NameCensus.

UK surname

Rudd

Derived from the Old English word "rudd," meaning "red," likely referring to someone with red hair or a ruddy complexion.

In the 1881 census there were 4,722 people recorded with the Rudd surname, ranking it #938 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 6,589, ranked #1,024, down from #938 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Grimstone, London parishes and Wigan. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Copeland, Stockton-on-Tees and Allerdale.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Rudd is 6,813 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 39.5%.

1881 census count

4,722

Ranked #938

Modern count

6,589

2016, ranked #1,024

Peak year

1999

6,813 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Rudd had 4,722 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #938 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 6,589 in 2016, ranked #1,024.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 6,542 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Rudd surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Rudd surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Rudd 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 2,837 #1,029
1861 historical 2,954 #977
1881 historical 4,722 #938
1891 historical 5,119 #916
1901 historical 5,840 #953
1911 historical 6,542 #792
1997 modern 6,523 #995
1998 modern 6,702 #1,010
1999 modern 6,813 #998
2000 modern 6,765 #998
2001 modern 6,578 #1,003
2002 modern 6,739 #1,001
2003 modern 6,568 #1,008
2004 modern 6,566 #1,010
2005 modern 6,395 #1,022
2006 modern 6,437 #1,014
2007 modern 6,485 #1,015
2008 modern 6,524 #1,016
2009 modern 6,695 #1,013
2010 modern 6,772 #1,022
2011 modern 6,652 #1,025
2012 modern 6,549 #1,019
2013 modern 6,654 #1,024
2014 modern 6,735 #1,019
2015 modern 6,652 #1,019
2016 modern 6,589 #1,024

Geography

Back to top

Where Rudds are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Grimstone, London parishes, Wigan and Lambeth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Copeland, Stockton-on-Tees, Allerdale and King's Lynn and West Norfolk. 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 Grimstone Norfolk
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Wigan Lancashire
5 Lambeth London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Copeland 004 Copeland
2 Stockton-on-Tees 008 Stockton-on-Tees
3 Allerdale 001 Allerdale
4 King's Lynn and West Norfolk 003 King's Lynn and West Norfolk
5 Allerdale 002 Allerdale

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Rudd

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Rudd

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

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Rudd surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Rudd 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 comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Rudd is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

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

Rudd is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Rudd

The surname Rudd originates from England and dates back to the 11th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "ruddoc," meaning "red" or "ruddy," referring to someone with a reddish complexion or hair color.

In the Domesday Book of 1086, the earliest recorded mention of the name was as "Rudde," a variant spelling. This historical document, commissioned by William the Conqueror, provides valuable insights into the distribution of surnames across England during that era.

Throughout the medieval period, the name appeared in various records and documents with slight variations in spelling, such as Rudde, Rudd, and Rudde. These variations were common before the standardization of English spelling.

The earliest known individual with the surname Rudd was William Rudd, born around 1320 in Northamptonshire, England. He was a landowner and prominent figure in the local community.

Another notable figure was Sir Thomas Rudd (1460-1525), a wealthy merchant and member of the Worshipful Company of Mercers in London. He served as the Lord Mayor of London in 1504 and played a significant role in the city's governance.

In the 16th century, the Rudd family established themselves in Suffolk, where they owned estates and held influential positions. One prominent member was Sir Benjamin Rudd (1572-1651), a Member of Parliament and supporter of the Parliamentarian cause during the English Civil War.

During the 17th century, the Rudd family expanded their reach, with some members migrating to Ireland and North America. One such individual was John Rudd (1630-1695), who settled in Virginia and became a successful tobacco planter.

Another notable figure was Samuel Rudd (1693-1770), an English churchman and academic who served as the Master of Christ's College, Cambridge, and was renowned for his scholarship and contributions to education.

Throughout history, the Rudd surname has been associated with various professions, including landowners, merchants, clergymen, and academics, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and accomplishments of those who bore this name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Rudd families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Rudd 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 852 Rudds recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.03x.

County Total Index
Norfolk 852 12.03x
Yorkshire 582 1.28x
Lancashire 559 1.02x
Middlesex 494 1.07x
Surrey 255 1.14x
Durham 200 1.46x
Devon 170 1.77x
Suffolk 146 2.60x
Westmorland 115 11.36x
Cumberland 114 2.87x
Kent 106 0.67x
Staffordshire 102 0.66x
Essex 97 1.07x
Warwickshire 84 0.72x
Shropshire 80 2.01x
Hertfordshire 67 2.11x
Worcestershire 63 1.05x
Nottinghamshire 60 0.97x
Derbyshire 54 0.75x
Northamptonshire 48 1.11x
Northumberland 44 0.64x
Lincolnshire 42 0.57x
Somerset 42 0.57x
Herefordshire 36 1.91x
Cambridgeshire 35 1.20x
Gloucestershire 31 0.34x
Hampshire 31 0.33x
Bedfordshire 27 1.13x
Pembrokeshire 27 1.84x
Leicestershire 24 0.47x
Cheshire 20 0.20x
Sussex 16 0.21x
Berkshire 15 0.43x
Wiltshire 13 0.32x
Monmouthshire 10 0.30x
Dorset 9 0.30x
Huntingdonshire 9 0.98x
Glamorgan 8 0.10x
Oxfordshire 6 0.21x
Caernarfonshire 5 0.27x
Isle of Man 5 0.58x
Buckinghamshire 2 0.07x
Cornwall 2 0.04x
Denbighshire 2 0.11x
Inverness-shire 2 0.15x
Perthshire 2 0.10x
Royal Navy 2 0.36x
Angus 1 0.02x
Argyllshire 1 0.08x
Carmarthenshire 1 0.05x
Fife 1 0.04x
Flintshire 1 0.08x
Kincardineshire 1 0.18x
Midlothian 1 0.02x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Grimston in Norfolk leads with 74 Rudds recorded in 1881 and an index of 413.41x.

