NameCensus.

UK surname

Rushe

A surname derived from a French topographic name referring to someone living near rushes or reeds.

In the 1881 census there were 3 people recorded with the Rushe surname, ranking it #33,498 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 181, ranked #20,955, up from #33,498 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Monmouthshire, Preston and South Ribble.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Rushe is 192 in 2012. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 5933.3%.

1881 census count

3

Ranked #33,498

Modern count

181

2016, ranked #20,955

Peak year

2012

192 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Rushe had 3 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #33,498 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 181 in 2016, ranked #20,955.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 16 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Rushe surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Rushe surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Rushe 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 #33,412
1861 historical 8 #32,887
1881 historical 3 #33,498
1891 historical 4 #34,098
1901 historical 11 #32,907
1911 historical 16 #31,804
1997 modern 164 #19,944
1998 modern 171 #19,956
1999 modern 169 #20,233
2000 modern 171 #20,044
2001 modern 168 #19,986
2002 modern 172 #20,108
2003 modern 167 #20,245
2004 modern 156 #21,261
2005 modern 147 #22,057
2006 modern 156 #21,399
2007 modern 151 #22,120
2008 modern 168 #20,828
2009 modern 173 #20,869
2010 modern 189 #20,171
2011 modern 188 #20,067
2012 modern 192 #19,730
2013 modern 187 #20,436
2014 modern 186 #20,664
2015 modern 182 #20,856
2016 modern 181 #20,955

Geography

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Where Rushes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Monmouthshire, Preston, South Ribble, Sedgemoor and North Warwickshire. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Monmouthshire 004 Monmouthshire
2 Preston 013 Preston
3 South Ribble 009 South Ribble
4 Sedgemoor 011 Sedgemoor
5 North Warwickshire 007 North Warwickshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Rushe

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Rushe

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Rushe surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Rushe household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Rushe is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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 residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Rushe is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Rushe 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 Rushe 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 - Irish

This describes the area pattern most associated with Rushe, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Rushe

The surname Rushe is believed to have originated in Ireland, with its roots traced back to the medieval period. It is derived from the Irish Gaelic word "ruis," meaning a promontory, headland, or marshy place, suggesting that the name may have been initially given to someone who lived near such a geographical feature.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Rushe can be found in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history. The annals mention a Conor Rushe, who was a chieftain of the Uí Fiachrach Aidne in County Galway in the 14th century.

In the 16th century, the Rushe name appeared in several historical records, including the Fiants of the Tudor Sovereigns, which were letters patent issued by the English Crown during the Tudor period. These records reference individuals with variations of the name, such as Rush and Rushe, suggesting that the spelling was not yet standardized.

The surname Rushe can also be linked to various place names in Ireland, such as Rusheen in County Sligo and Rusheenmore in County Galway. These place names likely originated from the same Gaelic root as the surname, further reinforcing its Irish origins.

One notable bearer of the Rushe surname was Sir Francis Rushe (1607-1667), an Irish lawyer and judge who served as Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer in Ireland. He was born in County Tipperary and played a significant role in the administration of justice during the tumultuous period of the English Civil War and the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland.

Another prominent individual with the Rushe surname was John Rushe (1744-1817), an Irish-born American politician who served as a member of the Virginia House of Delegates and the United States House of Representatives. He was born in County Donegal and immigrated to the United States, where he became a successful plantation owner and politician.

In the 19th century, the Rushe name can be found in various Irish records, such as the Griffith's Valuation, a comprehensive survey of property ownership in Ireland conducted in the mid-1800s. This suggests that the name remained prevalent in Ireland during this period.

Other notable individuals with the Rushe surname include Francis Rushe (1835-1899), an Irish nationalist and member of the Home Rule League, and John Rushe (1863-1933), an Irish-born American prelate who served as the Bishop of Pueblo, Colorado, from 1917 until his death.

While the Rushe surname may not be among the most common Irish surnames, its deep roots and historical significance in Ireland's past make it a distinctive and intriguing name with a rich cultural heritage.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Rushe families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Rushe 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. Hampshire leads with 2 Rushes recorded in 1881 and an index of 33.39x.

County Total Index
Hampshire 2 33.39x
Middlesex 1 3.42x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Portsea in Hampshire leads with 2 Rushes recorded in 1881 and an index of 170.94x.

Place Total Index
Portsea 2 170.94x
St Clement Danes 1 2000.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Annette 1
Mary 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Rushe households.

FAQ

Rushe surname: questions and answers

How common was the Rushe surname in 1881?

In 1881, 3 people were recorded with the Rushe surname. That placed it at #33,498 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Rushe surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 181 in 2016. That gives Rushe a modern rank of #20,955.

What does the Rushe surname mean?

A surname derived from a French topographic name referring to someone living near rushes or reeds.

What does the Rushe map show?

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