NameCensus.

UK surname

Ruby

A precious gemstone or a bright red color, used as a descriptive surname for someone with red hair or a ruddy complexion.

In the 1881 census there were 261 people recorded with the Ruby surname, ranking it #10,752 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 557, ranked #9,196, up from #10,752 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Okehampton, Devonport Stonehouse, East and Beer Ferris. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Runnymede, Cornwall and North Kesteven.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ruby is 568 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 113.4%.

1881 census count

261

Ranked #10,752

Modern count

557

2016, ranked #9,196

Peak year

2010

568 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Ruby had 261 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,752 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 557 in 2016, ranked #9,196.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 405 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Ruby surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Ruby surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Ruby 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 212 #9,965
1861 historical 405 #6,337
1881 historical 261 #10,752
1891 historical 340 #10,062
1901 historical 372 #9,972
1911 historical 399 #9,298
1997 modern 473 #9,706
1998 modern 499 #9,600
1999 modern 504 #9,606
2000 modern 508 #9,519
2001 modern 498 #9,498
2002 modern 497 #9,684
2003 modern 485 #9,701
2004 modern 494 #9,589
2005 modern 493 #9,536
2006 modern 504 #9,432
2007 modern 502 #9,538
2008 modern 521 #9,342
2009 modern 547 #9,215
2010 modern 568 #9,134
2011 modern 554 #9,212
2012 modern 524 #9,541
2013 modern 543 #9,432
2014 modern 556 #9,298
2015 modern 547 #9,353
2016 modern 557 #9,196

Geography

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Where Rubys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Okehampton, Devonport Stonehouse, East, Beer Ferris, London parishes and Staines. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Runnymede, Cornwall and North Kesteven. 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 Okehampton Devon
2 Devonport Stonehouse, East Devon
3 Beer Ferris Devon
4 London parishes London 3
5 Staines Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Runnymede 008 Runnymede
2 Cornwall 028 Cornwall
3 Cornwall 002 Cornwall
4 Cornwall 006 Cornwall
5 North Kesteven 010 North Kesteven

Forenames

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First names often paired with Ruby

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Ruby

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Ruby is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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 concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Ruby 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

Ruby falls in decile 3 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Ruby

The surname RUBY is of English origin and can be traced back to the late 12th century. It is derived from the Old French word "rubi" or "rubiz," which means "ruby" and ultimately comes from the Latin word "rubeus," meaning "red." This name likely originated as a nickname for someone with a reddish complexion or red hair.

Historical records show that the earliest known bearers of the RUBY surname were from the counties of Yorkshire and Lincolnshire in northern England. The name is found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1194, where a Robert Rubi is mentioned. The Hundred Rolls of Lincolnshire from 1273 also contain entries for individuals with the surname RUBY.

In the 13th century, the RUBY name appeared in various spellings, including Rubie, Rubey, and Rubee. These variations likely reflected regional dialects and the inconsistent spelling practices of the time. The surname was also sometimes associated with certain place names, such as Rubi in Leicestershire or Ruby in Yorkshire, although the connection between the surname and these locations is not entirely clear.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the RUBY surname was Sir John Ruby, a knight from Yorkshire who lived during the reign of King Edward III in the 14th century. Another notable bearer of the name was William Ruby, a merchant from London who was active in the early 15th century.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the RUBY surname continued to be found in various parts of England, particularly in Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and London. Some notable individuals from this period include:

1. George Ruby (c. 1560-1625), an English clergyman and author from Yorkshire. 2. Thomas Ruby (c. 1580-1641), a merchant and member of the Worshipful Company of Haberdashers in London. 3. Elizabeth Ruby (c. 1620-1670), a Puritan writer and poet from Lincolnshire.

In the 18th and 19th centuries, the RUBY surname spread to other parts of the British Isles and beyond. Some notable bearers from this period include:

1. John Ruby (1760-1838), a Scottish soldier and military engineer who served in the British Army. 2. William Ruby (1798-1871), an English architect and surveyor who worked on various projects in London. 3. Mary Ruby (1825-1891), an Irish-born writer and educator who founded several schools in the United States.

While the RUBY surname is relatively uncommon, it has a rich history spanning several centuries and has been borne by individuals from various walks of life, including knights, merchants, clergymen, writers, architects, and soldiers.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Ruby families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Ruby 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 58 Rubys recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.26x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 58 2.26x
Devon 57 10.67x
Kent 23 2.63x
Lancashire 15 0.49x
Staffordshire 15 1.73x
Buckinghamshire 13 8.38x
Cornwall 12 4.13x
Surrey 11 0.88x
Glamorgan 9 2.01x
Yorkshire 7 0.28x
Gloucestershire 6 1.19x
Wiltshire 6 2.64x
Aberdeenshire 5 2.10x
Dumfriesshire 4 7.06x
Warwickshire 4 0.62x
Hampshire 3 0.57x
Norfolk 3 0.76x
Worcestershire 3 0.90x
Cheshire 2 0.35x
Lanarkshire 2 0.24x
Royal Navy 2 6.54x
Sussex 2 0.46x
Monmouthshire 1 0.54x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Stanwell in Middlesex leads with 14 Rubys recorded in 1881 and an index of 736.84x.

