NameCensus.

UK surname

Rundle

A locational surname derived from a place in Sussex, England, likely referring to a round hill or dell.

In the 1881 census there were 1,779 people recorded with the Rundle surname, ranking it #2,436 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,814, ranked #3,493, down from #2,436 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St Austell and Stoke Climsland. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Rundle is 2,142 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 2.0%.

1881 census count

1,779

Ranked #2,436

Modern count

1,814

2016, ranked #3,493

Peak year

1911

2,142 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Rundle had 1,779 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,436 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,814 in 2016, ranked #3,493.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,142 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Rundle surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Rundle surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Rundle 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 1,409 #2,043
1861 historical 1,270 #2,248
1881 historical 1,779 #2,436
1891 historical 1,766 #2,585
1901 historical 2,110 #2,548
1911 historical 2,142 #2,347
1997 modern 1,870 #3,223
1998 modern 1,949 #3,220
1999 modern 1,976 #3,209
2000 modern 1,955 #3,223
2001 modern 1,896 #3,245
2002 modern 1,911 #3,297
2003 modern 1,854 #3,309
2004 modern 1,832 #3,344
2005 modern 1,803 #3,364
2006 modern 1,773 #3,416
2007 modern 1,790 #3,423
2008 modern 1,797 #3,439
2009 modern 1,850 #3,434
2010 modern 1,877 #3,455
2011 modern 1,868 #3,425
2012 modern 1,806 #3,471
2013 modern 1,841 #3,467
2014 modern 1,849 #3,475
2015 modern 1,831 #3,480
2016 modern 1,814 #3,493

Geography

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Where Rundles are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St Austell, Stoke Climsland, St Blazey and Plymouth St Charles the Martyr. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall. 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 London parishes London 3
2 St Austell Cornwall
3 Stoke Climsland Cornwall
4 St Blazey Cornwall
5 Plymouth St Charles the Martyr Devon

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 027 Cornwall
2 Cornwall 048 Cornwall
3 Cornwall 036 Cornwall
4 Cornwall 039 Cornwall
5 Cornwall 041 Cornwall

Forenames

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First names often paired with Rundle

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Rundle

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Rundle, 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 Rundle surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Rundle 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, Rundle 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

Rundle 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

Rundle 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 Rundle 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 Rundle, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Rundle

The surname Rundle is of English origin, traced back to the medieval era in the counties of Somerset and Devon. It derives from the Old English word "rund," meaning "round" or "circular," and was likely given as a descriptive name for someone who lived near a round hill or a circular boundary.

One of the earliest recorded references to the name can be found in the Assize Rolls of Somerset from 1268, where a William Rundle is mentioned. The Hundred Rolls of 1273 also contain entries for individuals bearing the name Rundle in Somerset.

During the 13th and 14th centuries, variations of the spelling included Rundel, Rondel, and Roundell. These variations were often used interchangeably, reflecting the regional dialects and scribal variations of the time.

The surname Rundle has also been associated with several place names, such as Rundle's Green in Gloucestershire and Rundle's Gate in Somerset. These place names likely originated from individuals bearing the surname who once lived or held land in those areas.

One notable historical figure with the surname Rundle was Richard Rundle (c. 1476-1546), a wealthy merchant and Member of Parliament for Bridgwater, Somerset, during the reign of Henry VIII. Another was Thomas Rundle (1688-1743), an English clergyman and author who served as the Bishop of Derry in Ireland.

In the 17th century, John Rundle (1619-1680) was a prominent Puritan minister and member of the Westminster Assembly, playing a significant role in the English Civil War era. Elizabeth Rundle (1828-1896), born in Tavistock, Devon, was a renowned author and novelist who wrote under the pen name Mrs. Henry Wood.

Moving into the 19th century, Sir Henry Rundle (1807-1888) was a British Army officer who served in the Crimean War and the Indian Rebellion of 1857, earning the nickname "The Night Errant" for his daring exploits.

Throughout its history, the surname Rundle has been associated with individuals from various walks of life, including merchants, clergymen, authors, and military officers, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and contributions of those who bear this name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Rundle families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Rundle 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. Cornwall leads with 805 Rundles recorded in 1881 and an index of 40.77x.

County Total Index
Cornwall 805 40.77x
Devon 485 13.36x
Middlesex 103 0.59x
Durham 63 1.21x
Surrey 59 0.69x
Yorkshire 46 0.27x
Glamorgan 37 1.22x
Lancashire 32 0.15x
Kent 27 0.45x
Cheshire 17 0.44x
Cumberland 16 1.07x
Hampshire 15 0.42x
Gloucestershire 11 0.32x
Somerset 11 0.39x
Royal Navy 8 3.85x
Worcestershire 8 0.35x
Suffolk 7 0.33x
Derbyshire 6 0.22x
Dorset 5 0.44x
Lincolnshire 4 0.14x
Sussex 3 0.10x
Warwickshire 3 0.07x
Berkshire 2 0.15x
Essex 2 0.06x
Hertfordshire 2 0.17x
Nottinghamshire 2 0.09x
Staffordshire 2 0.03x
Anglesey 1 0.32x
Channel Islands 1 0.19x
Lanarkshire 1 0.02x
Northumberland 1 0.04x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.18x
Renfrewshire 1 0.07x
Wiltshire 1 0.06x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Stoke Damerel in Devon leads with 74 Rundles recorded in 1881 and an index of 29.12x.

