NameCensus.

UK surname

Ruddle

A toponymic surname referring to someone who lived near a muddy pool or stream.

In the 1881 census there were 478 people recorded with the Ruddle surname, ranking it #7,000 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 532, ranked #9,547, down from #7,000 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Kingsclere, Swindon, Lyddington and Trowbridge. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Mendip, South Somerset and Swindon.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ruddle is 583 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 11.3%.

1881 census count

478

Ranked #7,000

Modern count

532

2016, ranked #9,547

Peak year

1999

583 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Ruddle had 478 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,000 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 532 in 2016, ranked #9,547.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 566 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Ruddle surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Ruddle surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Ruddle 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 361 #6,554
1861 historical 335 #7,610
1881 historical 478 #7,000
1891 historical 541 #6,976
1901 historical 540 #7,620
1911 historical 566 #7,137
1997 modern 565 #8,493
1998 modern 581 #8,566
1999 modern 583 #8,605
2000 modern 583 #8,571
2001 modern 553 #8,772
2002 modern 568 #8,764
2003 modern 550 #8,843
2004 modern 554 #8,812
2005 modern 542 #8,887
2006 modern 547 #8,855
2007 modern 542 #8,991
2008 modern 539 #9,098
2009 modern 546 #9,230
2010 modern 564 #9,185
2011 modern 556 #9,185
2012 modern 547 #9,203
2013 modern 551 #9,320
2014 modern 565 #9,191
2015 modern 546 #9,370
2016 modern 532 #9,547

Geography

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Where Ruddles are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Kingsclere, Swindon, Lyddington, Trowbridge, Bishops Cannings and St Pancras. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Mendip, South Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire. 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 Kingsclere Hampshire
2 Swindon, Lyddington Wiltshire
3 Trowbridge Wiltshire
4 Bishops Cannings Wiltshire
5 St Pancras London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Mendip 011 Mendip
2 South Somerset 003 South Somerset
3 Swindon 013 Swindon
4 Wiltshire 057 Wiltshire
5 Wiltshire 040 Wiltshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Ruddle

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Ruddle

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

Ageing Communities

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Ruddle is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Ruddle is most concentrated in decile 3 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Ruddle

The surname RUDDLE is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "ruddel," which referred to the reddish-brown color of certain types of soil or clay. This suggests that the name may have been initially given to someone who worked with such materials, perhaps a potter or brickmaker.

The earliest known written record of the RUDDLE surname dates back to the late 12th century, where it appears in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1195 as "Rudel." Similar spellings, such as "Ruddel" and "Ruddale," can be found in other historical documents from the 13th and 14th centuries.

One notable early bearer of the RUDDLE name was John Ruddle, a wealthy merchant and landowner who lived in Somerset, England, in the 15th century. He is mentioned in various records from the 1460s and 1470s, including a deed of sale for land in the village of Brewton.

In the 16th century, the RUDDLE surname appears to have spread to other parts of England, with records showing families of that name living in counties such as Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, and Oxfordshire. One notable figure from this period was William Ruddle, a scholar and clergyman who was born in Gloucestershire in 1552 and later became the Dean of Gloucester Cathedral.

As the centuries progressed, the RUDDLE name continued to be found across England, with some families also migrating to other parts of the British Isles and eventually to the American colonies. One famous bearer of the name was Samuel Ruddle, a prominent Baptist minister who was born in Wiltshire in 1616 and later emigrated to Massachusetts, where he helped establish several churches in the colony.

Another notable figure with the RUDDLE surname was Thomas Ruddle, a British army officer who served in the American Revolutionary War. Born in Worcestershire in 1742, he fought on the side of the British and was captured by the Continental Army at the Battle of Yorktown in 1781.

In the 19th century, the RUDDLE name continued to be found across England and other parts of the English-speaking world. One notable figure was William Ruddle, a British artist and illustrator who was born in London in 1820 and is known for his detailed etchings and engravings depicting scenes of rural life.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Ruddle families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Ruddle 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. Wiltshire leads with 133 Ruddles recorded in 1881 and an index of 32.12x.

County Total Index
Wiltshire 133 32.12x
Hampshire 54 5.63x
Middlesex 48 1.03x
Berkshire 31 8.82x
Kent 26 1.63x
Surrey 26 1.14x
Leicestershire 19 3.66x
Nottinghamshire 19 3.01x
Yorkshire 17 0.37x
Gloucestershire 16 1.74x
Northamptonshire 16 3.63x
Somerset 12 1.59x
Oxfordshire 11 3.80x
Lancashire 9 0.16x
Derbyshire 8 1.09x
Devon 7 0.72x
Rutland 7 20.36x
Dorset 6 1.95x
Herefordshire 5 2.60x
Essex 2 0.22x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.35x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.34x
Cheshire 1 0.10x
Lincolnshire 1 0.13x
Merionethshire 1 1.17x
Royal Navy 1 1.79x
Sussex 1 0.13x
Warwickshire 1 0.08x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Pancras London in Middlesex leads with 27 Ruddles recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.16x.

