NameCensus.

UK surname

Ruddy

A descriptive surname referring to someone with a ruddy or reddish complexion, or a place with reddish soil.

In the 1881 census there were 483 people recorded with the Ruddy surname, ranking it #6,948 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,437, ranked #4,264, up from #6,948 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, London parishes and Newcastle All Saints. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Copeland, Newcastle upon Tyne and Bow Farm, Barrs Cottage, Cowdenknowes and Overton.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ruddy is 1,449 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 197.5%.

1881 census count

483

Ranked #6,948

Modern count

1,437

2016, ranked #4,264

Peak year

2010

1,449 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Ruddy had 483 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,948 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,437 in 2016, ranked #4,264.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 553 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Ruddy surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Ruddy surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Ruddy 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 156 #12,552
1861 historical 228 #10,703
1881 historical 483 #6,948
1891 historical 529 #7,085
1901 historical 553 #7,500
1911 historical 540 #7,391
1997 modern 1,376 #4,196
1998 modern 1,378 #4,328
1999 modern 1,411 #4,273
2000 modern 1,403 #4,277
2001 modern 1,376 #4,270
2002 modern 1,379 #4,344
2003 modern 1,333 #4,389
2004 modern 1,353 #4,343
2005 modern 1,357 #4,296
2006 modern 1,347 #4,322
2007 modern 1,376 #4,287
2008 modern 1,407 #4,243
2009 modern 1,417 #4,291
2010 modern 1,449 #4,298
2011 modern 1,415 #4,328
2012 modern 1,375 #4,363
2013 modern 1,410 #4,343
2014 modern 1,430 #4,320
2015 modern 1,424 #4,299
2016 modern 1,437 #4,264

Geography

Back to top

Where Ruddys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, London parishes, Newcastle All Saints, Wigan and Liverpool. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Copeland, Newcastle upon Tyne, Bow Farm, Barrs Cottage, Cowdenknowes and Overton, Caldercruix and Plains and Rochdale. 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 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
2 London parishes London 3
3 Newcastle All Saints Northumberland
4 Wigan Lancashire
5 Liverpool Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Copeland 005 Copeland
2 Newcastle upon Tyne 025 Newcastle upon Tyne
3 Bow Farm, Barrs Cottage, Cowdenknowes and Overton Inverclyde
4 Caldercruix and Plains North Lanarkshire
5 Rochdale 016 Rochdale

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Ruddy

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Ruddy

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Ruddy surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Ruddy household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Ruddy is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, 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

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

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

Ruddy is most concentrated in decile 1 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Ruddy falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Ruddy 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 - Irish

This describes the area pattern most associated with Ruddy, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Ruddy

The surname Ruddy is believed to have originated in England, with records dating back to the 13th century. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "rudu," meaning "redness" or "ruddy complexion." The surname may have been initially used as a descriptive nickname for someone with a particularly ruddy or flushed complexion.

In the Domesday Book of 1086, a record of landholders in England, there are references to individuals with the name Ruddi or Rudi, which may be early variations of the modern spelling. The name was particularly prevalent in the counties of Yorkshire and Lincolnshire during the medieval period.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname is William Ruddy, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1218. Another early bearer of the name was John Ruddy, who was recorded in the Subsidy Rolls of Staffordshire in 1327.

The surname Ruddy has also been associated with various place names in England, such as Rudby in North Yorkshire and Ruddington in Nottinghamshire. These place names may have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname in certain regions.

Notable individuals with the surname Ruddy throughout history include:

1. Thomas Ruddy (1574-1638), an English prelate who served as the Bishop of St. Davids in Wales. 2. Benjamin Ruddy (1688-1757), a prominent English merchant and landowner based in Bristol. 3. Sir Charles Ruddy (1791-1865), a British naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars and later became a Member of Parliament. 4. Mary Ruddy (1832-1910), an Irish-American philanthropist and activist who was involved in the labor movement and women's suffrage. 5. Stephen Ruddy (1923-2010), a British author and historian known for his works on military history and World War II.

While the surname Ruddy is more commonly found in England and Ireland, it has also been present in other parts of the world due to migration patterns. However, the earliest recorded instances and historical references suggest that the name has its roots firmly planted in the British Isles.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Ruddy families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Ruddy 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. Lancashire leads with 149 Ruddys recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.63x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 149 2.63x
Durham 76 5.36x
Yorkshire 76 1.61x
Lanarkshire 27 1.75x
Staffordshire 26 1.61x
Northumberland 19 2.68x
Middlesex 18 0.38x
Cumberland 14 3.41x
Worcestershire 12 1.93x
Kent 11 0.68x
Cheshire 10 0.95x
Anglesey 7 8.28x
Dunbartonshire 6 4.68x
Midlothian 6 0.94x
Renfrewshire 6 1.62x
Dorset 5 1.60x
Isle of Man 4 4.52x
Merionethshire 4 4.58x
Warwickshire 4 0.33x
Roxburghshire 3 3.47x
Hampshire 2 0.20x
Surrey 2 0.09x
Lincolnshire 1 0.13x
Royal Navy 1 1.76x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Liverpool in Lancashire leads with 39 Ruddys recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.34x.

