NameCensus.

UK surname

Rushforth

A locational surname derived from a place name containing the elements "rush" and "forth".

In the 1881 census there were 953 people recorded with the Rushforth surname, ranking it #4,061 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,053, ranked #5,540, down from #4,061 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bradford, Saffron Walden and Silkstone. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Barnsley.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Rushforth is 1,121 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 10.5%.

1881 census count

953

Ranked #4,061

Modern count

1,053

2016, ranked #5,540

Peak year

1911

1,121 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Rushforth had 953 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,061 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,053 in 2016, ranked #5,540.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,121 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Rushforth surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Rushforth surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Rushforth 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 685 #3,796
1861 historical 744 #3,665
1881 historical 953 #4,061
1891 historical 981 #4,214
1901 historical 1,081 #4,470
1911 historical 1,121 #4,148
1997 modern 1,066 #5,212
1998 modern 1,098 #5,273
1999 modern 1,110 #5,257
2000 modern 1,100 #5,265
2001 modern 1,075 #5,267
2002 modern 1,096 #5,285
2003 modern 1,055 #5,362
2004 modern 1,058 #5,360
2005 modern 1,042 #5,364
2006 modern 1,011 #5,515
2007 modern 1,023 #5,508
2008 modern 1,016 #5,578
2009 modern 1,066 #5,470
2010 modern 1,078 #5,529
2011 modern 1,043 #5,620
2012 modern 1,051 #5,489
2013 modern 1,058 #5,558
2014 modern 1,070 #5,542
2015 modern 1,050 #5,575
2016 modern 1,053 #5,540

Geography

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Where Rushforths are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bradford, Saffron Walden, Silkstone and Leeds. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Barnsley. 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 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding
2 Saffron Walden Essex
3 Silkstone Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Leeds Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Barnsley 007 Barnsley
2 Barnsley 013 Barnsley
3 Barnsley 008 Barnsley
4 Barnsley 019 Barnsley
5 Barnsley 021 Barnsley

Forenames

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First names often paired with Rushforth

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Rushforth

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

Young Families in Industrial Towns

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Rushforth is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Rushforth is most concentrated in decile 2 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Rushforth falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Rushforth is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Rushforth

The surname RUSHFORTH is of English origin, derived from a geographical location in West Yorkshire, England. The name is believed to have emerged during the late medieval period, likely between the 13th and 15th centuries. It is a combination of two Old English words, "rysc" meaning "rush" and "ford" referring to a shallow river crossing or a ford overgrown with rushes.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name RUSHFORTH can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire from 1379, where it was spelled as "Rissheforth." This historical record suggests that the name was well-established in the region by the late 14th century.

In the 16th century, the name appeared in the Yorkshire Parish Registers, where various spellings such as "Rushforthe," "Rushforde," and "Rushfurth" were documented. These variations reflect the inconsistencies in spelling conventions during that era.

One notable figure bearing the RUSHFORTH surname was Samuel Rushforth (1621-1679), an English Puritan minister and religious writer. He served as the vicar of Halifax, West Yorkshire, and authored several works, including "The Mercies of Christ Enlarged" and "The Plea for the Church of Christ."

Another individual of historical significance was Edward Rushforth (1765-1835), a prominent English industrialist and entrepreneur. He established the Rushforth Foundry in Leeds, which played a crucial role in the Industrial Revolution by producing high-quality machinery and equipment.

In the literary realm, William Rushforth (1834-1909) was a renowned English novelist and playwright. His works, including "The Silas Hocking Novels" and "The Master of the Mine," depicted the lives and struggles of working-class families in Yorkshire during the Victorian era.

The RUSHFORTH name has also been associated with places in England, such as Rushforth Farm in the village of Wath, Harrogate, and the hamlet of Rushforth near Rotherham, both located in Yorkshire. These place names likely derived from the same linguistic roots as the surname.

Another noteworthy individual was John Rushforth (1870-1952), a British politician and trade unionist. He served as a Member of Parliament for the Labour Party and was instrumental in advocating for workers' rights and social reforms during the early 20th century.

