UK surname
An English surname derived from a place name meaning "rushy moor" or "hillock overgrown with rushes".
In the 1881 census there were 119 people recorded with the Rushmore surname, ranking it #17,841 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 82, ranked #32,895, down from #17,841 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, St Philip and Jacob and Newark-on-Trent, East Stoke (East Stoke), Park Leys, Rolleston (Fiskerton), Morton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Rushmore is 141 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 31.1%.
1881 census count
119
Ranked #17,841
Modern count
82
2016, ranked #32,895
Peak year
1911
141 bearers
Map years
3
1881 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Rushmore surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Rushmore surname density by area, 1881 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 91 | #18,187 |
| 1861 | historical | 89 | #22,419 |
| 1881 | historical | 119 | #17,841 |
| 1891 | historical | 93 | #24,965 |
| 1901 | historical | 109 | #21,712 |
| 1911 | historical | 141 | #18,571 |
| 1997 | modern | 93 | #27,932 |
| 1998 | modern | 99 | #27,785 |
| 1999 | modern | 97 | #28,187 |
| 2000 | modern | 96 | #28,299 |
| 2001 | modern | 98 | #27,672 |
| 2002 | modern | 94 | #28,797 |
| 2003 | modern | 93 | #28,829 |
| 2004 | modern | 84 | #30,244 |
| 2005 | modern | 82 | #30,617 |
| 2006 | modern | 93 | #29,411 |
| 2007 | modern | 89 | #30,383 |
| 2008 | modern | 85 | #31,247 |
| 2009 | modern | 87 | #31,489 |
| 2010 | modern | 86 | #32,081 |
| 2011 | modern | 80 | #32,652 |
| 2012 | modern | 80 | #32,877 |
| 2013 | modern | 77 | #33,275 |
| 2014 | modern | 80 | #33,133 |
| 2015 | modern | 80 | #33,052 |
| 2016 | modern | 82 | #32,895 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, St Philip and Jacob, Newark-on-Trent, East Stoke (East Stoke), Park Leys, Rolleston (Fiskerton), Morton, East Dereham and Lakenham , Eaton St Andrew, Town Close, St Stephen, St Peter Mancroft, St Giles, St Andrew, St John. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff | Gloucestershire |
| 2 | St Philip and Jacob | Gloucestershire |
| 3 | Newark-on-Trent, East Stoke (East Stoke), Park Leys, Rolleston (Fiskerton), Morton | Nottinghamshire |
| 4 | East Dereham | Norfolk |
| 5 | Lakenham , Eaton St Andrew, Town Close, St Stephen, St Peter Mancroft, St Giles, St Andrew, St John | Norfolk |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Rushmore surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Rushmore, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Rushmore surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Rushmore household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Rushmore is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Rushmore is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Rushmore, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Rushmore is believed to have originated in England, specifically in the county of Dorset, during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English words "rysc" and "mor," which together mean "rush-covered moor" or "rushy moor," referring to a marshy or swampy area overgrown with rushes.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Rushmore can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Riscemore," referring to a location in Dorset. This suggests that the name may have initially been a topographic surname, describing someone who lived near or was associated with a rushy moor.
In the 13th century, the name was also recorded in various forms such as "Rissemor," "Russemor," and "Ruschemor," reflecting the evolution of spelling and pronunciation over time. These variations highlight the fluid nature of surnames in the Middle Ages.
One notable figure associated with the Rushmore name was Sir Thomas Rushmore (c. 1470-1553), a wealthy landowner and Member of Parliament for Dorset during the reigns of Henry VIII and Edward VI. His family owned estates in the village of West Stafford, where they had resided since the 14th century.
Another prominent individual was Sir John Rushmore (c. 1550-1628), a military officer and Member of Parliament who served under Queen Elizabeth I and King James I. He was knighted for his service in the wars against Spain and Ireland.
In the 17th century, the Rushmore family expanded their landholdings and influence in Dorset, with several members serving as local officials and justices of the peace. One such figure was John Rushmore (1612-1683), who served as High Sheriff of Dorset in 1671.
The name Rushmore is also associated with the village of Rushmore in Dorset, which likely derived its name from the surname rather than the other way around. This village was the ancestral home of the Rushmore family for several centuries.
