Rickman
An English occupational surname referring to a man who is rich or wealthy.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 7,883 Americans carry the last name Rickman. That puts it at #5,166 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 2.30 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 43,480 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Rickman surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, 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.
Bearers in the US
7.9K
1 in 43,480
Census rank
#5,166
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
2.3
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
6.8K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 6,774 bearers of the surname Rickman in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 2.30 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 5166th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Rickman, the largest self-reported group is White at 85.4%. The next largest groups are Black (8.1%) and Hispanic (2.9%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Rickman
The surname Rickman originated in England during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English words "ric" meaning powerful or wealthy, and "man" meaning man or person. The name likely referred to someone who was considered a powerful or wealthy individual within their community.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the Rickman surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landowners in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appears as "Ricmane" and "Ricmanis" in various entries throughout the document.
In the 13th century, the surname was commonly spelled as "Rikeman" or "Ricman" in various records and manuscripts from counties such as Lincolnshire and Yorkshire. By the 14th century, the spelling had evolved closer to the modern form of "Rickman."
Some notable historical figures bearing the Rickman surname include John Rickman (1771-1840), a political economist and census pioneer who played a significant role in the development of modern census techniques in England. Thomas Rickman (1776-1841) was an English architect and writer known for his work on Gothic Revival architecture and his influential book "An Attempt to Discriminate the Styles of English Architecture."
Another notable individual was William Rickman (1542-1618), a wealthy merchant and alderman in the City of London during the Elizabethan era. He served as the Lord Mayor of London in 1592-1593.
In the 18th century, Edward Rickman (1730-1803) was a prominent English lawyer and legal writer who served as the Deputy Keeper of the Records in the Tower of London.
The surname Rickman is also associated with several place names in England, such as Rickmansworth in Hertfordshire, which likely derived its name from an early landowner or prominent individual with the surname Rickman.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Rickman
Among Census respondents with the surname Rickman, the largest self-reported group is White at 85.4%. The next largest groups are Black (8.1%) and Hispanic (2.9%).
The bar chart below shows how Rickman bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 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.
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 Rickman surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White85.4%
- Black or African American8.1%
- Hispanic or Latino2.9%
- Two or more races2.1%
- American Indian and Alaska Native1.2%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.3%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Rickman surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #5,166 | #5,166 | 0.0% |
| Count | 6,774 | 6,774 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 2.30 | 2.30 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Rickman bearers went from 6,774 to 6,774 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #5,166 to #5,166.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Rickman
FAQ
Rickman surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Rickman?
The surname Rickman holds position #5,166 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 7,883 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 2.30 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Rickman surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Rickman, the largest self-reported group is White at 85.4%. The next largest groups are Black (8.1%) and Hispanic (2.9%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.