2000
#45,403
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 444
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.16
Very Rare Last name
Richens
An English surname derived from the personal name Richard, meaning powerful or rich.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 611 Americans carry the last name Richens. That puts it at #43,628 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.18 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 560,973 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Richens surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
For British records, Name Census UK has a British surname profile for Richens with 1881 census detail, origin facts and modern UK distribution where available.
Bearers in the US
611
1 in 560,973
Census rank
#43,628
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.2
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
533
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 533 bearers of the surname Richens in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.18 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 43628th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Richens, the largest self-reported group is White at 91.6%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.4%) and Two or More Races (2.4%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Richens
The surname Richens is believed to have originated in England during the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old English word "ricca," which means "powerful" or "wealthy." This suggests that the name was likely given to someone who was affluent or held a position of authority.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where a person named Richard le Riche is mentioned. This spelling variation, "le Riche," provides insight into the name's evolution over time.
In the 14th century, the name appeared in various forms, including Ryche, Riche, and Rych. These variations were likely a result of regional dialects and the lack of standardized spelling during that period.
The Domesday Book, a comprehensive record of land ownership in England compiled in 1086, does not contain any direct references to the surname Richens. However, it does mention individuals with the name Riche or similar spellings, indicating that the name was present during the Norman period.
One notable historical figure with the surname Richens was Sir Thomas Richens (1605-1678), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Gloucestershire. He played a role in the English Civil War and was a supporter of the Parliamentarian cause.
Another individual of note was John Richens (1649-1712), an English clergyman and author who wrote several religious works, including "A Treatise on the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper."
In the 18th century, the name Richens appeared in various places across England, including Gloucestershire, Worcestershire, and Oxfordshire. One notable individual from this period was Richard Richens (1720-1798), a prominent architect who designed several churches and public buildings in Gloucestershire.
Moving into the 19th century, the name Richens was associated with notable figures such as Reverend William Richens (1801-1878), a clergyman and author who served as the Rector of Bredwardine in Herefordshire.
Lastly, one of the more recent individuals with the surname Richens was Arthur Richens (1859-1945), a British architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Piccadilly Hotel and the former headquarters of the Royal Automobile Club.
While the surname Richens may not be among the most common in England, its rich history and varied spellings over the centuries provide insight into the country's linguistic and cultural evolution.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Richens
Among Census respondents with the surname Richens, the largest self-reported group is White at 91.6%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.4%) and Two or More Races (2.4%).
The bar chart below shows how Richens bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Richens surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White91.6% · 488
- Hispanic or Latino2.4% · 13
- Two or more races2.4% · 13
- Black or African American2.1% · 11
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.8% · 4
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.8% · 4
Timeline
Historical Census data for Richens
Richens appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#51,512
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 404
-40 bearers (-9.0%)
Per 100,000 0.14
Rank movement Down 6,109 places
2020
#43,628
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 533
+129 bearers (+31.9%)
Per 100,000 0.18
Rank movement Up 7,884 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #45,403 | 444 | 0.16 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #51,512 | 404 | 0.14 | -40 bearers (-9.0%) | Down 6,109 places |
| 2020 | #43,628 | 533 | 0.18 | +129 bearers (+31.9%) | Up 7,884 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Richens surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #51,512 | #43,628 | 15.3% |
| Count | 404 | 533 | 31.9% |
| Per 100K | 0.14 | 0.18 | 27.4% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Richens bearers went from 404 to 533 (+31.9% change). The surname moved up 7,884 positions in the national ranking, going from #51,512 to #43,628.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Richens
FAQ
Richens surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Richens?
Name Census estimates that about 611 living Americans carry the surname Richens. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 560,973 residents.
How common is Richens?
Richens ranks #43,628 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.18 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 533 people with the surname Richens. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (611), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.18 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.18 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Richens.
Has Richens become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Richens went from 404 recorded bearers to 533. That is an increase of 129 (+31.9%). In the national ranking it rose from #51,512 to #43,628.
What does the Census say about the background of Richens?
Among Census respondents with the surname Richens, the largest self-reported group is White at 91.6%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.4%) and Two or More Races (2.4%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Richens in the 2020 Census, accounting for 91.6% (488 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Richens appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (91.6%), Hispanic (2.4%), Two or More Races (2.4%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Richens (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Richens mean?
An English surname derived from the personal name Richard, meaning powerful or rich. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Richens (0.18 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people have the surname Richens?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.