NameCensus.

UK surname

Rudge

A surname derived from a place name, possibly from the Old English ridde meaning "clearing" or "assart."

In the 1881 census there were 2,344 people recorded with the Rudge surname, ranking it #1,894 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 3,564, ranked #1,903, down from #1,894 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wolverhampton, Sedgley and East Dean, Little Dean, Flaxley, Abinghall, Weston-under-Penyard (Ross, Herefordshire), Lea (Ross, H. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Dudley, Herefordshire and Sandwell.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Rudge is 3,757 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 52.0%.

1881 census count

2,344

Ranked #1,894

Modern count

3,564

2016, ranked #1,903

Peak year

1999

3,757 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Rudge had 2,344 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,894 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 3,564 in 2016, ranked #1,903.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 3,513 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Rudge surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Rudge surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Rudge 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 1,522 #1,885
1861 historical 1,423 #1,998
1881 historical 2,344 #1,894
1891 historical 2,657 #1,792
1901 historical 3,298 #1,692
1911 historical 3,513 #1,486
1997 modern 3,558 #1,820
1998 modern 3,711 #1,814
1999 modern 3,757 #1,806
2000 modern 3,714 #1,816
2001 modern 3,650 #1,804
2002 modern 3,721 #1,819
2003 modern 3,712 #1,786
2004 modern 3,711 #1,780
2005 modern 3,643 #1,789
2006 modern 3,603 #1,809
2007 modern 3,649 #1,802
2008 modern 3,611 #1,832
2009 modern 3,668 #1,855
2010 modern 3,710 #1,873
2011 modern 3,654 #1,880
2012 modern 3,575 #1,881
2013 modern 3,641 #1,885
2014 modern 3,670 #1,880
2015 modern 3,600 #1,891
2016 modern 3,564 #1,903

Geography

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Where Rudges are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wolverhampton, Sedgley, East Dean, Little Dean, Flaxley, Abinghall, Weston-under-Penyard (Ross, Herefordshire), Lea (Ross, H, Halesowen (all except Hunnington, Romsley; partly in Halesowen, Worcestershire) and London parishes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Dudley, Herefordshire and Sandwell. 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 Wolverhampton Staffordshire
2 Sedgley Staffordshire
3 East Dean, Little Dean, Flaxley, Abinghall, Weston-under-Penyard (Ross, Herefordshire), Lea (Ross, H Gloucestershire
4 Halesowen (all except Hunnington, Romsley; partly in Halesowen, Worcestershire) Staffordshire
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Dudley 039 Dudley
2 Herefordshire 023 Herefordshire, County of
3 Sandwell 033 Sandwell
4 Dudley 034 Dudley
5 Dudley 043 Dudley

Forenames

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First names often paired with Rudge

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Rudge

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Rudge surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Rudge household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Rudge 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

Rudge is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Rudge falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Rudge is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Rudge

The surname RUDGE has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "hrycg," meaning "ridge" or "back," referring to a person who lived near a ridge or elevated landform.

The earliest recorded instance of the name RUDGE can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Rugg" or "Rugge." This indicates that the name was already in use during the Norman conquest of England in the 11th century.

In the 13th century, the name RUDGE appeared in various records and documents, such as the Hundred Rolls of Wiltshire from 1273, where a person named John Rugge was mentioned. During this period, the name was also associated with several place names, including Rudge Hill in Wiltshire and Rudge Farm in Somerset.

One of the earliest notable individuals with the surname RUDGE was Sir Benjamin Rudge (1572-1658), an English politician and member of Parliament during the reign of King Charles I. Another prominent figure was Samuel Rudge (1620-1690), a Quaker minister and writer who authored several religious works.

In the 18th century, Edward Rudge (1701-1778) was a renowned English botanist and paleontologist, known for his contributions to the study of fossil plants. His contemporaries included Thomas Rudge (1740-1811), a celebrated English engraver and artist.

During the 19th century, the RUDGE surname gained further recognition with individuals like Thomas Rudge (1833-1890), a prominent English watchmaker and inventor of the self-winding watch mechanism. Additionally, Arthur Rudge (1856-1920) was a notable English cyclist and founder of the Rudge-Whitworth bicycle company.

Some variations and alternative spellings of the name RUDGE include Rudger, Rugg, Rugge, and Rige, reflecting the evolution of the surname over time and across different regions of England.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Rudge families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Rudge 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. Gloucestershire leads with 368 Rudges recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.19x.

County Total Index
Gloucestershire 368 8.19x
Worcestershire 351 11.73x
Staffordshire 334 4.32x
Warwickshire 229 3.96x
Lancashire 178 0.65x
Middlesex 173 0.75x
Herefordshire 138 14.69x
Yorkshire 98 0.43x
Shropshire 78 3.94x
Essex 76 1.68x
Surrey 35 0.31x
Monmouthshire 29 1.75x
Glamorgan 28 0.70x
Cheshire 27 0.53x
Derbyshire 21 0.59x
Durham 20 0.29x
Hampshire 15 0.32x
Kent 15 0.19x
Sussex 14 0.36x
Somerset 13 0.35x
Cumberland 11 0.56x
Lanarkshire 11 0.15x
Oxfordshire 10 0.71x
Northumberland 8 0.23x
Wiltshire 8 0.39x
Cornwall 7 0.27x
Norfolk 7 0.20x
Devon 6 0.13x
Hertfordshire 6 0.38x
Northamptonshire 6 0.28x
Royal Navy 6 2.20x
Montgomeryshire 5 0.95x
Denbighshire 4 0.46x
Ayrshire 3 0.17x
Bedfordshire 3 0.25x
Carmarthenshire 2 0.21x
Orkney 2 0.79x
Suffolk 2 0.07x
Flintshire 1 0.16x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.03x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Birmingham in Warwickshire leads with 130 Rudges recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.75x.

