NameCensus.

UK surname

Ruffle

A surname likely derived from the Middle English word referring to a ruffled collar or ornamental frill.

In the 1881 census there were 475 people recorded with the Ruffle surname, ranking it #7,031 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 547, ranked #9,323, down from #7,031 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Hedingham, Sible, Swallowfield and Crondall. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Braintree, Mid Suffolk and Hart.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ruffle is 634 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 15.2%.

1881 census count

475

Ranked #7,031

Modern count

547

2016, ranked #9,323

Peak year

1998

634 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Ruffle had 475 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,031 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 547 in 2016, ranked #9,323.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 627 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Ruffle surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Ruffle surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Ruffle 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 274 #8,176
1861 historical 284 #8,845
1881 historical 475 #7,031
1891 historical 500 #7,430
1901 historical 575 #7,300
1911 historical 627 #6,613
1997 modern 602 #8,123
1998 modern 634 #8,065
1999 modern 634 #8,118
2000 modern 621 #8,225
2001 modern 604 #8,260
2002 modern 605 #8,415
2003 modern 580 #8,520
2004 modern 578 #8,559
2005 modern 572 #8,559
2006 modern 555 #8,752
2007 modern 557 #8,813
2008 modern 561 #8,822
2009 modern 562 #9,013
2010 modern 576 #9,036
2011 modern 578 #8,929
2012 modern 569 #8,942
2013 modern 569 #9,066
2014 modern 565 #9,191
2015 modern 550 #9,308
2016 modern 547 #9,323

Geography

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Where Ruffles are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Hedingham, Sible, Swallowfield, Crondall 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 Braintree, Mid Suffolk, Hart, Waverley and Colchester. 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 Hedingham, Sible Essex
2 Swallowfield Berkshire
3 Crondall Hampshire
4 London parishes London 1
5 London parishes London 3

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Braintree 003 Braintree
2 Mid Suffolk 011 Mid Suffolk
3 Hart 004 Hart
4 Waverley 006 Waverley
5 Colchester 020 Colchester

Forenames

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First names often paired with Ruffle

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Ruffle

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

Rural Amenity

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Ruffle 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

Ruffle 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

Ruffle falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Ruffle 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 Ruffle, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Ruffle

The surname Ruffle is of English origin, derived from the Old English word 'ruffel', meaning 'ruffled' or 'wrinkled'. It is believed to have emerged as a descriptive surname, referring to someone with a ruffled or disheveled appearance.

The earliest known record of the name dates back to the 13th century, with a reference to a Thomas Ruffle in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex in 1296. This suggests that the name was already well-established in southern England at that time.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in various records, such as the Lay Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1327, where a John Ruffle is mentioned. This indicates that the name had spread to other parts of the country.

During the 15th and 16th centuries, the name continued to appear in various records, including the Hearth Tax Returns of 1670, where a Robert Ruffle is listed in the county of Wiltshire.

One notable figure in history bearing the surname Ruffle was Sir John Ruffle (1618-1689), an English politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament for Wiltshire in the 17th century.

Another significant individual was William Ruffle (1701-1783), a renowned English architect who was responsible for designing several notable buildings, including Dyrham Park in South Gloucestershire.

In the 19th century, the surname Ruffle was found in various locations across England. One prominent individual from this era was Edward Ruffle (1824-1891), a renowned artist and painter who specialized in landscapes and rural scenes.

Another notable figure was Henry Ruffle (1855-1927), a celebrated English cricketer who played for Gloucestershire County Cricket Club and is remembered for his exceptional batting skills.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the name in a place name can be found in the village of Ruffleford, located in the county of Wiltshire. This place name is believed to be derived from the surname Ruffle, suggesting that the name has been associated with this area for several centuries.

While the surname Ruffle is primarily found in England, it has also been recorded in other parts of the world, likely due to migration and the spread of English culture and language. However, its origins can be traced back to the early days of English surnames in the 13th and 14th centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Ruffle families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Ruffle 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. Essex leads with 186 Ruffles recorded in 1881 and an index of 20.60x.

County Total Index
Essex 186 20.60x
Hampshire 88 9.38x
Middlesex 41 0.90x
Surrey 40 1.79x
Suffolk 31 5.56x
Berkshire 21 6.12x
Cheshire 14 1.39x
Kent 12 0.77x
Buckinghamshire 7 2.53x
Lancashire 5 0.09x
Midlothian 4 0.65x
Cambridgeshire 3 1.04x
Warwickshire 3 0.26x
Berwickshire 2 3.61x
Hertfordshire 2 0.63x
Sussex 2 0.26x
Denbighshire 1 0.58x
Dorset 1 0.33x
Durham 1 0.07x
Norfolk 1 0.14x
Northamptonshire 1 0.23x
Royal Navy 1 1.83x
Westmorland 1 0.99x
Wiltshire 1 0.25x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Crondall in Hampshire leads with 41 Ruffles recorded in 1881 and an index of 813.49x.