The surname RUSHFORTH has a long and rich history, deeply rooted in the English countryside, particularly in the county of Yorkshire. While the name has evolved over the centuries, its origins can be traced back to the geographic location and linguistic characteristics of the region.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Rushforth families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Rushforth 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 701 Rushforths recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.63x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 701 7.63x
Middlesex 39 0.42x
Essex 34 1.86x
Lancashire 28 0.25x
Cumberland 26 3.26x
Durham 22 0.80x
Lincolnshire 18 1.21x
Perthshire 11 2.64x
Hampshire 10 0.53x
Westmorland 8 3.92x
Flintshire 6 2.41x
Northumberland 6 0.43x
Shropshire 5 0.62x
Sussex 5 0.32x
Cheshire 4 0.20x
Derbyshire 4 0.28x
Huntingdonshire 4 2.17x
Buckinghamshire 3 0.53x
Nottinghamshire 3 0.24x
Surrey 3 0.07x
Angus 2 0.23x
Kent 2 0.06x
Staffordshire 2 0.06x
Caernarfonshire 1 0.27x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.17x
Lanarkshire 1 0.03x
Leicestershire 1 0.10x
Northamptonshire 1 0.11x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Barnsley in Yorkshire leads with 91 Rushforths recorded in 1881 and an index of 95.97x.

Place Total Index
Barnsley 91 95.97x
Leeds 45 8.67x
Worsbrough 34 126.25x
Hunslet 33 23.02x
Beeston 28 301.08x
Bradford 28 12.58x
Horton In Bradford 27 18.81x
Saffron Walden 27 139.53x
Mirfield 25 49.53x
Calverley Cum Farsley 24 91.95x
Thornton In Bradford 21 68.63x
Cockermouth 19 113.03x
Bowling 14 15.38x
Brightside Bierlow 14 7.76x
Huddersfield 14 10.45x
Dodworth 13 136.13x
Manningham 13 11.48x
Idle 12 28.16x
Holbeck 11 18.06x
Holy Trinity 11 4.97x
Perth East Church 11 28.02x
Pudsey 11 22.39x
Bingley 10 17.08x
Eccleshill 10 44.70x
Halifax 10 7.41x
Whitchurch 10 165.84x
Wortley In Bramley 10 13.73x
Hammersmith London 9 3.94x
Alverthorpe Cum Thornes 8 23.97x
Bishopwearmouth 8 3.38x
Dewsbury 8 8.49x
Gildersome 8 72.40x
Hackney London 8 1.54x
Rastrick 8 31.34x
Stranton 8 8.61x
Ealing 7 8.44x
Gomersal 7 16.31x
Horbury 7 43.53x
Penrith 7 23.72x
Rotherham 7 13.51x
Southcoates 7 13.72x
Armley 6 14.80x
Cheetham 6 7.31x
Goole 6 38.96x
Hipperholme Cum 6 14.86x
Hulme 6 2.61x
Islington London 6 0.67x
Louth 6 17.65x
Shitlington 6 63.09x
Stockton On Tees 6 4.51x
Sutton Stoneferry 6 22.81x
Great Grimsby 5 5.31x
Kendal 5 13.40x
Kimberworth 5 9.80x
Lilleshall 5 40.82x
Monk Bretton 5 53.71x
Rawdon 5 46.17x
Ardsley 4 37.77x
Ashton Under Lyne 4 1.66x
Bilton Cum Harrogate 4 12.72x
Brampton 4 104.44x
Guiseley 4 33.98x
Holy Trinity St Mary 4 28.59x
Linthorpe 4 7.29x
Linthwaite 4 20.70x
Louth Park 4 930.23x
Lymm 4 26.86x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 4 4.85x
Skelmanthorpe 4 40.32x
Tadcaster West 4 54.95x
Tong 4 22.52x
Ysceifiog 4 104.17x
Almondbury 3 6.75x
Broadwater 3 8.36x
Chorlton On Medlock 3 1.72x
Hawkshead Monk Coniston 3 78.13x
Kirkland 3 68.97x
Nether Hallam 3 2.41x
Ovenden 3 7.33x
Sheffield 3 1.03x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 45
John 44
George 38
Joseph 28
Thomas 28
James 25
Arthur 16
Samuel 16
Henry 15
Benjamin 12
Charles 10
Herbert 10
Fred 7
Edward 6
Frederick 6
Harry 6
Isaac 6
Robert 6
Walter 6
Richard 5
Francis 4
Wm. 4
Edwin 3
Geo. 3
Tom 3
Alexander 2
Alfred 2
Allen 2
Daniel 2
Earnest 2
Elijah 2
Frank 2
Fredrick 2
Jasper 2
Jesse 2
Jonathan 2
Joshua 2
Paul 2
Peter 2
Phinehas 2
Sam 2
Saml. 2
Sidney 2
Thos. 2
Chas. 1
Enoch 1
Ernest 1
Esau 1
Jessee 1
Wright 1

FAQ

Rushforth surname: questions and answers

How common was the Rushforth surname in 1881?

In 1881, 953 people were recorded with the Rushforth surname. That placed it at #4,061 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Rushforth surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,053 in 2016. That gives Rushforth a modern rank of #5,540.

What does the Rushforth surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place name containing the elements "rush" and "forth".

What does the Rushforth map show?

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