Place Total Index
Grimston 74 413.41x
Ince In Makerfield 72 28.31x
Lambeth 72 1.79x
Heigham 71 18.68x
Aspull 57 44.33x
Great Yarmouth 55 9.37x
St Pancras London 42 1.13x
Wigan 42 5.50x
Camberwell 40 1.36x
Islington London 40 0.90x
Bermondsey 39 2.84x
Birmingham 39 1.01x
Ilfracombe 39 39.51x
Norwich St Stephen 33 50.76x
Sculcoates 33 4.56x
Bethnal Green London 32 1.60x
Newington 32 1.88x
Middlesbrough 29 4.88x
Hindley 28 12.02x
Aston 27 0.84x
Briston 27 201.04x
Nottingham St Mary 27 1.68x
Kensington London 25 0.98x
Leeds 25 0.97x
Warrington 25 3.86x
Paddington London 24 1.42x
Pembroke St Mary 24 12.73x
Peterborough 24 7.65x
Chetton 23 292.99x
Ecclesall Bierlow 23 2.48x
Hackney London 23 0.89x
Limehouse London 23 4.55x
Atherton 22 11.06x
Crook Billy Row 22 12.54x
Mile End Old Town 22 3.03x
Whittlesey St Mary St 22 21.59x
Bradford 21 1.90x
Great Bolton 21 2.90x
Bishopwearmouth 20 1.70x
Bromley London 20 1.97x
Westminster St John 20 3.57x
Appleby St Michael 19 83.52x
Battersea 19 1.12x
Clerkenwell London 19 1.75x
Diss 19 31.30x
Wellingham 19 913.46x
Burnage 18 134.43x
Hackford In Aylsham 18 141.62x
Kirkdale 18 1.96x
Lewisham 18 2.15x
West Ham 18 0.90x
Leicester St Margaret 17 1.37x
Norwich St Mary At Coslany 17 83.91x
Rockland St Mary 17 242.86x
Tiverton 17 10.29x
Dudley 16 2.19x
Newton 16 3.80x
Plumstead 16 3.05x
Shoreditch London 16 0.80x
Stockton On Tees 16 2.42x
Bedminster 15 2.15x
Clowne 15 52.32x
Congham 15 284.63x
Dufton 15 229.71x
Egremont 15 15.86x
Holy Trinity 15 1.37x
Horton In Bradford 15 2.10x
Ipswich St Clement 15 10.52x
Lakenham 15 14.91x
Plymouth Charles The 15 3.55x
Strood 15 16.73x
Brough 14 141.41x
Chelsea London 14 1.01x
Collierley 14 22.93x
Didsbury 14 19.29x
Marwood 14 109.89x
Scole Cum Frenze 14 135.92x
Southwark St George Martyr 14 1.51x
Whitwell 14 208.33x
Winterton 14 112.36x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 337
Elizabeth 214
Sarah 152
Jane 126
Ann 95
Ellen 87
Alice 81
Emma 67
Eliza 61
Margaret 54
Emily 53
Hannah 50
Annie 43
Harriet 43
Maria 43
Edith 39
Martha 39
Charlotte 38
Caroline 29
Louisa 27
Susan 25
Catherine 23
Fanny 22
Lucy 21
Clara 20
Florence 19
Kate 18
Agnes 17
Frances 17
Anne 16
Rose 15
Ada 14
Eleanor 13
Elizth. 13
Amelia 12
Betsy 12
Sophia 12
Julia 11
Laura 11
Rebecca 11
Isabella 10
Susannah 10
Beatrice 9
Esther 9
Helen 9
Jessie 9
Maud 9
Harriett 8
Ruth 8
Matilda 7

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 315
John 251
Thomas 165
George 139
James 136
Charles 117
Henry 106
Robert 96
Joseph 62
Samuel 60
Frederick 48
Arthur 47
Edward 44
Richard 44
Walter 29
Alfred 28
Ernest 28
Albert 26
Herbert 25
Edwin 21
Harry 16
Francis 13
Frank 13
David 12
Benjamin 11
Isaac 11
Wm. 11
Thos. 9
Fred 8
Fredrick 7
Percy 7
Philip 7
Edmund 6
Geo. 6
Robt. 6
Sidney 6
Sydney 6
Christopher 5
Jesse 5
Matthew 5
Phillip 5
Willie 5
Daniel 4
Jno. 4
Josiah 4
Michael 4
Nathaniel 4
Noah 4
Stephen 4
W. 4

FAQ

Rudd surname: questions and answers

How common was the Rudd surname in 1881?

In 1881, 4,722 people were recorded with the Rudd surname. That placed it at #938 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Rudd surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 6,589 in 2016. That gives Rudd a modern rank of #1,024.

What does the Rudd surname mean?

Derived from the Old English word "rudd," meaning "red," likely referring to someone with red hair or a ruddy complexion.

What does the Rudd map show?

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