NameCensus.

UK surname

Ruscoe

A surname derived from a place name referring to a rushy field.

In the 1881 census there were 620 people recorded with the Ruscoe surname, ranking it #5,692 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 738, ranked #7,396, down from #5,692 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Prees, Wellington, Wrockwardine, Eyton-on-the-Moors, Preston-on-the-Moors and Whitchurch. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Shropshire and Cheshire East.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ruscoe is 902 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 19.0%.

1881 census count

620

Ranked #5,692

Modern count

738

2016, ranked #7,396

Peak year

1911

902 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Ruscoe had 620 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,692 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 738 in 2016, ranked #7,396.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 902 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Ruscoe surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Ruscoe surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Ruscoe 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 410 #5,916
1861 historical 397 #6,460
1881 historical 620 #5,692
1891 historical 610 #6,300
1901 historical 728 #6,087
1911 historical 902 #4,944
1997 modern 678 #7,427
1998 modern 788 #6,838
1999 modern 798 #6,805
2000 modern 804 #6,741
2001 modern 775 #6,815
2002 modern 771 #6,978
2003 modern 756 #6,975
2004 modern 743 #7,080
2005 modern 710 #7,245
2006 modern 699 #7,356
2007 modern 707 #7,362
2008 modern 690 #7,567
2009 modern 724 #7,434
2010 modern 729 #7,541
2011 modern 727 #7,482
2012 modern 728 #7,393
2013 modern 752 #7,327
2014 modern 754 #7,342
2015 modern 740 #7,394
2016 modern 738 #7,396

Geography

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Where Ruscoes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Prees, Wellington, Wrockwardine, Eyton-on-the-Moors, Preston-on-the-Moors, Whitchurch, Edgmond (Edgmond), Chetwynd, Cheswardine, Hinstock and Market Drayton or Drayton-in-Hales. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Shropshire and Cheshire East. 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 Prees Shropshire
2 Wellington, Wrockwardine, Eyton-on-the-Moors, Preston-on-the-Moors Shropshire
3 Whitchurch Shropshire
4 Edgmond (Edgmond), Chetwynd, Cheswardine, Hinstock Shropshire
5 Market Drayton or Drayton-in-Hales Shropshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Shropshire 018 Shropshire
2 Shropshire 013 Shropshire
3 Cheshire East 051 Cheshire East
4 Shropshire 005 Shropshire
5 Cheshire East 049 Cheshire East

Forenames

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First names often paired with Ruscoe

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Ruscoe

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

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

Senior Professionals

Within London, Ruscoe is most associated with areas classed as Senior Professionals, part of Central Connected Professionals and Managers. 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 very central neighbourhoods house residents whose ages are more skewed towards older age cohorts than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Few households have young children. Rates of illness are low. Indian ethnicity is rare compared to the Supergroup mean. Property under occupation is more common, despite the centrality of neighbourhoods, and more residents live in communal establishments than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Adult residents of these neighbourhoods are typically aged 25 to 44, working full-time in professional, managerial or associate professional occupations. There are few families with dependent children. The predominantly Inner London neighbourhoods have an international character, including many residents born elsewhere in Europe alongside high numbers of individuals identifying as of Chinese ethnicity. Many individuals are never married, childless and/or living alone. Above average numbers of individuals, likely to be full-time students, live in communal establishments. Elsewhere, privately rented flats are the dominant housing type. Residents of these areas are well-qualified, with a significant number holding Level 4 or above qualifications. There is a correspondingly high level of individuals employed full-time in professional, managerial and associated professional or technical occupations. Employing industries are financial, real estate, professional, administration, and, to a lesser degree, transport and communications. Unemployment is uncommon.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Ruscoe 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

Ruscoe falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Ruscoe

The surname Ruscoe is believed to have originated in England, with the earliest recorded instances dating back to the late 13th century. It is derived from the Old English words "rush" and "hoh," which combined refer to a ridge or hill covered in rushes. This suggests that the name likely originated as a descriptive term for someone who lived near or on such a geographical feature.

One of the earliest known references to the name can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from the year 1275, where a person named William Russhok is listed. The variant spelling "Russhok" provides insight into the name's evolution over time.

In the 14th century, the Ruscoe surname appeared in the Pipe Rolls of Staffordshire, where a John Russhok was recorded in 1327. This further solidifies the name's presence in the West Midlands region of England during the medieval period.

The Ruscoe family is also believed to have connections to the village of Rushock in Worcestershire, which could potentially be a place of origin for the surname. This village's name is derived from the same Old English root words as the surname itself.

One notable individual with the surname Ruscoe was William Ruscoe, a prominent English lawyer who lived in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. He served as a Justice of the Peace and was involved in various legal cases during the reign of King James I.

Another historical figure was Thomas Ruscoe, born in 1592, who was a successful merchant and landowner in the city of Bristol. His wealth and influence allowed him to contribute to the construction of several notable buildings in the area.

In the 18th century, a man named John Ruscoe (1712-1784) gained recognition as a skilled clockmaker and inventor from Gloucestershire. His innovative timepiece designs were highly regarded during his lifetime.

Moving into the 19th century, Elizabeth Ruscoe (1826-1891) was a notable philanthropist and social reformer who dedicated her life to improving the living conditions of the poor in London. Her charitable efforts and advocacy for the underprivileged left a lasting impact on the city.

