NameCensus.

UK surname

Rutledge

A topographic surname referring to someone living near a cleared area or field using an Old English term.

In the 1881 census there were 454 people recorded with the Rutledge surname, ranking it #7,280 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 571, ranked #9,030, down from #7,280 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Manchester and Portsmouth, Portsea. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Badenoch and Strathspey North, Halton and Cheshire West and Chester.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Rutledge is 613 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 25.8%.

1881 census count

454

Ranked #7,280

Modern count

571

2016, ranked #9,030

Peak year

2002

613 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Rutledge had 454 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,280 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 571 in 2016, ranked #9,030.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 539 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Rutledge surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Rutledge surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Rutledge 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 311 #7,413
1861 historical 305 #8,321
1881 historical 454 #7,280
1891 historical 409 #8,712
1901 historical 539 #7,632
1911 historical 506 #7,772
1997 modern 564 #8,501
1998 modern 605 #8,343
1999 modern 604 #8,407
2000 modern 597 #8,457
2001 modern 590 #8,392
2002 modern 613 #8,331
2003 modern 576 #8,566
2004 modern 559 #8,764
2005 modern 567 #8,608
2006 modern 551 #8,799
2007 modern 561 #8,766
2008 modern 558 #8,864
2009 modern 592 #8,681
2010 modern 597 #8,814
2011 modern 581 #8,908
2012 modern 580 #8,813
2013 modern 591 #8,837
2014 modern 601 #8,792
2015 modern 588 #8,864
2016 modern 571 #9,030

Geography

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Where Rutledges are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Manchester, Portsmouth, Portsea, Morpeth and Liverpool. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Badenoch and Strathspey North, Halton, Cheshire West and Chester and Rhondda Cynon Taf. 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 London parishes London 3
2 Manchester Lancashire
3 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire
4 Morpeth Northumberland
5 Liverpool Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Badenoch and Strathspey North Highland
2 Halton 007 Halton
3 Cheshire West and Chester 003 Cheshire West and Chester
4 Rhondda Cynon Taf 007 Rhondda Cynon Taf
5 Halton 003 Halton

Forenames

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First names often paired with Rutledge

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Rutledge

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Rutledge surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Rutledge household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Rutledge 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

Rutledge 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

Rutledge falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Rutledge

The surname Rutledge is of English origin and dates back to the late 11th century. It is derived from the Old English words "rude" meaning "red" and "leah" meaning "woodland clearing." The original bearers of this surname were likely individuals who lived near or worked in a red woodland area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name is found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which mentions a landowner named Roderic de Rudelea in Bedfordshire. This early spelling variation highlights the evolution of the name over time.

During the 12th and 13th centuries, the Rutledge family is believed to have been prominent in the county of Hertfordshire, England. Records from this period show various spellings such as Rudeleg, Rudelegh, and Rutlege.

In the 14th century, the name appears in the Feet of Fines, a legal document, which mentions a John Rutlege of Hertfordshire in 1346. This record suggests that the spelling had stabilized to its current form by that time.

Notable individuals with the surname Rutledge include Sir John Rutledge (1739-1800), one of the signers of the United States Constitution and the 39th Governor of South Carolina. Another prominent figure was Edward Rutledge (1749-1800), a delegate to the Continental Congress and the youngest signer of the Declaration of Independence.

In the literary world, Ann Rutledge (1813-1835) was the first love interest of Abraham Lincoln, and her memory had a lasting impact on the former President. The poet Archibald Rutledge (1883-1973) was a renowned American writer and teacher, known for his works celebrating the natural beauty of the South Carolina Lowcountry.

Lastly, James Rutledge (1834-1899) was a British explorer and adventurer who is credited with being the first European to explore the interior of the Antarctic Peninsula in the late 19th century.

These are just a few examples of individuals who have carried the Rutledge surname throughout history, showcasing its enduring presence across various fields and regions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Rutledge families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Rutledge 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. Lancashire leads with 57 Rutledges recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.08x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 57 1.08x
Essex 43 4.92x
Hampshire 41 4.52x
Middlesex 41 0.93x
Northumberland 38 5.77x
Durham 31 2.35x
Staffordshire 31 2.07x
Yorkshire 29 0.66x
Lanarkshire 28 1.96x
Cheshire 13 1.33x
Surrey 12 0.56x
Sussex 11 1.47x
Aberdeenshire 10 2.44x
Ayrshire 10 3.02x
Cambridgeshire 9 3.21x
Huntingdonshire 9 10.24x
Lincolnshire 8 1.13x
Dumfriesshire 7 7.16x
Renfrewshire 5 1.46x
Derbyshire 4 0.58x
Northamptonshire 4 0.96x
Berkshire 2 0.60x
Kent 2 0.13x
Midlothian 2 0.34x
Norfolk 2 0.29x
Dorset 1 0.34x
Gloucestershire 1 0.12x
Herefordshire 1 0.55x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.17x
Westmorland 1 1.03x

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 33 Rutledges recorded in 1881 and an index of 18.55x.

