NameCensus.

UK surname

Rusling

A surname derived from an Old English word meaning "to murmur" or "to rustle".

In the 1881 census there were 242 people recorded with the Rusling surname, ranking it #11,333 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 566, ranked #9,075, up from #11,333 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Hull Holy Trinity, Gainsborough, Paddocks and Wroot. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North Lincolnshire, Wakefield and South Somerset.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Rusling is 591 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 133.9%.

1881 census count

242

Ranked #11,333

Modern count

566

2016, ranked #9,075

Peak year

2002

591 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Rusling had 242 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,333 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 566 in 2016, ranked #9,075.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 466 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Rusling surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Rusling surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Rusling 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 161 #12,288
1861 historical 158 #14,644
1881 historical 242 #11,333
1891 historical 280 #11,665
1901 historical 400 #9,483
1911 historical 466 #8,281
1997 modern 549 #8,668
1998 modern 569 #8,694
1999 modern 578 #8,652
2000 modern 571 #8,693
2001 modern 565 #8,627
2002 modern 591 #8,543
2003 modern 570 #8,619
2004 modern 567 #8,672
2005 modern 545 #8,842
2006 modern 551 #8,799
2007 modern 557 #8,813
2008 modern 575 #8,685
2009 modern 578 #8,825
2010 modern 579 #9,013
2011 modern 582 #8,894
2012 modern 558 #9,071
2013 modern 566 #9,109
2014 modern 570 #9,123
2015 modern 576 #9,002
2016 modern 566 #9,075

Geography

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Where Ruslings are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Hull Holy Trinity, Gainsborough, Paddocks, Wroot, Worlaby and Sheffield. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North Lincolnshire, Wakefield and South Somerset. 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 Hull Holy Trinity Yorkshire, East Riding
2 Gainsborough, Paddocks Lincolnshire
3 Wroot Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Worlaby Lincolnshire
5 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North Lincolnshire 006 North Lincolnshire
2 Wakefield 040 Wakefield
3 South Somerset 017 South Somerset
4 North Lincolnshire 005 North Lincolnshire
5 North Lincolnshire 023 North Lincolnshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Rusling

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Rusling

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

Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles

Group

Inner London Working Professionals

Within London, Rusling is most associated with areas classed as Inner London Working Professionals, part of Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles. 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 primarily Inner London neighbourhoods are more densely populated than the Supergroup average. Residents have a younger over-all age profile than the Supergroup as a whole, and are less likely to be owner occupiers. Full time employment is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup and multiple car ownership is uncommon. Chinese and non-EU-born European migrants are less in evidence than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

These neighbourhoods house people of all ages, predominantly of White British or European extraction. Resident turnover is low. Religious affiliation is less common than average and tends to be Christian if expressed. Homeownership, typically of terraced houses, is common but use of the social rented sector is not. Employment is typically in professional, managerial and associate professional or technical occupations. There are few full-time students. Level 4 qualifications are common. More households lack dependent children than have them which, considered alongside low levels of crowding and over-all age structure, indicates that many households may be post child-rearing and in late middle age. Incidence of disability is low, as is residence in communal establishments.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Rusling 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

Rusling 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 Rusling 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 Rusling, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Rusling

The surname RUSLING has its origins in England, tracing back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "rysc," meaning "rush," and the suffix "-ling," indicating a place where rushes grew abundantly. Therefore, the name likely referred to someone who lived near a marshy area or a place with an abundance of rushes.

The earliest recorded instance of the RUSLING surname can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, where it appears as "Russelinges." This suggests that the name was already established in England by the 13th century. Some variations of the spelling include Ruseling, Ruslinge, and Ruseling, reflecting the regional dialects and pronunciation differences of the time.

One of the earliest known bearers of the RUSLING name was John Rusling, who was mentioned in the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield, Yorkshire, in 1316. This record provides valuable insight into the geographical spread of the name beyond its presumed place of origin.

During the 16th century, the RUSLING surname appears in various historical records, including the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1524, where a Thomas Ruslynge is mentioned. Additionally, the Parish Registers of Warwickshire in 1585 record the marriage of Jone Rusling.

Notable individuals with the RUSLING surname throughout history include Robert Rusling (1607-1681), a wealthy merchant and landowner from Gloucestershire, England, who served as a Justice of the Peace and High Sheriff of the county. Another notable figure was William Rusling (1632-1708), a prominent Quaker from Northamptonshire, who faced persecution for his religious beliefs during the 17th century.