Finally, one cannot overlook the contributions of Sir William Ruscoe (1857-1935), a British military officer and diplomat who served in various capacities throughout the British Empire. He played a significant role in negotiating treaties and fostering relationships with foreign nations.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Ruscoe families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Ruscoe 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. Shropshire leads with 218 Ruscoes recorded in 1881 and an index of 41.86x.

County Total Index
Shropshire 218 41.86x
Cheshire 155 11.65x
Lancashire 65 0.91x
Staffordshire 51 2.51x
Middlesex 33 0.55x
Montgomeryshire 21 15.20x
Flintshire 11 6.79x
Denbighshire 10 4.39x
Northumberland 10 1.11x
Glamorgan 9 0.86x
Norfolk 9 0.97x
Worcestershire 9 1.14x
Hampshire 4 0.32x
Warwickshire 4 0.26x
Sussex 3 0.30x
Lincolnshire 2 0.21x
Yorkshire 2 0.03x
Bedfordshire 1 0.32x
Hertfordshire 1 0.24x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Nantwich in Cheshire leads with 27 Ruscoes recorded in 1881 and an index of 174.64x.

Place Total Index
Nantwich 27 174.64x
Drayton In Hales 24 223.46x
Edgmond 20 349.04x
Wrockwardine 20 174.67x
Hodnet 19 466.83x
Prees 19 299.68x
Stoke Upon Trent 15 6.95x
Toxteth Park 15 6.19x
Kensington London 14 4.18x
Little Hulton 13 109.70x
Wombridge 13 202.18x
Hyde 12 30.56x
Oswestry Town 11 65.95x
Salford 10 4.75x
Shrewsbury St Mary 10 48.66x
Childs Ercall 9 989.01x
Earsdon 9 123.29x
Great Massingham 9 491.80x
Kinnersley 9 2045.45x
Norton In Hales 9 1168.83x
Roath 9 18.88x
Wolstanton Knutton 9 72.46x
Burslem 8 13.72x
Hartlebury 8 170.58x
Pool 8 76.78x
Whitby 8 260.59x
Whitchurch 8 79.13x
Wolstanton 8 12.95x
Broomhall 7 2692.31x
Chester St John Baptist 7 29.26x
Doddleston 7 1147.54x
Guilsfield 7 139.44x
Hough 7 1228.07x
Malpas Iscoyd 7 823.53x
Middlewich 7 255.47x
Wem 7 90.32x
Chiswick 6 18.21x
Comberbach 6 937.50x
Great Boughton 6 130.72x
Rushton 6 869.57x
Alsager 5 151.06x
Chester St Oswald 5 20.75x
Ercall Magna 5 134.05x
Saighton 5 666.67x
Allington 4 235.29x
Barton Upon Irwell 4 7.43x
Birmingham 4 0.79x
Bromborough 4 144.93x
Dodcott Cum Wilkesley 4 294.12x
Failsworth 4 24.43x
Hanmer Bettisfield 4 526.32x
Islington London 4 0.68x
Kelsall 4 303.03x
Kinnerley 4 161.29x
Portsea 4 1.65x
Stoke Upon Tern 4 208.33x
Widnes 4 7.75x
Alberbury Bauseley 3 428.57x
Ashton Under Lyne 3 1.92x
Broughton In Salford 3 4.59x
Checkley Cum Wrinehill 3 857.14x
Little Neston 3 140.85x
Little Sutton 3 167.60x
Runcorn 3 9.78x
Sedgley 3 3.97x
Shifnal 3 21.22x
Stanton Upon Hine Heath 3 218.98x
Sutton 3 857.14x
Wellington 3 10.25x
Westbury 3 111.52x
Adderley 2 222.22x
Church Eaton 2 145.99x
Churchstoke 2 76.63x
Egerton 2 769.23x
Great Crosby 2 10.26x
Huddersfield 2 2.30x
Middle 2 140.85x
St Marylebone London 2 0.62x
Tattenhall 2 88.50x
Tottenham 2 2.08x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 50
William 37
Thomas 35
George 30
James 13
Joseph 13
Richard 13
Alfred 12
Edward 12
Charles 9
Henry 9
Robert 7
Samuel 7
Abraham 6
Daniel 6
David 6
Walter 6
Edwin 3
Ernest 3
Frederick 3
Albert 2
Frank 2
Geo. 2
Herbert 2
Thos. 2
Arthur 1
Elias 1
Enoch 1
Fred 1
Frederic 1
Harry 1
Head 1
Hezekigh 1
Hugh 1
Jabez 1
Jno. 1
Philip 1
Stephen 1
Thos.P. 1
Watkin 1
Willm. 1
Winfred 1
Wm. 1
Wm.Hy. 1
Young 1

FAQ

Ruscoe surname: questions and answers

How common was the Ruscoe surname in 1881?

In 1881, 620 people were recorded with the Ruscoe surname. That placed it at #5,692 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Ruscoe surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 738 in 2016. That gives Ruscoe a modern rank of #7,396.

What does the Ruscoe surname mean?

A surname derived from a place name referring to a rushy field.

What does the Ruscoe map show?

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