Place Total Index
Stanwell 14 736.84x
Chatham 9 37.38x
Hackney London 9 6.26x
Inwardleigh 8 1777.78x
St Giles In Fields 8 90.40x
Bere Ferrers 7 795.45x
Maidstone 7 26.85x
Plymouth St Andrew 7 17.02x
Willenhall 7 43.16x
Dowdeswell 6 1363.64x
Ealing 6 26.17x
Paddington London 6 6.36x
Sampford Courtenay 6 750.00x
Upton Cum Chalvey 6 97.09x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 5 11.25x
Ermington 5 257.73x
Islington London 5 2.01x
St Cleer 5 198.41x
Wolverhampton 5 7.51x
Annan 4 82.14x
Cardiff St John 4 27.42x
Okehampton 4 199.01x
Sutton 4 44.25x
Wolborough 4 59.26x
Ardwick 3 10.93x
Bilston 3 17.88x
Birmingham 3 1.39x
Bootle Cum Linacre 3 12.41x
Cardiff St Mary 3 12.20x
Claines 3 32.64x
Hulme 3 4.72x
Iver 3 150.00x
North Tidworth 3 1363.64x
Norwich St Saviour 3 217.39x
Scarborough 3 12.99x
Widdecombeinthe Moor 3 416.67x
Abbots Kerswell 2 526.32x
Altarnun 2 198.02x
Barnsley 2 7.63x
Barony 2 0.95x
Calstock 2 35.09x
Cricklade St Sampson 2 188.68x
East Stonehouse 2 19.01x
Hammersmith London 2 3.17x
Hillingdon 2 24.45x
Hove 2 10.54x
Llandaff 2 13.46x
Milton In Gravesend 2 15.24x
Portsea 2 1.94x
Royal Navy 2 7.65x
St Marylebone London 2 1.46x
Stoke Damerel 2 5.35x
Wallasey 2 103.63x
Aston 1 0.56x
Barrow In Furness 1 2.42x
Blackburn 1 1.23x
Chalfont St Peter 1 78.13x
Chislehurst 1 21.32x
Clapham 1 3.12x
Devizes St John 1 58.82x
Devonport 1 16.29x
Dover St James 1 26.04x
Exeter St John 1 263.16x
Exeter St Lawrence 1 250.00x
Exeter St Sidwell 1 8.18x
Great Bolton 1 2.48x
Horbury 1 22.47x
Horton 1 131.58x
Langley Marish 1 52.63x
Linthorpe 1 6.59x
Mile End Old Town 1 2.47x
Probus 1 84.03x
Rainford 1 30.40x
Rochester St Margaret 1 10.83x
St Neot 1 87.72x
St Woollos 1 4.83x
Streatham 1 5.25x
Weeke 1 62.89x
West Malling 1 50.76x
Wimbledon 1 7.13x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 20
Emma 10
Elizabeth 9
Sarah 9
Emily 6
Margaret 6
Alice 5
Ann 5
Eliza 5
Ellen 4
Harriet 3
Jane 3
Selina 3
Ada 2
Agnes 2
Dinah 2
Elizth.M. 2
Kate 2
Lucy 2
Martha 2
Baby 1
Blanch 1
Bridget 1
Caroline 1
Catharine 1
Catherine 1
Charlotte 1
Clara 1
Dorah 1
Edith 1
Eleanor 1
Elizth. 1
Fanny 1
Florence 1
Frances 1
Harriett 1
Josephine 1
Katey 1
Lana 1
Louisa 1
Lovedy 1
Lydia 1
Maragret 1
Maria 1
Mariam 1
Matilda 1
Pamela 1
Priscilla 1
Rachael 1
William 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 18
William 12
Charles 6
George 6
Henry 6
James 6
Alfred 5
Robert 5
Thomas 5
Edward 4
Richard 4
Samuel 4
Emanuel 3
Frederick 3
Joseph 2
Philip 2
Wm. 2
Albert 1
Ann 1
Calib 1
Edwd. 1
Edwin 1
Elias 1
Ellen 1
Ernest 1
Francis 1
Fred 1
Jabez 1
Jonothan 1
Leonard 1
Levia 1
Michael 1
Percy 1
Phillip 1
Richd. 1
Simeon 1
Thos.Henry 1

FAQ

Ruby surname: questions and answers

How common was the Ruby surname in 1881?

In 1881, 261 people were recorded with the Ruby surname. That placed it at #10,752 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Ruby surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 557 in 2016. That gives Ruby a modern rank of #9,196.

What does the Ruby surname mean?

A precious gemstone or a bright red color, used as a descriptive surname for someone with red hair or a ruddy complexion.

What does the Ruby map show?

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