NameCensus.

UK surname

Ruler

In the 1881 census there were 77 people recorded with the Ruler surname, ranking it #22,617 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 124, ranked #26,975, down from #22,617 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Hull Holy Trinity, London parishes and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Maidstone, East Riding of Yorkshire and Bexley.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ruler is 131 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 61.0%.

1881 census count

77

Ranked #22,617

Modern count

124

2016, ranked #26,975

Peak year

1911

131 bearers

Map years

5

1901 to 2016

Key insights

  • Ruler had 77 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #22,617 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 124 in 2016, ranked #26,975.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 131 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Ruler surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Ruler surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Ruler 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 50 #24,274
1861 historical 79 #23,702
1881 historical 77 #22,617
1891 historical 84 #26,229
1901 historical 105 #22,179
1911 historical 131 #19,404
1997 modern 116 #24,688
1998 modern 114 #25,589
1999 modern 114 #25,766
2000 modern 119 #25,072
2001 modern 118 #24,832
2002 modern 124 #24,616
2003 modern 117 #25,282
2004 modern 111 #26,293
2005 modern 99 #28,177
2006 modern 110 #26,717
2007 modern 110 #27,087
2008 modern 109 #27,533
2009 modern 118 #26,766
2010 modern 127 #26,176
2011 modern 125 #26,220
2012 modern 118 #27,250
2013 modern 125 #26,695
2014 modern 125 #26,896
2015 modern 127 #26,494
2016 modern 124 #26,975

Geography

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Where Rulers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Hull Holy Trinity, London parishes, Manchester, Wednesbury and St Giles Camberwell. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Maidstone, East Riding of Yorkshire, Bexley and Northumberland. 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 Hull Holy Trinity Yorkshire, East Riding
2 London parishes London 3
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 Wednesbury Staffordshire
5 St Giles Camberwell London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Maidstone 013 Maidstone
2 Maidstone 008 Maidstone
3 East Riding of Yorkshire 021 East Riding of Yorkshire
4 Bexley 021 Bexley
5 Northumberland 032 Northumberland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Ruler

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Ruler

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

Ageing Communities

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

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Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

London Fringe

Within London, Ruler 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

Ruler is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Ruler falls in decile 4 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

1881 census detail

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Ruler families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Ruler 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. Yorkshire leads with 25 Rulers recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.12x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 25 3.12x
Surrey 20 5.07x
Kent 10 3.62x
Middlesex 10 1.24x
Lancashire 9 0.94x
Isle of Man 6 39.92x
Gloucestershire 2 1.26x
Cheshire 1 0.56x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Holy Trinity in Yorkshire leads with 15 Rulers recorded in 1881 and an index of 77.76x.

Place Total Index
Holy Trinity 15 77.76x
Lambeth 9 12.75x
Manchester 9 20.83x
Camberwell 7 13.54x
River 7 3888.89x
Sculcoates 7 55.03x
Onchan 6 138.57x
Spitalfields London 5 82.10x
St Marylebone London 4 9.26x
Southwark St George Martyr 3 18.42x
Bristol St Paul In 2 47.28x
Cottingham 2 115.61x
Deptford St Paul 2 9.39x
Gillingham 1 17.57x
Newington 1 3.34x
Sale 1 45.66x
Sutton Stoneferry 1 43.48x
Westminster St John 1 10.14x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 9
John 5
Joseph 4
Thomas 4
Robert 3
Arthur 2
George 2
Alfred 1
Charles 1
Denton 1
Earnest 1
Edwin 1
Gardham 1
Henry 1
Herbert 1
James 1
Stephen 1
Walter 1
Wm. 1
Wm.H.T. 1

FAQ

Ruler surname: questions and answers

How common was the Ruler surname in 1881?

In 1881, 77 people were recorded with the Ruler surname. That placed it at #22,617 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Ruler surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 124 in 2016. That gives Ruler a modern rank of #26,975.

What does the Ruler map show?

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