Place Total Index
St Pancras London 27 7.16x
Kingsclere 19 433.79x
Burbage 18 853.08x
Nottingham St Mary 18 11.03x
Chippenham 16 184.33x
Calne 15 176.06x
Devizes St James 15 272.73x
Camberwell 14 4.68x
Peterborough 12 37.64x
Portsea 11 5.85x
Swindon 11 34.25x
Pewsey 10 327.87x
East Tytherley 9 1475.41x
Marshfield 9 367.35x
Trowbridge 9 49.18x
Winkfield 9 154.37x
Yatesbury 9 2647.06x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 8 18.51x
Whitsbury 8 2758.62x
Alfreton 7 31.43x
Brightside Bierlow 7 7.69x
Kensington London 7 2.69x
Keynsham 7 129.39x
Lewisham 7 8.22x
Bexley 6 42.49x
Cottesmore 6 909.09x
Durrington 6 952.38x
East Garston 6 810.81x
Shebbear 6 410.96x
Deptford St Nicholas 5 39.43x
Manchester 5 2.00x
Reading St Giles 5 14.50x
Thurnby 5 1351.35x
Woodlands 5 684.93x
Blaston 4 2000.00x
Clapham 4 6.83x
Devizes St John 4 128.62x
Great Faringdon 4 79.21x
Hammersmith London 4 3.47x
Hereford St Nicholas 4 153.26x
Sherfield Upon Loddon 4 388.35x
Woolwich 4 6.78x
Bishops Cannings 3 196.08x
Bristol St Augustine 3 20.24x
Bromham 3 160.43x
Burford 3 119.52x
Charlbury 3 92.31x
Clutton 3 182.93x
Corsley 3 184.05x
Enfield 3 9.77x
Steeple Ashton 3 267.86x
Sunninghill 3 61.48x
Ab Kettleby 2 540.54x
Bristol St James St Paul 2 6.53x
Dover St Mary Virgin 2 12.94x
Everton 2 1.13x
Frisby On The Wreake 2 317.46x
Hackney London 2 0.76x
Heeley 2 14.18x
Humberstone 2 46.95x
Hungerford 2 42.11x
Kidlington 2 89.29x
Leicester St Mary 2 4.77x
Ramsbury 2 53.33x
Rushden 2 33.96x
Streatham 2 5.76x
Walthamstow 2 6.01x
Blackland 1 1250.00x
Clifton 1 2.15x
Hartley Wintney 1 34.72x
Hawkhurst 1 20.12x
Islington London 1 0.22x
Northampton St Sepulchre 1 4.46x
Odiham 1 23.75x
Ramsgate 1 3.83x
Skeffington 1 400.00x
Somerton 1 181.82x
Stratton St Margaret 1 15.75x
Walcot 1 2.49x
Wimbledon 1 3.90x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 21
Sarah 20
Eliza 13
Elizabeth 12
Annie 10
Jane 10
Emma 9
Ann 8
Emily 8
Ellen 7
Alice 6
Harriet 6
Charlotte 5
Harriett 5
Margaret 5
Edith 4
Fanny 4
Matilda 4
Susan 4
Anna 3
Anne 3
Catherine 3
Elsie 3
Florence 3
Louisa 3
Lucy 3
Agnes 2
Amy 2
Julia 2
Lilly 2
Mable 2
Maria 2
Martha 2
Maud 2
Minnie 2
Rebecca 2
Rose 2
Sophia 2
Caroline 1
Cecelia 1
Ema 1
Ester 1
Esther 1
Ethea 1
Ethel 1
Kate 1
Lavinia 1
Lily 1
Lucilla 1
Zilpah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 33
George 31
Thomas 18
John 17
James 16
Henry 11
Alfred 8
Charles 8
Arthur 6
Frederick 6
Walter 6
Francis 5
Robert 5
Joseph 4
Tom 4
Edward 3
Albert 2
Daniel 2
Ernest 2
Frank 2
Fred 2
Harry 2
Herbert 2
Hugh 2
Samuel 2
Simeon 2
Benjamin 1
Edwd. 1
Elijah 1
Elisha 1
Geoffrey 1
H. 1
Harold 1
Horace 1
Infant 1
Jacob 1
Maria 1
Mark 1
Martin 1
Matthew 1
Michael 1
Patrick 1
Richard 1
Robt. 1
Robt.W. 1
Septimus 1
Sydney 1
Thos 1
Thos. 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Ruddle surname: questions and answers

How common was the Ruddle surname in 1881?

In 1881, 478 people were recorded with the Ruddle surname. That placed it at #7,000 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Ruddle surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 532 in 2016. That gives Ruddle a modern rank of #9,547.

What does the Ruddle surname mean?

A toponymic surname referring to someone who lived near a muddy pool or stream.

What does the Ruddle map show?

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