NameCensus.

UK surname

Ruddell

A surname derived from a place name, possibly referring to someone from Ruddell in Shropshire, England.

In the 1881 census there were 59 people recorded with the Ruddell surname, ranking it #25,281 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 205, ranked #19,250, up from #25,281 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St Saviour Southwark, London parishes and St James Clerkenwell. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include County Durham, Walsall and South Gloucestershire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ruddell is 247 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 247.5%.

1881 census count

59

Ranked #25,281

Modern count

205

2016, ranked #19,250

Peak year

1999

247 bearers

Map years

6

1891 to 2016

Key insights

  • Ruddell had 59 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #25,281 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 205 in 2016, ranked #19,250.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 130 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Ruddell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Ruddell surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Ruddell 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 36 #26,838
1861 historical 82 #23,321
1881 historical 59 #25,281
1891 historical 114 #22,006
1901 historical 112 #21,382
1911 historical 130 #19,504
1997 modern 235 #15,895
1998 modern 243 #15,993
1999 modern 247 #15,932
2000 modern 232 #16,562
2001 modern 236 #16,094
2002 modern 241 #16,243
2003 modern 225 #16,808
2004 modern 219 #17,180
2005 modern 217 #17,217
2006 modern 218 #17,297
2007 modern 215 #17,633
2008 modern 208 #18,171
2009 modern 221 #17,848
2010 modern 233 #17,606
2011 modern 228 #17,673
2012 modern 219 #18,087
2013 modern 214 #18,671
2014 modern 213 #18,883
2015 modern 209 #19,018
2016 modern 205 #19,250

Geography

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Where Ruddells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St Saviour Southwark, London parishes, St James Clerkenwell, St John Hackney and St Giles Camberwell. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to County Durham, Walsall, South Gloucestershire, King's Lynn and West Norfolk and Rochford. 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 Saviour Southwark London (South Districts)
2 London parishes London 3
3 St James Clerkenwell London (Central Districts)
4 St John Hackney London (North Districts)
5 St Giles Camberwell London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 County Durham 025 County Durham
2 Walsall 018 Walsall
3 South Gloucestershire 024 South Gloucestershire
4 King's Lynn and West Norfolk 012 King's Lynn and West Norfolk
5 Rochford 003 Rochford

Forenames

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First names often paired with Ruddell

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Ruddell

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Ruddell 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

Ruddell is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Ruddell

The surname Ruddell has its roots in the medieval English language and can be traced back to the 12th century. It is believed to have originated from the Old English word "ruddul," which means "red" or "ruddy complexion." This suggests that the name may have been given as a descriptive nickname to someone with a reddish complexion or hair color.

The earliest recorded instances of the Ruddell surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of land ownership and taxation in England commissioned by King William the Conqueror. The name appears in various spellings, such as "Ruddel," "Rudel," and "Ruddle," reflecting the variations in pronunciation and spelling common during that era.

One of the earliest known individuals with the Ruddell surname was John Ruddell, who was born in 1445 in Gloucestershire, England. He was a prominent landowner and served as a member of the local council. Another notable figure was Sir Thomas Ruddell (1530-1592), who was a wealthy merchant and politician during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

The Ruddell surname is also closely tied to several place names in England. For example, the village of Ruddell in Shropshire is believed to have derived its name from the Old English words "rudu" (red) and "hyll" (hill), possibly referring to the reddish soil or vegetation found in the area. Similarly, the hamlet of Ruddle in Somerset may have taken its name from the Ruddell family who lived there.

Throughout history, the Ruddell surname has been associated with various professions and social classes. In the 16th and 17th centuries, several Ruddells were prominent clergymen, such as Richard Ruddell (1564-1643), who served as the Bishop of St. Davids in Wales.

Another notable figure was Sir Benjamin Ruddell (1672-1738), a successful merchant and philanthropist who donated significant funds towards the construction of schools and hospitals in London. His generosity earned him a knighthood from King George II.

Fast forward to the 19th century, and we find John Ruddell (1814-1887), an influential industrialist and engineer who played a pivotal role in the development of the steam engine and the expansion of the railway network in Britain.

Over the centuries, the Ruddell surname has been carried across the globe by descendants of the original English families. Today, it can be found in various countries, including the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, reflecting the rich history and migration patterns of those bearing this name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Ruddell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Ruddell 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 26 Ruddells recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.52x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 26 4.52x
Surrey 22 7.85x
Sussex 3 3.09x
Kent 2 1.02x
Lancashire 2 0.29x
Norfolk 2 2.26x
Northamptonshire 2 3.69x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hackney London in Middlesex leads with 13 Ruddells recorded in 1881 and an index of 40.29x.

Place Total Index
Hackney London 13 40.29x
Camberwell 8 21.76x
Newington 7 32.93x
Kingston On Thames 5 74.18x
Willesden 5 92.25x
Clerkenwell London 4 29.46x
Brighton 3 15.32x
Bethnal Green London 2 8.00x
Heigham 2 42.11x
Milton In Gravesend 2 68.03x
Peterborough 2 51.02x
Clapham 1 13.91x
Islington London 1 1.79x
Lambeth 1 1.99x
Shepperton 1 400.00x
Standish With Langtree 1 119.05x
Walton On Hill 1 27.03x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Eliza 2
Elizabeth 2
Mary 2
Sarah 2
Ann 1
Bertie 1
Bessy 1
Caroline 1
Cressy 1
Daisy 1
Elizth. 1
Ellen 1
Esther 1
Fanny 1
Florence 1
Gertrude 1
Julia 1
Lavina 1
Lydia 1
Martha 1
Minnie 1
Nellie 1
Nelly 1
Susan 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 7
William 5
Daniel 2
George 2
Henry 2
John 2
Albert 1
Archer 1
Archibald 1
Frederick 1
Herbert 1
Mark 1
Raymond 1
Richard 1
Thos. 1
Walter 1
Willm.E. 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 Ruddell households.

FAQ

Ruddell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Ruddell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 59 people were recorded with the Ruddell surname. That placed it at #25,281 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Ruddell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 205 in 2016. That gives Ruddell a modern rank of #19,250.

What does the Ruddell surname mean?

A surname derived from a place name, possibly referring to someone from Ruddell in Shropshire, England.

What does the Ruddell map show?

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