NameCensus.

UK surname

Russ

A nickname derived from the given name Russell, which means "red-haired" or "ruddy-complexioned" in Old French.

In the 1881 census there were 808 people recorded with the Russ surname, ranking it #4,617 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,198, ranked #4,968, down from #4,617 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff and Sutton Benger. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Swansea, Rhondda Cynon Taf and County Durham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Russ is 1,295 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 48.3%.

1881 census count

808

Ranked #4,617

Modern count

1,198

2016, ranked #4,968

Peak year

1999

1,295 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Russ had 808 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,617 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,198 in 2016, ranked #4,968.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,293 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Russ surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Russ surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Russ 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 585 #4,372
1861 historical 564 #4,667
1881 historical 808 #4,617
1891 historical 979 #4,224
1901 historical 1,180 #4,149
1911 historical 1,293 #3,685
1997 modern 1,200 #4,707
1998 modern 1,269 #4,668
1999 modern 1,295 #4,611
2000 modern 1,260 #4,709
2001 modern 1,230 #4,701
2002 modern 1,244 #4,743
2003 modern 1,228 #4,715
2004 modern 1,206 #4,793
2005 modern 1,170 #4,862
2006 modern 1,192 #4,802
2007 modern 1,215 #4,760
2008 modern 1,200 #4,841
2009 modern 1,207 #4,918
2010 modern 1,235 #4,924
2011 modern 1,235 #4,869
2012 modern 1,199 #4,919
2013 modern 1,219 #4,925
2014 modern 1,242 #4,866
2015 modern 1,214 #4,918
2016 modern 1,198 #4,968

Geography

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Where Russ' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Sutton Benger, London parishes and Martock. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Swansea, Rhondda Cynon Taf, County Durham and Salford. 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 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
3 Sutton Benger Wiltshire
4 London parishes London 3
5 Martock Somerset

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Swansea 019 Swansea
2 Rhondda Cynon Taf 006 Rhondda Cynon Taf
3 County Durham 053 County Durham
4 County Durham 046 County Durham
5 Salford 023 Salford

Forenames

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First names often paired with Russ

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Russ

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Russ 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

Russ 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

Russ falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Russ

The surname Russ has its origins in the Anglo-Saxon regions of Britain. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "read," meaning "red," and was likely given as a nickname to someone with reddish hair or a ruddy complexion. The name is thought to have first appeared in the 11th century.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landholdings in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. Several individuals with the surname Russ or variations such as Rede or Rudde are listed as landowners or tenants.

During the Middle Ages, the name Russ was particularly prevalent in the counties of Warwickshire, Staffordshire, and Lincolnshire. It is also closely associated with the town of Rushden in Northamptonshire, which likely took its name from the Old English "Rysedene," meaning "valley of rushes."

Notable historical figures bearing the surname Russ include John Russ (c. 1485-1550), a English Catholic priest and author who was martyred during the Protestant Reformation. Another prominent individual was Martin Russ (1521-1581), a German theologian and reformer who played a significant role in the spread of Protestantism.

In the arts, the name is associated with the English painter and engraver Norman Russ (1858-1909), known for his landscapes and maritime scenes. The American author and historian Willard Russ III (1929-2009) was renowned for his work on the history of the American West and Native American culture.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Sir Robert Russ, a knight who fought alongside Richard the Lionheart during the Third Crusade in the 12th century. Another historical figure was Sir John Russ, a prominent English landowner and soldier who served under King Edward III during the Hundred Years' War in the 14th century.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Russ families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Russ 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. Wiltshire leads with 138 Russ' recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.80x.

County Total Index
Wiltshire 138 19.80x
Somerset 132 10.40x
Middlesex 116 1.47x
Gloucestershire 82 5.30x
Surrey 71 1.85x
Glamorgan 45 3.28x
Berkshire 29 4.90x
Hampshire 28 1.73x
Kent 28 1.04x
Staffordshire 17 0.64x
Essex 16 1.03x
Durham 13 0.55x
Warwickshire 12 0.60x
Sussex 9 0.68x
Yorkshire 9 0.12x
Northumberland 8 0.68x
Leicestershire 7 0.80x
Derbyshire 6 0.49x
Dunbartonshire 6 2.83x
Lancashire 5 0.05x
Dorset 4 0.77x
Lincolnshire 4 0.32x
Nottinghamshire 4 0.38x
Shropshire 4 0.59x
Devon 3 0.18x
Worcestershire 3 0.29x
Morayshire 2 1.63x
Northamptonshire 2 0.27x
Westmorland 2 1.15x
Channel Islands 1 0.43x
Monmouthshire 1 0.18x
Royal Navy 1 1.06x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kingsbury Episcopi in Somerset leads with 23 Russ' recorded in 1881 and an index of 559.61x.

