NameCensus.

UK surname

Rush

An English occupational surname referring to someone who made or worked with rushes, such as a basket maker.

In the 1881 census there were 3,223 people recorded with the Rush surname, ranking it #1,402 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 4,423, ranked #1,540, down from #1,402 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Silverstone and Lambeth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Flintshire, Mid Suffolk and Babergh.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Rush is 4,621 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 37.2%.

1881 census count

3,223

Ranked #1,402

Modern count

4,423

2016, ranked #1,540

Peak year

1999

4,621 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Rush had 3,223 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,402 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 4,423 in 2016, ranked #1,540.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 4,018 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Rush surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Rush surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Rush 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 1,988 #1,457
1861 historical 2,115 #1,374
1881 historical 3,223 #1,402
1891 historical 3,400 #1,402
1901 historical 3,894 #1,447
1911 historical 4,018 #1,274
1997 modern 4,468 #1,473
1998 modern 4,598 #1,477
1999 modern 4,621 #1,482
2000 modern 4,601 #1,480
2001 modern 4,471 #1,487
2002 modern 4,605 #1,482
2003 modern 4,488 #1,478
2004 modern 4,454 #1,492
2005 modern 4,386 #1,493
2006 modern 4,423 #1,483
2007 modern 4,387 #1,509
2008 modern 4,385 #1,519
2009 modern 4,481 #1,520
2010 modern 4,595 #1,519
2011 modern 4,499 #1,525
2012 modern 4,415 #1,523
2013 modern 4,507 #1,524
2014 modern 4,502 #1,534
2015 modern 4,436 #1,540
2016 modern 4,423 #1,540

Geography

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Where Rushs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Silverstone, Lambeth and Thame. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Flintshire, Mid Suffolk, Babergh and Chelmsford. 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 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 Silverstone Northamptonshire
4 Lambeth London (South Districts)
5 Thame Oxfordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Flintshire 004 Flintshire
2 Mid Suffolk 002 Mid Suffolk
3 Babergh 001 Babergh
4 Flintshire 005 Flintshire
5 Chelmsford 005 Chelmsford

Forenames

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First names often paired with Rush

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Rush

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Rush is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Rush is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Rush falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Rush

The surname Rush is of English origin and can be traced back to the 13th century. It is derived from the Old English word "rysc," meaning a rush or reed plant, which was commonly found in marshy areas. The name was likely adopted as a descriptive surname for someone who lived near a rush-covered area or worked with rushes in some capacity.

The earliest recorded instance of the surname Rush is found in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, where a William le Russh is mentioned. This early spelling variation highlights the connection to the Old English word "rysc." In the 14th century, the name appears in various records, including the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, with an entry for a Richard le Russhe.

One of the earliest known bearers of the surname Rush was John Rush, a prominent English landowner who lived in the 15th century. He was recorded as owning lands in Middlesex and Essex in the latter part of the 1400s.

Another notable historical figure with the surname Rush was Benjamin Rush, an American physician and a signer of the Declaration of Independence. He was born in 1746 and played a significant role in the American Revolution and the founding of the United States.

In the 16th century, the surname Rush was found in various parts of England, with concentrations in counties such as Oxfordshire, Worcestershire, and Gloucestershire. The name was also present in the nearby counties of Warwickshire and Northamptonshire.

The surname Rush has been associated with several place names in England, such as Rush Green in Essex, Rush Court in Worcestershire, and Rush Farm in Oxfordshire. These place names likely derived from the Old English word "rysc," indicating areas where rushes grew in abundance.

Other notable individuals with the surname Rush include Sir William Rush, an English politician who served as the Lord Mayor of London in 1681. In the literary world, Benjamin Rush, an American writer and physician, was born in 1745 and is known for his works on medical topics and his involvement in the American Revolution.

Geoffrey Rush, the acclaimed Australian actor, is another well-known bearer of the surname. Born in 1951, he has received numerous accolades, including an Academy Award, for his performances in films such as "Shine" and "The King's Speech."

Throughout history, the surname Rush has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including landowners, physicians, politicians, and artists, reflecting its enduring presence and the diverse backgrounds of those who bear this name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Rush families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Rush 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. Suffolk leads with 487 Rushs recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.75x.

County Total Index
Suffolk 487 12.75x
Middlesex 342 1.09x
Lancashire 336 0.90x
Norfolk 269 5.58x
Essex 198 3.20x
Yorkshire 198 0.64x
Surrey 164 1.07x
Northamptonshire 136 4.61x
Durham 89 0.95x
Cornwall 75 2.11x
Lanarkshire 74 0.73x
Lincolnshire 74 1.48x
Staffordshire 74 0.70x
Kent 61 0.57x
Sussex 53 1.00x
Oxfordshire 51 2.63x
Warwickshire 48 0.61x
Cheshire 45 0.65x
Buckinghamshire 39 2.06x
Northumberland 35 0.75x
Renfrewshire 35 1.44x
Hertfordshire 34 1.57x
Berkshire 29 1.23x
Derbyshire 26 0.53x
Cambridgeshire 21 1.06x
Flintshire 20 2.37x
Ayrshire 19 0.81x
Hampshire 19 0.30x
Bedfordshire 17 1.05x
Devon 16 0.25x
Midlothian 15 0.36x
Gloucestershire 12 0.20x
Kirkcudbrightshire 12 2.64x
Dunbartonshire 11 1.31x
Aberdeenshire 10 0.34x
Nottinghamshire 10 0.24x
East Lothian 8 1.93x
Cumberland 7 0.26x
Dumfriesshire 6 0.87x
Somerset 5 0.10x
Worcestershire 5 0.12x
Berwickshire 4 1.05x
Denbighshire 4 0.34x
Dorset 4 0.19x
Leicestershire 3 0.09x
Argyllshire 2 0.23x
Brecknockshire 2 0.32x
Carmarthenshire 2 0.15x
Glamorgan 2 0.04x
Merionethshire 1 0.17x
Montgomeryshire 1 0.14x
Royal Navy 1 0.27x
Rutland 1 0.43x
Shropshire 1 0.04x
West Lothian 1 0.21x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Lambeth in Surrey leads with 66 Rushs recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.41x.