Place Total Index
Birmingham 130 6.75x
Halesowen 85 323.56x
Aston 75 4.71x
Wolverhampton 75 12.61x
Westbury On Severn East 71 69.88x
Sedgley 70 24.37x
West Dean 41 56.16x
Kings Norton 37 13.79x
Warrington 37 11.48x
Hasbury 34 173.74x
The Hill 30 156.09x
Dedham 24 174.93x
Islington London 24 1.08x
Ross 24 64.22x
Hulme 22 3.88x
Cheltenham 21 6.06x
Westbury On Trym 21 13.79x
Mangotsfield 20 44.65x
Walsall Foreign 20 5.01x
Harborne 19 7.66x
St Marylebone London 19 1.55x
Little Bolton 18 5.15x
Tipton 18 7.60x
Dronfield 16 34.81x
Normanby In 15 24.71x
Tranmere 15 8.07x
Berkeley 14 55.98x
Kingswinford 14 4.99x
Northfield 14 24.66x
Rowley Regis 14 6.50x
Tardebigg 14 307.02x
Waltham Holy Cross 14 33.11x
Dudley 13 3.57x
Normanton 13 19.05x
Oldham 13 1.48x
Pentyrch 13 78.88x
Tettenhall 13 27.49x
Clerkenwell London 12 2.22x
Cradley 12 44.35x
Dursley 12 64.94x
Hammersmith London 12 2.13x
Saul 12 256.41x
Bilston 11 7.34x
Longhope 11 144.17x
Pirton 11 763.89x
St George Hanover 11 3.68x
St Pancras London 11 0.60x
Stoke Upon Trent 11 1.34x
Dymock 10 93.37x
Hackney London 10 0.78x
Hereford All Sts 10 23.23x
Holy Trinity 10 1.83x
Kensington London 10 0.78x
Pauntley 10 584.80x
Uley 10 121.95x
Westbury On Severn 10 56.18x
Amblecote 9 40.82x
Ashton Under Lyne 9 1.51x
Bishops Castle Out 9 222.22x
Chaceley 9 452.26x
Halliwell 9 9.10x
Horsley 9 45.20x
Liscard 9 9.88x
Shifnal 9 16.75x
Tutbury 9 47.72x
Weston Under Penyard 9 136.57x
Whitchurch 9 156.79x
Dagenham 8 29.72x
Enfield 8 5.32x
Great Bolton 8 2.22x
Handsworth 8 4.20x
Hope Mansell 8 473.37x
Hunslet 8 2.26x
Kidderminster Borough 8 4.57x
Lawford 8 121.40x
Llanover 8 14.14x
Poplar London 8 1.85x
Sandal Magna 8 23.82x
Walford 8 85.56x
West Derby 8 1.01x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 159
Elizabeth 88
Sarah 86
Eliza 49
Ann 47
Jane 44
Emma 41
Ellen 37
Alice 33
Annie 27
Emily 27
Hannah 26
Fanny 25
Harriet 24
Martha 18
Charlotte 15
Louisa 15
Clara 14
Harriett 14
Ada 12
Edith 12
Caroline 11
Margaret 11
Maria 11
Anne 9
Catherine 8
Esther 8
Florence 8
Kate 8
Matilda 8
Susan 8
Agnes 7
Isabella 7
Rebecca 7
Elizth. 6
Ethel 6
Minnie 6
Adelaide 5
Amelia 5
Eleanor 5
Frances 5
Julia 5
Lucy 5
Rosa 5
Rose 5
Susannah 5
Amy 4
Helen 4
Selina 4
Sophia 4

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 150
John 119
Thomas 99
George 70
Henry 65
James 55
Charles 53
Edward 42
Joseph 37
Arthur 33
Samuel 27
Alfred 26
Richard 22
Walter 22
Albert 19
Frederick 15
Robert 15
Benjamin 14
Herbert 13
David 12
Harry 12
Edwin 11
Peter 10
Frank 9
Ernest 7
Francis 7
Tom 6
Andrew 5
Fredrick 5
Willm. 5
Daniel 4
Enoch 4
Freeman 4
Isaac 4
Percy 4
Sidney 4
Thos. 4
Wm. 4
Adam 3
Jos. 3
Reuben 3
Abraham 2
Amos 2
Edmund 2
Fred 2
Fredk. 2
Jesse 2
Phillip 2
Reginald 2
Simeon 2

FAQ

Rudge surname: questions and answers

How common was the Rudge surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,344 people were recorded with the Rudge surname. That placed it at #1,894 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Rudge surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 3,564 in 2016. That gives Rudge a modern rank of #1,903.

What does the Rudge surname mean?

A surname derived from a place name, possibly from the Old English ridde meaning "clearing" or "assart."

What does the Rudge map show?

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