Place Total Index
Liverpool 39 11.34x
Newcastle Under Lyme 22 77.22x
Govan 16 4.19x
Toxteth Park 15 7.83x
Leeds 12 4.50x
Linthorpe 12 42.54x
Conside Knitsley 11 99.73x
Paddington London 11 6.27x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 10 16.27x
Selby 10 101.21x
Tadcaster West 10 267.38x
Blackburn 9 5.98x
Bootle Cum Linacre 9 20.02x
Ouston 9 434.78x
Bromsgrove 8 38.15x
Preston 8 5.28x
Wigan 8 10.11x
Woolwich 8 13.30x
Birkenhead 7 8.34x
Holyhead 7 44.42x
Kirkham 7 93.58x
Middlesbrough 7 11.37x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 7 16.51x
Preston Quarter 7 60.82x
Tynemouth 7 18.42x
Collierley 6 94.94x
Dumbarton 6 33.63x
Hipperholme Cum 6 28.89x
North Meols 6 10.83x
Ormskirk 6 55.40x
Salford 6 3.60x
Wigton 6 97.40x
Cadder 5 43.90x
Eastwood 5 21.96x
Gateshead 5 4.71x
Monkwearmouth 5 36.82x
Penicuik 5 57.60x
Stockton On Tees 5 7.31x
Birmingham 4 1.00x
Bridport 4 62.11x
Everton 4 2.22x
Glasgow 4 1.46x
Llandderfel 4 235.29x
Middridge 4 285.71x
Normanby In 4 31.65x
Oldham 4 2.19x
Onchan 4 15.67x
Whalley 4 48.48x
Wolstanton Oldcott 4 68.61x
Chorlton On Medlock 3 3.34x
Cowpen Bewley 3 186.34x
Dudley 3 3.96x
Haslingden 3 12.80x
Jedburgh 3 35.42x
Kirkdale 3 3.15x
North Shields 3 21.19x
Plumstead 3 5.53x
Stranton 3 6.28x
Sunderland 3 11.97x
Winlaton 3 22.04x
Accrington 2 3.89x
Bishop Auckland 2 10.50x
Castleton 2 3.54x
Ecclesfield 2 5.77x
Ferryhill 2 40.32x
Healaugh 2 512.82x
Mile End Old Town 2 2.66x
Shettleston 2 14.48x
Yarm 2 82.30x
Alverstoke 1 2.83x
Armley 1 4.80x
Elswick 1 1.77x
Halsall 1 44.64x
Holme On Spalding Moor 1 32.26x
Huby 1 123.46x
Monks Coppenhall 1 2.52x
Over Darwen 1 2.21x
Walton On Hill 1 3.26x
West Calder 1 7.94x
Willington 1 12.20x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 47
Catherine 24
Ann 18
Margaret 17
Bridget 16
Ellen 14
Annie 11
Elizabeth 10
Jane 6
Anne 4
Kate 4
Agnes 3
Eliza 3
Ethel 3
Frances 3
Hannah 3
Julia 3
Sarah 3
Alice 2
Emily 2
Maria 2
Rose 2
Theresa 2
Cathe. 1
Cathraine 1
Edith 1
Elizth. 1
Emma 1
Esther 1
Fanny 1
Hanord 1
Honnorah 1
Honora 1
Infant 1
Jane.O. 1
Jemmima 1
Louisa 1
Maggie 1
Margeret 1
Margrate 1
Margt.Ann 1
Maryan 1
May 1
Neale 1
Rebecca 1
Sebnic 1
Susannah 1
Tamar 1
Teresa 1
Winiford 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 35
Patrick 28
Michael 24
James 21
Thomas 17
William 9
Austin 8
Peter 8
Charles 5
Francis 4
George 4
Martin 4
Hugh 3
Joseph 3
Stephen 3
Anthony 2
Augustine 2
Edward 2
Henry 2
Owen 2
Thos. 2
Alexander 1
Alfd.J. 1
Arthur 1
Bernard 1
C. 1
Celia 1
Daniel 1
Harrison 1
Jeremiah 1
Josp. 1
Leslie 1
Micheal 1
Nicholas 1
Richard 1
Roger 1
Terence 1
Thos.Alex. 1
Tom 1
Wm.Pamplin 1

FAQ

Ruddy surname: questions and answers

How common was the Ruddy surname in 1881?

In 1881, 483 people were recorded with the Ruddy surname. That placed it at #6,948 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Ruddy surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,437 in 2016. That gives Ruddy a modern rank of #4,264.

What does the Ruddy surname mean?

A descriptive surname referring to someone with a ruddy or reddish complexion, or a place with reddish soil.

What does the Ruddy map show?

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