Place Total Index
Lambeth 66 2.41x
Liverpool 45 1.99x
West Ham 42 3.07x
Islington London 41 1.35x
Abthorpe 34 688.26x
Thame 32 90.88x
Bethnal Green London 30 2.20x
Everton 30 2.53x
St Marylebone London 30 1.79x
Tintagel 29 300.21x
Stradbroke 28 217.05x
Silverstone 27 217.04x
West Derby 27 2.48x
Hackney London 26 1.48x
Glasgow 24 1.33x
Paddington London 24 2.08x
Steeple 24 424.03x
Castleton 22 5.92x
Kensington London 22 1.26x
Rushmere 22 264.42x
Stoke Upon Trent 21 1.87x
Clerkenwell London 20 2.70x
Fressingfield 20 162.47x
St Nicholas Lincoln 20 41.74x
Toxteth Park 20 1.59x
Shouldham 19 279.82x
Dewsbury 18 5.65x
Foxhall 18 669.15x
Govan 18 0.72x
South Lopham 18 309.28x
Lanteglos 17 103.60x
Manchester 17 1.02x
Bishopwearmouth 16 2.00x
Bradwell 16 150.94x
Hornchurch 16 52.74x
Lewisham 16 2.81x
Aston 15 0.69x
Birmingham 15 0.57x
Harkstead 15 373.13x
Scopwick 15 348.84x
South Creake 15 136.99x
St Pancras London 15 0.59x
Stonham Earl 15 220.91x
Hoxne 14 129.27x
Ipswich St Margaret 14 10.80x
St Giles In Fields 14 12.95x
Barrow In Furness 13 2.57x
Carleton Rode 13 156.06x
Flint 13 27.17x
Hitcham 13 134.99x
Hunslet 13 2.68x
Rutherglen 13 8.74x
Battersea 12 1.04x
Salford 12 1.10x
Sedgeford 12 147.06x
Shoreditch London 12 0.88x
Abbey 11 2.97x
Blisland 11 184.25x
Bucklesham 11 319.77x
Eye 11 44.59x
Fairlight 11 212.77x
Goole 11 21.13x
Linthorpe 11 5.93x
Old Kilpatrick 11 11.05x
Sunderland 11 6.68x
Barking 10 50.58x
East Winch 10 230.41x
Holbrook 10 119.62x
Ipswich St Peter 10 19.45x
Little Bolton 10 2.09x
Oldham 10 0.83x
St George Hanover 10 2.44x
Staveley 10 11.48x
Stoke Newington London 10 4.09x
Syleham 10 333.33x
Watford 10 5.97x
Willenhall 10 5.04x
Bishop Stortford 9 12.47x
Floore 9 81.45x
Northampton St Sepulchre 9 6.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 218
Elizabeth 95
Sarah 84
Ellen 74
Jane 53
Emma 52
Ann 49
Annie 46
Alice 42
Eliza 41
Hannah 40
Catherine 36
Emily 35
Margaret 34
Louisa 33
Martha 26
Harriet 23
Bridget 20
Kate 19
Agnes 17
Florence 17
Maria 17
Ada 15
Charlotte 13
Edith 13
Fanny 13
Harriett 13
Susan 13
Caroline 12
Susannah 11
Anna 10
Clara 10
Esther 10
Ruth 10
Anne 9
Lucy 9
Eleanor 8
Frances 8
Minnie 8
Rachel 8
Rebecca 8
Matilda 7
Amelia 6
Lydia 6
Elizth. 5
Ethel 5
Lilly 5
Sophia 5
Susanna 5
Helen 4

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 183
John 170
James 127
Thomas 104
Charles 84
George 78
Joseph 50
Henry 44
Edward 37
Arthur 33
Frederick 31
Robert 29
Walter 28
Alfred 24
Samuel 24
Herbert 19
Michael 19
David 17
Harry 17
Patrick 17
Frank 15
Albert 14
Martin 12
Ernest 11
Francis 11
Thos. 10
Edwin 9
Peter 9
Richard 9
Wm. 9
Daniel 6
Hugh 6
Isaac 6
Jonathan 6
Matthew 6
Edgar 5
Fred 5
Jacob 5
Frederic 4
Fredrick 4
Geo. 4
Percy 4
Saml. 4
Abraham 3
Dominick 3
Hayward 3
Jno. 3
Mark 3
Philip 3
Willie 3

FAQ

Rush surname: questions and answers

How common was the Rush surname in 1881?

In 1881, 3,223 people were recorded with the Rush surname. That placed it at #1,402 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Rush surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 4,423 in 2016. That gives Rush a modern rank of #1,540.

What does the Rush surname mean?

An English occupational surname referring to someone who made or worked with rushes, such as a basket maker.

What does the Rush map show?

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