UK surname
A surname likely derived from a dialectal form of "red duck", referring to the bird.
In the 1881 census there were 100 people recorded with the Rudduck surname, ranking it #19,750 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 66, ranked #33,948, down from #19,750 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Whatley, Elm, London parishes and Woolpit. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Rudduck is 142 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 34.0%.
1881 census count
100
Ranked #19,750
Modern count
66
2016, ranked #33,948
Peak year
1911
142 bearers
Map years
3
1861 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Rudduck surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Rudduck surname density by area, 1881 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 73 | #20,581 |
| 1861 | historical | 112 | #19,279 |
| 1881 | historical | 100 | #19,750 |
| 1891 | historical | 72 | #27,804 |
| 1901 | historical | 79 | #25,363 |
| 1911 | historical | 142 | #18,487 |
| 1997 | modern | 81 | #29,436 |
| 1998 | modern | 82 | #29,754 |
| 1999 | modern | 81 | #30,037 |
| 2000 | modern | 72 | #30,977 |
| 2001 | modern | 74 | #30,600 |
| 2002 | modern | 75 | #30,950 |
| 2003 | modern | 75 | #30,994 |
| 2004 | modern | 73 | #31,403 |
| 2005 | modern | 76 | #31,267 |
| 2006 | modern | 72 | #32,059 |
| 2007 | modern | 71 | #32,484 |
| 2008 | modern | 67 | #33,135 |
| 2009 | modern | 68 | #33,341 |
| 2010 | modern | 68 | #33,632 |
| 2011 | modern | 73 | #33,230 |
| 2012 | modern | 56 | #34,510 |
| 2013 | modern | 64 | #34,127 |
| 2014 | modern | 62 | #34,281 |
| 2015 | modern | 65 | #34,036 |
| 2016 | modern | 66 | #33,948 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Whatley, Elm, London parishes, Woolpit and Manchester. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Whatley, Elm | Somerset |
| 2 | London parishes | London 1 |
| 3 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 4 | Woolpit | Suffolk |
| 5 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Rudduck surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Rudduck, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Rudduck surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Rudduck household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Rudduck is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Rudduck is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Rudduck, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Rudduck is believed to have originated in England, with records dating back to the 14th century. It is thought to derive from the Old English word "ruduc," meaning "red duck" or "ruddy duck," referring to the reddish-brown color of certain waterfowl. This surname likely emerged as a descriptive nickname for someone with a ruddy complexion or a connection to the hunting or trading of these birds.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1327, which mention a William Rudduk. The spelling variations in these early records, such as Rudduk, Rudducc, and Rudducke, reflect the fluidity of surname spellings during that time period.
In the 15th century, the Rudduck name appeared in various manorial records and court rolls across England, particularly in the counties of Cambridgeshire, Essex, and Suffolk. These records often provide glimpses into the lives of individuals bearing the name, such as John Rudduck, who was listed as a freeman of the City of Cambridge in 1478.
Interestingly, the Rudduck name has also been associated with certain place names in England. For instance, there is a hamlet called Rudduck's Green in the parish of Great Bentley, Essex, which may have derived its name from an early settler with the Rudduck surname.
Notable individuals with the Rudduck surname include Sir Edward Rudduck (1573-1638), a member of Parliament for Cambridge during the reign of King James I, and Sir Thomas Rudduck (1615-1682), a prominent merchant and landowner in Essex, who served as Sheriff of Essex in 1661.
Another prominent figure was John Rudduck (1701-1772), a successful playwright and satirist in London, whose works often commented on the social and political issues of his time. His play "The Rival Fools" was particularly well-received and enjoyed multiple performances at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane.
In the 19th century, William Rudduck (1828-1903) made a name for himself as a pioneering architect and civil engineer, contributing to the design and construction of several notable buildings and infrastructure projects in London and the surrounding areas.
It is worth noting that while the Rudduck name may have originated as a descriptive nickname, over time it evolved into a hereditary surname, passed down through generations and spreading across various regions of England and beyond.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Rudduck surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 21 Rudducks recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.24x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 21 | 2.24x |
| Lancashire | 20 | 1.80x |
| Suffolk | 19 | 16.66x |
| Surrey | 15 | 3.29x |
| Norfolk | 9 | 6.25x |
| Monmouthshire | 5 | 7.39x |
| Somerset | 3 | 1.99x |
| Cambridgeshire | 2 | 3.37x |
| Kent | 2 | 0.63x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Mellis in Suffolk leads with 15 Rudducks recorded in 1881 and an index of 10000.00x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Mellis | 15 | 10000.00x |
| Hulme | 10 | 43.10x |
| Battersea | 9 | 26.12x |
| St Botolph Bishopsgate | 7 | 526.32x |
| Thetford St Cuthbert | 6 | 1153.85x |
| Bedwellty | 5 | 41.84x |
| Hillingdon | 5 | 167.22x |
| Skerton | 5 | 549.45x |
| Whitefriars Precinct | 5 | 3333.33x |
| Camberwell | 4 | 6.69x |
| Westminster St John | 4 | 35.09x |
| Heigham | 3 | 38.81x |
| Chorlton On Medlock | 2 | 11.33x |
| Elm | 2 | 1818.18x |
| Euston | 2 | 2857.14x |
| Isleham | 2 | 370.37x |
| Manchester | 2 | 4.00x |
| Southwark St Saviour | 2 | 41.58x |
| Ashford | 1 | 32.15x |
| Bromley | 1 | 20.53x |
| Hopton | 1 | 357.14x |
| Mells | 1 | 322.58x |
| North Meols | 1 | 9.19x |
| Stanstead | 1 | 833.33x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Rudduck surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Rudduck surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Rudduck households.
FAQ
In 1881, 100 people were recorded with the Rudduck surname. That placed it at #19,750 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 66 in 2016. That gives Rudduck a modern rank of #33,948.
A surname likely derived from a dialectal form of "red duck", referring to the bird.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Rudduck bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.