In the 18th century, John Rusling (1730-1812) was a successful farmer and landowner from Oxfordshire, known for his innovative agricultural practices. Meanwhile, in the 19th century, James Rusling (1819-1891) was a respected physician and medical researcher from London, who made significant contributions to the study of infectious diseases.

The RUSLING surname has also been associated with places like Rusling in Suffolk, England, which may have derived its name from the same Old English root as the surname. Additionally, some records mention the place name "Ruslingbury" in Kent, suggesting a connection between the surname and certain geographic locations.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Rusling families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Rusling 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. Lincolnshire leads with 97 Ruslings recorded in 1881 and an index of 26.24x.

County Total Index
Lincolnshire 97 26.24x
Yorkshire 92 4.02x
Nottinghamshire 24 7.70x
Middlesex 11 0.48x
Worcestershire 8 2.65x
Lancashire 3 0.11x
Norfolk 1 0.28x
Surrey 1 0.09x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Wroot in Lincolnshire leads with 20 Ruslings recorded in 1881 and an index of 7142.86x.

Place Total Index
Wroot 20 7142.86x
Epworth 15 872.09x
Sheffield 14 19.20x
Misterton 12 1250.00x
Ecclesall Bierlow 11 23.61x
West Stockwith 11 2075.47x
Worlaby 11 2391.30x
Goole 10 260.42x
Waddingham 9 1578.95x
Barrow On Humber 8 372.09x
Bushley 8 3636.36x
Brightside Bierlow 7 15.58x
Hackney London 7 5.40x
Thorne 7 246.48x
Hatfield In Thorne 6 419.58x
Holy Trinity 6 10.89x
Rotherham 6 46.48x
Aston Cum Aughton 5 267.38x
Bonby 5 1562.50x
Swinton In Rotherham 5 82.51x
Crowle 4 177.78x
Owston 4 380.95x
St Maryle Wigford 4 139.37x
Belton 3 200.00x
Bethnal Green London 3 2.99x
Nether Hallam 3 9.68x
Ruckland 3 6000.00x
Wrawby 3 300.00x
Catcliffe 2 625.00x
Cleckheaton 2 23.70x
Haxey 2 127.39x
Rusholme 2 27.32x
Scothern 2 512.82x
Scunthorpe 2 120.48x
St Mary Magdalen Lincoln 2 408.16x
Barton Upon Irwell 1 4.84x
Clee With Weelsby 1 12.36x
Cottingham 1 20.24x
Croydon 1 1.60x
Great Grimsby 1 4.26x
Great Yarmouth 1 3.40x
Hainton 1 416.67x
Handsworth 1 16.50x
Leeds 1 0.77x
Mile End Old Town 1 2.74x
Scotter 1 117.65x
Wakefield 1 5.69x
Walkeringham 1 178.57x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 15
Sarah 15
Elizabeth 8
Alice 5
Ann 5
Ada 4
Emma 4
Amy 3
Annie 3
Charlotte 3
Edith 3
Emily 3
Harriet 3
Jane 3
Annice 2
Eliza 2
Florence 2
Gertrude 2
Anna 1
Anne 1
Bertha 1
Betsy 1
Caroline 1
Clara 1
E. 1
Ellen 1
Esther 1
Ethel 1
Evelina 1
Fanny 1
Favilla 1
Hannah 1
Harriett 1
Henrietta 1
Jemima 1
Lotty 1
Lucy 1
M. 1
Margret 1
Maud 1
Minnie 1
Miriam 1
Phoebe 1
Presalla 1
Rebecca 1
Rose 1
Ruth 1
Susan 1
Thora 1
Wilhemina 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 17
George 16
John 14
Joseph 8
Charles 7
Thomas 7
Arthur 4
James 4
Edward 3
Fred 3
Henry 3
Mark 3
Edmund 2
Sam 2
Samuel 2
Tom 2
Walter 2
Aaron 1
Albert 1
Alfred 1
Baxter 1
Christopher 1
David 1
Elles 1
Ernest 1
Fergus 1
Frank 1
Frederick 1
Harry 1
Horace 1
Hy. 1
J.W. 1
Perey 1
Wm. 1
Zackriah 1

FAQ

Rusling surname: questions and answers

How common was the Rusling surname in 1881?

In 1881, 242 people were recorded with the Rusling surname. That placed it at #11,333 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Rusling surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 566 in 2016. That gives Rusling a modern rank of #9,075.

What does the Rusling surname mean?

A surname derived from an Old English word meaning "to murmur" or "to rustle".

What does the Rusling map show?

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