rubinstein (1885-1960), a Russian dancer and actress who performed in Paris and was known for her highly stylized productions. She was also a patron of the arts and supported many artists and writers during her lifetime.

In the field of science, Sir Arthur Rubinstein (1887-1982) was a British biochemist who made significant contributions to the understanding of enzymes and their role in metabolism. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1959 for his work.

Additionally, Artur Rubinstein (1887-1982), a Polish-American classical pianist, was widely regarded as one of the greatest pianists of the 20th century. He was renowned for his interpretations of the works of Chopin, Brahms, and other composers.

While the Rubinstein surname has its roots in Eastern Europe, it has since spread to various parts of the world, particularly through Jewish migration and diaspora communities. However, its origins can be traced back to the Yiddish word "rubin" and its connection to the ruby gemstone trade.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Rubinstein families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Rubinstein 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 19 Rubinsteins recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.13x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 19 5.13x
Lancashire 6 1.37x
Yorkshire 6 1.63x
Lanarkshire 4 3.34x
Warwickshire 3 3.21x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Paddington London in Middlesex leads with 9 Rubinsteins recorded in 1881 and an index of 66.08x.

Place Total Index
Paddington London 9 66.08x
Whitechapel London 8 219.18x
Manchester 6 30.35x
Holy Trinity 5 56.63x
Govan 4 13.50x
Edgbaston 3 103.45x
St George In East 2 79.37x
Leeds 1 4.82x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Rachel 3
Louisa 2
Rebecca 2
Sarah 2
Annetta 1
Ena 1
Fanny 1
Julia 1
Katie 1
Mabel 1
Priscilla 1
Rebcca 1
Sybel 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Marks 2
Samuel 2
Abraham 1
Arthur 1
Barnett 1
Bernard 1
Ernest 1
Ezaria 1
George 1
Jacob 1
Joseph 1
Leon 1
Moses 1
Sam 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 Rubinstein households.

FAQ

Rubinstein surname: questions and answers

How common was the Rubinstein surname in 1881?

In 1881, 38 people were recorded with the Rubinstein surname. That placed it at #28,285 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Rubinstein surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 149 in 2016. That gives Rubinstein a modern rank of #23,844.

What does the Rubinstein surname mean?

A Jewish ornamental surname referring to someone who traded or worked with rubies or other precious stones.

What does the Rubinstein map show?

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