UK surname
A Dutch surname derived from the verb "rutten" meaning "to clear land for cultivation."
In the 1881 census there were 18 people recorded with the Rutten surname, ranking it #31,019 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 29, ranked #36,059, down from #31,019 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Bury, Darlington and Cadney, Newstead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Rutten is 130 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 61.1%.
1881 census count
18
Ranked #31,019
Modern count
29
2016, ranked #36,059
Peak year
1861
130 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Rutten surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Rutten surname density by area, 1861 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 | 12 | #31,134 |
| 1861 | historical | 130 | #17,164 |
| 1881 | historical | 18 | #31,019 |
| 1891 | historical | 60 | #29,204 |
| 1901 | historical | 28 | #30,951 |
| 1911 | historical | 20 | #31,288 |
| 1997 | modern | 9 | #37,214 |
| 1998 | modern | 12 | #36,790 |
| 1999 | modern | 14 | #36,595 |
| 2000 | modern | 6 | #37,624 |
| 2001 | modern | 5 | #37,652 |
| 2002 | modern | 10 | #36,902 |
| 2003 | modern | 12 | #36,715 |
| 2004 | modern | 13 | #36,742 |
| 2005 | modern | 14 | #36,730 |
| 2006 | modern | 16 | #36,601 |
| 2007 | modern | 16 | #36,714 |
| 2008 | modern | 15 | #36,843 |
| 2009 | modern | 22 | #36,394 |
| 2010 | modern | 28 | #36,084 |
| 2011 | modern | 28 | #36,071 |
| 2012 | modern | 30 | #35,929 |
| 2013 | modern | 29 | #36,040 |
| 2014 | modern | 32 | #35,896 |
| 2015 | modern | 29 | #36,040 |
| 2016 | modern | 29 | #36,059 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Bury, Darlington, Cadney, Newstead, St Pancras and Tynemouth (Chirton, Preston, Murton, Whitley, Monkseaton), Earsdon (Earsdon). 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 | Bury | Lancashire |
| 2 | Darlington | Durham |
| 3 | Cadney, Newstead | Lincolnshire |
| 4 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| 5 | Tynemouth (Chirton, Preston, Murton, Whitley, Monkseaton), Earsdon (Earsdon) | Northumberland |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Rutten 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 Rutten, 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 Rutten surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Rutten 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, Rutten 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 Rutten is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Rutten, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Rutten is of Dutch origin, originating in the Netherlands during the late medieval period. It is derived from the Dutch word "rut," meaning a clearing or open space in a forest or woodland area. The name likely referred to someone who lived or worked near such a clearing.
In its earliest forms, the name was spelled as "Rutta" or "Rutta," with variants such as "Rutte" and "Rutten" emerging later on. The name is believed to have originated in the Dutch provinces of Noord-Brabant and Limburg, where it remains relatively common today.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Rutten can be found in the medieval Dutch manuscript "Codex Diplomaticus Neerlandicus," which dates back to the 14th century. This document mentions a person named "Jan Ruttenszoon," indicating that the name was already in use by that time.
In the 16th century, the name appears in the records of the city of Breda, where a prominent family named Rutten lived. One notable member was Jan Rutten (1535-1612), a wealthy merchant and alderman of the city.
During the Dutch Golden Age of the 17th century, several individuals with the surname Rutten made significant contributions to the arts and sciences. Among them was the painter and engraver Jacob Rutten (1600-1668), known for his detailed etchings of Dutch landscapes and cityscapes.
Another notable figure from this period was Adriaan Rutten (1627-1698), a Dutch mathematician and astronomer who made important observations of the planet Mars and its moons.
In the 19th century, the Rutten name gained further prominence with the birth of the Dutch writer and journalist Frans Rutten (1830-1903), who wrote extensively on social and political issues of his time.
Other notable individuals with the surname Rutten include the Dutch philosopher and theologian Réné Rutten (1907-1988), and the Belgian footballer and manager Eric Rutten (born 1957), who played for and managed several top-level clubs in Belgium and the Netherlands.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Rutten 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. Middlesex leads with 7 Ruttens recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.99x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 7 | 3.99x |
| Surrey | 6 | 7.01x |
| Lancashire | 2 | 0.96x |
| Suffolk | 2 | 9.35x |
| Nottinghamshire | 1 | 4.22x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Camberwell in Surrey leads with 6 Ruttens recorded in 1881 and an index of 53.48x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Camberwell | 6 | 53.48x |
| St Pancras London | 4 | 28.31x |
| Paddington London | 3 | 46.44x |
| Bury St Edmunds St Mary | 2 | 500.00x |
| Manchester | 2 | 21.34x |
| Radford | 1 | 83.33x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Rutten surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Rutten 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 Rutten households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 5 |
| Accountant | 1 |
| Civil Engineer | 1 |
| Excavator Lab | 1 |
| Needlewoman | 1 |
| Seamstress | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 18 people were recorded with the Rutten surname. That placed it at #31,019 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 29 in 2016. That gives Rutten a modern rank of #36,059.
A Dutch surname derived from the verb "rutten" meaning "to clear land for cultivation."
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Rutten 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.