Place Total Index
Portsea 33 18.55x
West Ham 33 17.10x
Toxteth Park 14 7.87x
Barony 13 3.59x
Hackney London 11 4.43x
Morpeth 11 141.94x
Wolstanton Chesterton 11 143.98x
Byker 10 30.70x
Liverpool 9 2.82x
Pelton 9 143.54x
Sawtry All Sts 9 873.79x
Tipton 9 19.66x
Bishopwearmouth 8 7.07x
Brighton 8 5.31x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 8 14.02x
Burslem 7 16.35x
Dalmellington 7 71.79x
Dumfries 7 72.54x
Lambeth 7 1.81x
Manningham 7 12.95x
Purleigh 7 534.35x
Weston In Runcorn 7 275.59x
Old Monkland 6 10.56x
Spotland 6 10.27x
St Botolph Lincoln 6 117.88x
Wakefield 6 17.81x
Aberdeen Old Machar 5 5.84x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 5 6.52x
Bedlington 5 22.73x
Blackburn 5 3.58x
Charterhouse London 5 239.23x
Govan 5 1.41x
March 5 53.25x
Otley 5 46.90x
Paisley Low Church 5 46.04x
Pendleton In Salford 5 7.99x
Preston 5 3.56x
Chelsea London 4 3.00x
Congleton 4 23.68x
Ecclesall Bierlow 4 4.48x
Glasgow 4 1.57x
Manchester 4 1.69x
Poplar London 4 4.79x
Seaton Delaval 4 69.08x
St Marylebone London 4 1.69x
Westminster St John 4 7.42x
Wisbech St Peter 4 28.43x
Chirton 3 20.12x
Derby St Werburgh 3 7.49x
Grafton Regis 3 1153.85x
Kingston 3 236.22x
Maybole 3 29.73x
Newcastle On Tyne St 3 8.78x
West Derby 3 1.95x
Wortley In Bramley 3 8.63x
Aldershot 2 6.58x
Batley 2 4.80x
Bow London 2 3.55x
Camberwell 2 0.71x
Gateshead 2 2.03x
Great Crosby 2 13.96x
Handsworth 2 5.43x
Hartley 2 113.64x
Hastings St Mary 2 10.76x
Kensington London 2 0.81x
Little Bolton 2 2.96x
Millbrook 2 8.75x
Reading St Mary 2 7.51x
South Shields 2 17.04x
St Pancras London 2 0.56x
Sunderland 2 8.59x
Battersea 1 0.61x
Bradford 1 0.94x
Chorlton On Medlock 1 1.20x
Greens Norton 1 75.76x
Holbeach 1 12.67x
Portland 1 6.40x
St George Hanover 1 1.73x
Undermilbeck 1 31.15x
Westminster St James 1 2.20x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 22
Sarah 17
Emma 13
Eliza 10
Annie 9
Elizabeth 9
Alice 8
Jane 8
Ellen 7
Catherine 6
Ann 5
Bridget 5
Hannah 5
Margaret 5
Charlotte 4
Edith 3
Emily 3
Frances 3
Isabella 3
Maria 3
Martha 3
Eleanor 2
Florence 2
Gertrude 2
Rebecca 2
Rose 2
Sophia 2
Agnes 1
Amelia 1
Augusta 1
Barb. 1
Bedelia 1
Betty 1
Blanche 1
Christiana 1
Constance 1
Eda 1
Elizth 1
Emila 1
Harriet 1
Harriett 1
Janet 1
Julia 1
Kate 1
Lavinia 1
Letetia 1
Levenia 1
Lilian 1
Mabel 1
Winifred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 27
William 21
George 18
Thomas 15
James 13
Edward 10
Joseph 9
Henry 6
Robert 6
Samuel 4
Alfred 3
Harry 3
Alexander 2
Charles 2
Earnest 2
Frederick 2
Geo. 2
Michael 2
Patrick 2
Peter 2
Richard 2
Thos. 2
Albert 1
Augustus 1
Claude 1
Daniel 1
Ed. 1
Edmond 1
Edmund 1
Edwin 1
Eli 1
Ernest 1
Francis 1
Frank 1
Henery 1
Herbert 1
Hugh 1
Hy. 1
Isaac 1
J.J. 1
Jabez 1
Jeremiah 1
Louis 1
Luke 1
Matthew 1
R. 1
Ralph 1
Rob. 1
Robt.B. 1
Thompson 1

FAQ

Rutledge surname: questions and answers

How common was the Rutledge surname in 1881?

In 1881, 454 people were recorded with the Rutledge surname. That placed it at #7,280 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Rutledge surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 571 in 2016. That gives Rutledge a modern rank of #9,030.

What does the Rutledge surname mean?

A topographic surname referring to someone living near a cleared area or field using an Old English term.

What does the Rutledge map show?

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