Place Total Index
Crondall 41 813.49x
Sible Hedingham 36 1192.05x
West Swallowfield 15 920.25x
Dukinfield 14 30.00x
Finchingfield 14 494.70x
Messing 14 1238.94x
Maldon St Marys 12 555.56x
West Ham 11 5.52x
Holdenhurst 10 40.65x
Little Wakering 9 1800.00x
Portsea 9 4.90x
Staines 9 124.31x
Stambourne 9 1323.53x
Alton 8 113.15x
Belchamp Walter 8 824.74x
Croydon 8 6.47x
Farnham 8 46.16x
Lambeth 8 2.01x
Leyton Low 8 43.57x
Spitalfields London 8 23.25x
Alpheton 7 1794.87x
Burnham 7 198.30x
Camberwell 7 2.40x
Haverhill 7 141.41x
Helion Bumpstead 7 573.77x
Romford 7 49.02x
Sudbury St Peter 7 229.51x
Lewisham 6 7.21x
Stebbing 6 342.86x
West Thurrock 6 200.00x
Great Dunmow 5 106.16x
Halstead 5 47.48x
St Pancras London 5 1.36x
Bury 4 6.45x
Cove 4 325.20x
East Swallowfield 4 816.33x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 4 1.62x
Horsemonden 4 175.44x
Islington London 4 0.90x
Southchurch 4 481.93x
Wickham St Paul 4 727.27x
Basingstoke 3 27.80x
Birmingham 3 0.78x
Great Coggeshall 3 63.83x
Great Henny 3 638.30x
Old Artillery Ground 3 76.14x
St Marylebone London 3 1.23x
Stapleford Abbots 3 389.61x
Thaxted 3 100.00x
Binsted 2 55.87x
Bishop Stortford 2 18.99x
Brighton 2 1.29x
Coldstream 2 49.88x
East Ham 2 11.93x
Havant 2 42.11x
Havering 2 285.71x
Inworth 2 200.00x
Lexden 2 55.10x
Little Waldingfield 2 307.69x
Odiham 2 48.54x
Portsmouth 2 9.26x
Rotherhithe 2 3.54x
Sutton 2 83.33x
Teddington London 2 19.29x
Abergele 1 20.12x
Acton 1 3.73x
Bentley 1 90.91x
Bermondsey 1 0.73x
Bocking 1 18.42x
Brixworth 1 54.35x
Charlwood 1 46.73x
Chelmsford 1 6.46x
Christ Church Newgate 1 46.95x
Earls Colne 1 40.16x
Kingston On Thames 1 1.87x
Martham 1 58.14x
Royal Navy 1 2.15x
Shalford 1 40.49x
Toppesfield 1 74.07x
Widley 1 59.88x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 24
Sarah 22
Elizabeth 19
Eliza 13
Ann 10
Emily 10
Alice 9
Emma 8
Ellen 6
Annie 5
Charlotte 5
Florence 5
Jane 5
Martha 5
Anne 4
Edith 4
Kate 4
Louisa 4
Maud 4
Ada 3
Fanny 3
Flora 3
Harriett 3
Isabella 3
Margaret 3
Beatrice 2
Clara 2
Ethel 2
Frances 2
Hannah 2
Harriet 2
Lizzie 2
Lucy 2
Rose 2
Amelia 1
Amy 1
Betsy 1
Caroline 1
Elizth.Angeline 1
Florance 1
Francaise 1
Frederick 1
Grace 1
Jennie 1
Jesse 1
Lavinia 1
Luisa 1
Mabel 1
Maryan 1
William 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 35
George 26
John 17
Thomas 14
James 13
Henry 10
Frederick 9
Alfred 8
Richard 8
Charles 7
Joseph 7
Albert 5
Edward 5
Walter 5
Arthur 4
Frank 3
Robert 3
Ernest 2
Francis 2
Harry 2
Luke 2
Porter 2
Samuel 2
Archibald 1
Benjamin 1
Christopher 1
Cornelius 1
David 1
Edgar 1
Edwin 1
Eli 1
Federick 1
Foster 1
Fred 1
Fredk. 1
Geor.Bertrand 1
Harison 1
Harvey 1
Herbert 1
Hugh 1
Isaac 1
Jeffery 1
Jeffrey 1
Jesse 1
Peter 1
Philip 1
Roger 1
Silas 1
Stephen 1
Wm.J. 1

FAQ

Ruffle surname: questions and answers

How common was the Ruffle surname in 1881?

In 1881, 475 people were recorded with the Ruffle surname. That placed it at #7,031 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Ruffle surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 547 in 2016. That gives Ruffle a modern rank of #9,323.

What does the Ruffle surname mean?

A surname likely derived from the Middle English word referring to a ruffled collar or ornamental frill.

What does the Ruffle map show?

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