Place Total Index
Kingsbury Episcopi 23 559.61x
Lambeth 23 3.35x
Martock 19 230.30x
Sutton Benger 18 1875.00x
St Marylebone London 15 3.56x
Bristol St George 14 19.58x
Bethnal Green London 13 3.80x
Chippenham 13 88.92x
Rowley Regis 13 17.53x
Bitton 11 81.78x
Tintinhull 11 1009.17x
Ystradyfodwg 11 9.14x
Helmington Row 10 91.58x
West Ham 10 2.91x
Yeovil 10 38.79x
All Cannings 9 666.67x
Newington 9 3.09x
Roath 9 14.44x
Shoreditch London 9 2.63x
St George In East 9 16.79x
Stapleton 9 30.70x
Wanborough 9 378.15x
West Overton 9 494.51x
Yatesbury 9 1578.95x
Beverston 8 1568.63x
Great Faringdon 8 94.12x
Islington London 8 1.05x
Ruishton 8 625.00x
Swansea St Thomas 8 58.01x
Chelsea London 7 2.95x
Christian Malford 7 330.19x
Croydon 7 3.28x
Devizes St James 7 75.59x
Fisherton Anger 7 54.26x
Horfield 7 44.99x
Montacute 7 300.43x
Siston 7 253.62x
St Pancras London 7 1.10x
Aston 6 1.10x
Bermondsey 6 2.56x
Camberwell 6 1.19x
Dartford 6 21.82x
Kensington London 6 1.37x
Kilmington 6 461.54x
Kingstanley 6 105.08x
Kirkintilloch 6 20.86x
Lambourn 6 102.39x
Margate St John Baptist 6 12.19x
Mortlake 6 35.05x
Othery 6 384.62x
Sheepy Magna 6 530.97x
Stanton St Bernard 6 659.34x
Bekesbourne 5 549.45x
Bow London 5 4.98x
Calne 5 34.84x
East Woodhay 5 121.07x
Froxfield 5 423.73x
Hammersmith London 5 2.58x
Hampstead Marshall 5 746.27x
Lewisham 5 3.49x
Llandaff 5 10.95x
Lyneham 5 183.82x
Marlborough St Mary Virgin 5 101.83x
Newcastle On Tyne St 5 8.23x
St Faith Winchester 5 66.40x
Swansea Town 5 4.44x
Tetbury 5 57.08x
Tottenham 5 3.98x
Aldbourn 4 98.52x
Burslem 4 5.25x
Charlton Adam 4 357.14x
Charlton Musgrove 4 363.64x
Great Bedwin 4 80.81x
Milton Clevedon 4 869.57x
Radford 4 7.41x
Ramsbury 4 63.39x
Southcoates 4 9.23x
Spittlegate 4 22.95x
Spotland 4 3.85x
Thatcham 4 43.86x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 47
John 35
George 34
James 22
Charles 21
Henry 21
Joseph 20
Thomas 15
Albert 11
Alfred 11
Frederick 11
Walter 9
Samuel 8
Edwin 7
Arthur 6
Edward 5
Herbert 5
Andrew 4
Mark 4
Richard 4
Robert 4
Francis 3
Frank 3
Fred 3
Thos. 3
Alexander 2
Daniel 2
H. 2
Harry 2
Hugh 2
Jesse 2
Job 2
Oliver 2
Paul 2
Philip 2
Sidney 2
Stephen 2
Tom 2
Absolam 1
Barnabas 1
Bernhard 1
Bertie 1
Elam 1
Ernest 1
Evelyn 1
Finley 1
Foster 1
Jasper 1
Jno. 1
Wm.Charles 1

FAQ

Russ surname: questions and answers

How common was the Russ surname in 1881?

In 1881, 808 people were recorded with the Russ surname. That placed it at #4,617 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Russ surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,198 in 2016. That gives Russ a modern rank of #4,968.

What does the Russ surname mean?

A nickname derived from the given name Russell, which means "red-haired" or "ruddy-complexioned" in Old French.

What does the Russ map show?

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