NameCensus.

UK surname

Rab

A surname likely derived from the Arabic name "Rabbi" or "Rabi," meaning teacher or master.

In the 1881 census there were 4 people recorded with the Rab surname, ranking it #33,288 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 120, ranked #27,563, up from #33,288 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Tower Hamlets, Hambleton and Salford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Rab is 129 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 2900.0%.

1881 census count

4

Ranked #33,288

Modern count

120

2016, ranked #27,563

Peak year

2014

129 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • Rab had 4 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #33,288 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 120 in 2016, ranked #27,563.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 4 in 1881.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Rab surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Rab surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Rab 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 1 #33,412
1881 historical 4 #33,288
1891 historical 1 #34,674
1901 historical 1 #34,548
1997 modern 57 #31,917
1998 modern 70 #30,968
1999 modern 76 #30,546
2000 modern 70 #31,180
2001 modern 67 #31,297
2002 modern 83 #30,070
2003 modern 77 #30,762
2004 modern 86 #30,019
2005 modern 96 #28,671
2006 modern 96 #28,946
2007 modern 93 #29,777
2008 modern 100 #29,001
2009 modern 99 #29,754
2010 modern 107 #29,153
2011 modern 111 #28,294
2012 modern 114 #27,868
2013 modern 123 #26,974
2014 modern 129 #26,352
2015 modern 125 #26,808
2016 modern 120 #27,563

Geography

Back to top

Where Rabs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Tower Hamlets, Hambleton, Salford, Leicester and Runnymede. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Tower Hamlets 005 Tower Hamlets
2 Hambleton 004 Hambleton
3 Salford 020 Salford
4 Leicester 027 Leicester
5 Runnymede 007 Runnymede

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Rab

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Rab

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students

Nationally, the Rab surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Rab household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Married couples with dependent children are common in this Group, with many parents born in Africa or the EU. The representation of residents amongst different ethnic minority groups is high, particularly for individuals of Pakistani ethnic group. For many residents, English is not their main language, and affiliation to Christian religions is less common. Privately rented terrace properties predominate and levels of overcrowding are high. Part time work is common, with many employed in elementary occupations and sales and customer services. There are also many students living within these areas, and overall unemployment levels are high.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Young Asian Family Terraces

Within London, Rab is most associated with areas classed as Young Asian Family Terraces, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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

These households with dependent children typically live in terraced housing and are of (non-Chinese) Asian extraction. Individuals with Bangladeshi origins are particularly in evidence. Employment is often in elementary occupations or as process, plant or machine operatives, and part-time work is common. Students are much in evidence.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Rab 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

Rab falls in decile 3 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Rab is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 40-50 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

7
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
Other Ethnic Group

This describes the area pattern most associated with Rab, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Rab

The surname RAB has its origins in Scotland, dating back to the 16th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old Scots word "rab," which means a roebuck or a male roe deer. This suggests that the name may have initially been a nickname or an occupational name for someone who worked with deer or hunted them.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name RAB can be found in the parish records of Aberdeenshire, Scotland, in the late 1500s. The name was particularly prevalent in the northeastern regions of Scotland, including Aberdeenshire, Banffshire, and Morayshire.

In the 17th century, a notable figure with the surname RAB was Alexander Rab, a Scottish soldier and landowner who lived from 1612 to 1689. He was known for his involvement in the Scottish Civil War and his support for the Royalist cause.

Another historical reference to the name RAB can be found in the records of the Scottish Parliament from the late 17th century, where a John Rab is mentioned as a representative for the burgh of Cullen in Banffshire.

During the 18th century, the name RAB appeared in various records and manuscripts across Scotland. One such instance is the mention of a James Rab, a merchant from Aberdeen, in the city's trade records from the 1720s.

In the 19th century, a prominent figure with the surname RAB was Robert Rab, a Scottish minister and author who lived from 1793 to 1876. He is best known for his works on theology and his contributions to the Free Church of Scotland.

Another notable individual with the surname RAB was Sir David Rab, a Scottish lawyer and judge who lived from 1814 to 1892. He served as Lord President of the Court of Session, the highest civil court in Scotland, from 1888 until his death.

As the centuries progressed, the name RAB continued to be present in various regions of Scotland, particularly in the northeastern areas. While it may have been more prevalent in certain areas, the surname has remained a part of Scotland's rich cultural and historical tapestry.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Rab families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Rab 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. Middlesex leads with 3 Rabs recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.13x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 3 5.13x
Renfrewshire 2 44.15x
Surrey 1 3.51x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Luke London in Middlesex leads with 3 Rabs recorded in 1881 and an index of 319.15x.

Place Total Index
St Luke London 3 319.15x
Port Glasgow 2 909.09x
Clapham 1 136.99x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Anette 1
Janet 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Frank 1
James 1

Top occupations

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 Rab households.

FAQ

Rab surname: questions and answers

How common was the Rab surname in 1881?

In 1881, 4 people were recorded with the Rab surname. That placed it at #33,288 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Rab surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 120 in 2016. That gives Rab a modern rank of #27,563.

What does the Rab surname mean?

A surname likely derived from the Arabic name "Rabbi" or "Rabi," meaning teacher or master.

What does the Rab map show?

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