Lastly, it is worth mentioning John Rushmore (1738-1823), a British naval officer who served during the American Revolutionary War and later became a Member of Parliament for Maldon in Essex. He was involved in several notable naval battles and rose to the rank of Admiral.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Rushmore surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Suffolk leads with 32 Rushmores recorded in 1881 and an index of 22.82x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Suffolk | 32 | 22.82x |
| Norfolk | 28 | 15.82x |
| Middlesex | 12 | 1.04x |
| Nottinghamshire | 11 | 7.09x |
| Gloucestershire | 6 | 2.66x |
| Cambridgeshire | 5 | 6.86x |
| Durham | 4 | 1.17x |
| Lancashire | 4 | 0.29x |
| Aberdeenshire | 3 | 2.81x |
| Devon | 2 | 0.83x |
| Essex | 2 | 0.88x |
| Surrey | 2 | 0.36x |
| Sussex | 2 | 1.03x |
| Yorkshire | 2 | 0.18x |
| Cheshire | 1 | 0.39x |
| Kent | 1 | 0.25x |
| Staffordshire | 1 | 0.26x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Newark Upon Trent in Nottinghamshire leads with 11 Rushmores recorded in 1881 and an index of 197.13x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Newark Upon Trent | 11 | 197.13x |
| Heigham | 9 | 94.74x |
| Mettingham | 7 | 5000.00x |
| Bristol St Philip Jacob | 6 | 28.24x |
| Stuston | 6 | 8571.43x |
| Shadwell London | 5 | 155.28x |
| Stowmarket | 5 | 308.64x |
| Thorpe Next Norwich | 5 | 265.96x |
| Kirkley | 4 | 341.88x |
| Lowestoft | 4 | 60.42x |
| Manchester | 4 | 6.51x |
| Stoke By Nayland | 4 | 888.89x |
| Bramerton | 3 | 3000.00x |
| Harton | 3 | 222.22x |
| Potter Heigham | 3 | 1875.00x |
| St Andrewthe Less | 3 | 36.01x |
| Ashwellthorpe | 2 | 1333.33x |
| Brooke | 2 | 714.29x |
| East Dereham | 2 | 89.29x |
| Exeter St Leonard | 2 | 303.03x |
| Fraserburgh | 2 | 66.67x |
| Newington | 2 | 4.70x |
| Sheffield | 2 | 5.51x |
| St George Hanover | 2 | 13.32x |
| Thorney | 2 | 246.91x |
| Acton | 1 | 14.81x |
| Ashburnham | 1 | 333.33x |
| Brighton | 1 | 2.55x |
| Bungay Holy Trinity | 1 | 138.89x |
| Chelmsford | 1 | 25.64x |
| Halling | 1 | 196.08x |
| Hampstead London | 1 | 5.58x |
| Hempnall | 1 | 285.71x |
| Islington London | 1 | 0.90x |
| Lower Bebington | 1 | 66.23x |
| Mendlesham | 1 | 227.27x |
| Old Deer | 1 | 49.51x |
| Seething | 1 | 666.67x |
| St Anne Soho London | 1 | 15.22x |
| St George In East | 1 | 12.77x |
| Stockton On Tees | 1 | 6.06x |
| Walthamstow | 1 | 12.22x |
| Whittington | 1 | 126.58x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Rushmore surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Mary | 8 |
| Sarah | 6 |
| Annie | 5 |
| Charlotte | 3 |
| Elizabeth | 3 |
| Louisa | 3 |
| Alice | 2 |
| Anna | 2 |
| Ellen | 2 |
| Emily | 2 |
| Isabella | 2 |
| Maria | 2 |
| Martha | 2 |
| Rebecca | 2 |
| Agnes | 1 |
| Amelia | 1 |
| Beatrice | 1 |
| E. | 1 |
| Eliza | 1 |
| Emma | 1 |
| Georgiana | 1 |
| Hannah | 1 |
| Harriet | 1 |
| Harriett | 1 |
| Jane | 1 |
| June | 1 |
| Laura | 1 |
| Mabel | 1 |
| Margaret | 1 |
| Marion | 1 |
| Matilda | 1 |
| Rosanna | 1 |
| Sabina | 1 |
| Sophia | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Rushmore surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Rushmore households.
FAQ
In 1881, 119 people were recorded with the Rushmore surname. That placed it at #17,841 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 82 in 2016. That gives Rushmore a modern rank of #32,895.
An English surname derived from a place name meaning "rushy moor" or "hillock overgrown with rushes".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Rushmore bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.