Place Total Index
Stoke Damerel 74 29.12x
St Austell 70 103.70x
Plymouth St Andrew 59 21.10x
St Blazey 52 299.88x
Stoke Climsland 50 396.51x
Veryan 38 496.73x
Plymouth Charles The 31 19.38x
Luxulyan 29 441.40x
St Gluvias Penryn 25 158.03x
Camborne 24 29.50x
St Mewan 24 394.74x
Lanteglos By Fowey 22 273.63x
Battersea 21 3.27x
Tormoham 21 13.67x
St Eval 20 1265.82x
Lezant 19 430.84x
Lanlivery 18 217.13x
St Columb Major 18 109.82x
Chivelstone 17 669.29x
Kingsbridge 17 186.20x
Fowey 16 176.60x
Saltash 16 104.51x
East Stonehouse 15 20.97x
St Sampson 15 1056.34x
Swansea Town 15 6.02x
Tavistock 15 36.27x
Wingate 15 42.17x
Islington London 14 0.83x
Lanteglos 14 153.34x
St Columb Minor 14 84.44x
Tunstall 14 54.20x
Tywardreath 14 110.41x
Illogan 13 24.87x
Lambeth 13 0.85x
Plympton St Mary 13 61.93x
Habergham Eaves 12 6.34x
Dodbrooke 11 152.57x
Hetton Le Hole 11 16.73x
Mile End Old Town 11 4.00x
Newington 11 1.71x
Portsea 11 1.57x
Skelton In Guisbrough 11 23.53x
St Pancras London 11 0.78x
Compton Gifford 10 87.87x
Linkinhorne 10 72.67x
Malborough 10 69.30x
Millom 10 21.73x
St Mary Magdalene 10 68.92x
St Stephen In Brannel 10 55.52x
Bingley 9 8.18x
Calstock 9 23.24x
Cardiff St Mary 9 5.38x
Dartmouth Townstall 9 60.85x
Kyo 9 36.86x
Lanreath 9 267.06x
Modbury 9 97.09x
South Huish 9 505.62x
St Germans 9 65.36x
St Kew 9 136.78x
Stonehouse East 9 48.86x
Talland 9 193.55x
Truro St Mary 9 54.25x
Camberwell 8 0.72x
Deptford St Paul 8 1.74x
Exeter St Sidwell 8 9.62x
Hackney London 8 0.82x
Menheniot 8 97.56x
Royal Navy 8 4.50x
Sampford Spiney 8 326.53x
Shipley 8 8.92x
St Stithians 8 73.53x
St Veep 8 250.78x
Sutton Stoneferry 8 16.18x
Colan 7 482.76x
Crook Billy Row 7 10.53x
Liskeard 7 21.19x
Mylor 7 52.91x
St John Near Swansea 7 18.64x
Wolborough 7 15.25x
Woolwich 7 3.18x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 132
Elizabeth 98
Jane 50
Eliza 35
Emily 29
Emma 29
Ann 24
Ellen 23
Sarah 23
Catherine 21
Alice 18
Annie 17
Florence 15
Bessie 14
Susan 14
Louisa 13
Kate 12
Caroline 11
Grace 11
Fanny 10
Laura 10
Ada 9
Hannah 9
Edith 8
Harriet 8
Jessie 8
Maria 8
Clara 7
Julia 6
Margaret 6
Martha 6
Rosa 6
Charlotte 5
Amelia 4
Anna 4
Beatrice 4
Elizth. 4
Ethel 4
Frances 4
Joanna 4
Matilda 4
Eva 3
Helen 3
Joan 3
Johanna 3
Lilian 3
Maud 3
Rebecca 3
Rose 3
Winifred 3

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 133
John 124
James 64
Thomas 64
Charles 43
Richard 43
George 34
Samuel 26
Henry 23
Edward 17
Alfred 15
Arthur 14
Joseph 14
Edwin 13
Robert 12
Frederick 10
Philip 10
Ernest 9
Albert 8
Francis 8
Wm. 8
Brice 7
Nicholas 7
Edmund 6
Fredrick 6
David 5
Frank 5
Harry 5
Walter 5
Edgar 4
Fred 4
Stephen 4
Sydney 4
Reuben 3
Richd. 3
Sidney 3
Silas 3
Thos. 3
Charlie 2
Daniel 2
Geo.Hy. 2
Hende 2
Herbert 2
Jonathan 2
Percival 2
Saml. 2
Tom 2
Wm.S. 2
Egbert 1
Ellen 1

FAQ

Rundle surname: questions and answers

How common was the Rundle surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,779 people were recorded with the Rundle surname. That placed it at #2,436 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Rundle surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,814 in 2016. That gives Rundle a modern rank of #3,493.

What does the Rundle surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place in Sussex, England, likely referring to a round hill or dell.

What does the Rundle map show?

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