UK surname
An English locational surname from a place called Rudley near Tewkesbury.
In the 1881 census there were 49 people recorded with the Rudley surname, ranking it #26,735 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 47, ranked #35,069, down from #26,735 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Stockport and Whaplode. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Rudley is 145 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 4.1%.
1881 census count
49
Ranked #26,735
Modern count
47
2016, ranked #35,069
Peak year
1861
145 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Rudley surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Rudley surname density by area, 1861 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 | 30 | #27,891 |
| 1861 | historical | 145 | #15,715 |
| 1881 | historical | 49 | #26,735 |
| 1891 | historical | 78 | #27,035 |
| 1901 | historical | 23 | #31,466 |
| 1911 | historical | 38 | #29,147 |
| 1997 | modern | 44 | #33,275 |
| 1998 | modern | 44 | #33,462 |
| 1999 | modern | 43 | #33,683 |
| 2000 | modern | 41 | #33,889 |
| 2001 | modern | 39 | #33,923 |
| 2002 | modern | 42 | #33,951 |
| 2003 | modern | 43 | #33,951 |
| 2004 | modern | 41 | #34,306 |
| 2005 | modern | 46 | #34,081 |
| 2006 | modern | 45 | #34,491 |
| 2007 | modern | 41 | #34,974 |
| 2008 | modern | 42 | #34,994 |
| 2009 | modern | 43 | #35,088 |
| 2010 | modern | 43 | #35,233 |
| 2011 | modern | 43 | #35,228 |
| 2012 | modern | 44 | #35,164 |
| 2013 | modern | 46 | #35,110 |
| 2014 | modern | 45 | #35,201 |
| 2015 | modern | 46 | #35,109 |
| 2016 | modern | 47 | #35,069 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Stockport, Whaplode, Chigwell and Toxteth Park. 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 | Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside | Durham |
| 2 | Stockport | Cheshire |
| 3 | Whaplode | Lincolnshire |
| 4 | Chigwell | Essex |
| 5 | Toxteth Park | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Rudley 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 Rudley, 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 Rudley surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Rudley 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, Rudley 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 Rudley is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Rudley, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Rudley originated in England, first appearing in the late 13th century. It is believed to be a locational name derived from the place name Rudley, a small village in Yorkshire. The name is thought to come from the Old English words "rude" meaning rude or rough, and "leah" meaning a woodland clearing or meadow, suggesting the name referred to a rough or uncultivated area.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire from 1297, where a John de Rudley is mentioned. The "de" prefix indicates the name's locational origins. Over time, the spelling evolved to its modern form of Rudley.
In the 14th century, the Rudley name appeared in the Lay Subsidy Rolls of 1334 for the village of Rudley itself, suggesting the name was well-established in the area by that time. A notable early bearer of the name was William Rudley, who served as a member of parliament for the Borough of Aldborough in Yorkshire in 1410.
During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Rudley family gained prominence in the county of Yorkshire. Sir Thomas Rudley (1505-1575) was a prominent landowner and served as High Sheriff of Yorkshire in 1565. His son, Sir Benjamin Rudley (1539-1616), was a member of parliament and a renowned scholar who translated several works from Greek and Latin.
In the 18th century, the name spread beyond Yorkshire to other parts of England. Reverend Samuel Rudley (1701-1778) was a notable clergyman who served as the rector of Witchampton in Dorset. Another prominent bearer of the name was Sir John Rudley (1725-1802), a successful merchant and philanthropist who made significant donations to several charitable causes in London.
Throughout the centuries, the Rudley name has been associated with various professions, including clergymen, landowners, merchants, and scholars. While not a particularly common surname, it has maintained a presence in England and other parts of the British Isles for over 700 years.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Rudley 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. Surrey leads with 10 Rudleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.29x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Surrey | 10 | 4.29x |
| Durham | 8 | 5.63x |
| Lancashire | 8 | 1.41x |
| Middlesex | 7 | 1.46x |
| Norfolk | 6 | 8.16x |
| Lincolnshire | 5 | 6.54x |
| Yorkshire | 3 | 0.63x |
| Cambridgeshire | 1 | 3.30x |
| Essex | 1 | 1.06x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Blackburn in Lancashire leads with 8 Rudleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 53.02x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Blackburn | 8 | 53.02x |
| Chester Le Street | 8 | 733.95x |
| Bermondsey | 7 | 49.19x |
| Whaplode | 5 | 1923.08x |
| Hammersmith London | 3 | 25.49x |
| Kings Lynn St Margaret | 2 | 90.50x |
| Marske In Guisbrough | 2 | 238.10x |
| Shoreditch London | 2 | 9.65x |
| Southwark St Saviour | 2 | 81.30x |
| Tilney All Sts | 2 | 2222.22x |
| Wiggenhall St German | 2 | 2222.22x |
| Ecclesall Bierlow | 1 | 10.38x |
| Ely Holy Trinity St Mary | 1 | 75.76x |
| Lambeth | 1 | 2.40x |
| Leyton Low | 1 | 52.08x |
| Mile End Old Town | 1 | 13.26x |
| Paddington London | 1 | 5.69x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Rudley 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 Rudley 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 Rudley households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 9 |
| Labourer In Iron Works | 3 |
| Laundress | 3 |
| Ag Lab | 2 |
| Brush Maker | 2 |
| Coal Miner | 2 |
| Errand Boy | 2 |
| (Tailor) (Clothing Assistt) | 1 |
| Agr Lab | 1 |
| Brickmaker | 1 |
| Cotton Weaver | 1 |
| General Serv | 1 |
| General Servant | 1 |
| Housemaid | 1 |
| Housemaid Dom | 1 |
| Infant | 1 |
| Ironstone Miner | 1 |
| Needle Woman | 1 |
| Plate Layer | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 49 people were recorded with the Rudley surname. That placed it at #26,735 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 47 in 2016. That gives Rudley a modern rank of #35,069.
An English locational surname from a place called Rudley near Tewkesbury.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Rudley 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.