UK surname
An Anglicized variant of a Scots surname derived from two names.
In the 1881 census there were 70 people recorded with the Rabjohn surname, ranking it #23,670 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 71, ranked #33,633, down from #23,670 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Snodland with Paddleworth, Harrow-on-the-Hill and Sheffield. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Rabjohn is 109 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 1.4%.
1881 census count
70
Ranked #23,670
Modern count
71
2016, ranked #33,633
Peak year
1901
109 bearers
Map years
1
1901 to 1901
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Rabjohn surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Rabjohn surname density by area, 1901 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 | 16 | #30,441 |
| 1861 | historical | 18 | #31,580 |
| 1881 | historical | 70 | #23,670 |
| 1891 | historical | 77 | #27,169 |
| 1901 | historical | 109 | #21,712 |
| 1911 | historical | 92 | #23,580 |
| 1997 | modern | 97 | #27,342 |
| 1998 | modern | 93 | #28,563 |
| 1999 | modern | 97 | #28,187 |
| 2000 | modern | 98 | #27,988 |
| 2001 | modern | 98 | #27,672 |
| 2002 | modern | 99 | #28,082 |
| 2003 | modern | 94 | #28,686 |
| 2004 | modern | 96 | #28,605 |
| 2005 | modern | 96 | #28,671 |
| 2006 | modern | 94 | #29,264 |
| 2007 | modern | 89 | #30,383 |
| 2008 | modern | 87 | #30,999 |
| 2009 | modern | 81 | #32,172 |
| 2010 | modern | 80 | #32,670 |
| 2011 | modern | 83 | #32,336 |
| 2012 | modern | 76 | #33,191 |
| 2013 | modern | 78 | #33,215 |
| 2014 | modern | 78 | #33,270 |
| 2015 | modern | 73 | #33,541 |
| 2016 | modern | 71 | #33,633 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Snodland with Paddleworth, Harrow-on-the-Hill, Sheffield, Birling and Warrington. 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 | Snodland with Paddleworth | Kent |
| 2 | Harrow-on-the-Hill | Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts) |
| 3 | Sheffield | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 4 | Birling | Kent |
| 5 | Warrington | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Rabjohn 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 Rabjohn, 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 Rabjohn surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Rabjohn 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, Rabjohn 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 Rabjohn is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Rabjohn, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname RABJOHN is believed to have originated in Scotland during the late 16th century. It is thought to be a variant spelling of the Scottish surname Robson, which itself is derived from the given name Robert combined with the patronymic suffix "-son" meaning "son of Robert." The earliest recorded instances of the RABJOHN spelling can be found in parish records from the Scottish Borders region, particularly in the areas around Roxburghshire and Berwickshire.
One of the earliest known bearers of the RABJOHN surname was John Rabjohn, a farmer from the village of Coldingham in Berwickshire, who was mentioned in the Hearth Tax Rolls of 1694. Another early record is that of James Rabjohn, a merchant from Jedburgh in Roxburghshire, whose name appeared in the Burgh Records of 1712.
The RABJOHN name can also be found in historical documents from neighboring regions of northern England, such as Northumberland and Cumberland, suggesting that some bearers of the name may have migrated across the Anglo-Scottish border over the centuries. For example, the Parish Registers of Haltwhistle in Northumberland record the baptism of William Rabjohn in 1732.
One notable bearer of the RABJOHN surname was Sir Alexander Rabjohn (1732-1801), a Scottish military officer who served in the British Army during the American Revolutionary War. He was born in Berwickshire and went on to have a distinguished career, rising to the rank of Lieutenant-General before his death.
Another significant figure was Robert Rabjohn (1788-1865), a Scottish minister and author who served as the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 1842. He was born in Jedburgh and published several works on theology and church history during his lifetime.
In the 19th century, John Rabjohn (1825-1897), a merchant from Glasgow, became known for his philanthropic work and his support of various educational and charitable causes in Scotland. He was also involved in local politics and served as a magistrate in the city.
While the RABJOHN surname is relatively uncommon, it has a rich history and can be traced back to its Scottish roots in the 16th and 17th centuries. Despite some variations in spelling over time, the name has maintained its distinct identity and continues to be associated with its origins in the Scottish Borders region.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Rabjohn 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. Yorkshire leads with 28 Rabjohns recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.14x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Yorkshire | 28 | 4.14x |
| Devon | 13 | 9.15x |
| Middlesex | 11 | 1.61x |
| Surrey | 7 | 2.10x |
| Kent | 3 | 1.29x |
| Lancashire | 3 | 0.37x |
| Staffordshire | 3 | 1.30x |
| Glamorgan | 2 | 1.68x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Sheffield in Yorkshire leads with 13 Rabjohns recorded in 1881 and an index of 60.35x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Sheffield | 13 | 60.35x |
| Ecclesfield | 8 | 161.29x |
| Brightside Bierlow | 7 | 52.75x |
| Enfield | 6 | 133.93x |
| Exeter St Sidwell | 6 | 184.62x |
| Seaton | 5 | 909.09x |
| Putney | 4 | 128.62x |
| Birling | 3 | 1428.57x |
| Harrow | 3 | 288.46x |
| Poulton Barre | 3 | 326.09x |
| Wednesbury | 3 | 52.08x |
| Cardiff St Mary | 2 | 30.53x |
| Lustleigh | 2 | 2222.22x |
| Penge | 2 | 45.87x |
| St Gregory By St Pauls | 2 | 1176.47x |
| Battersea | 1 | 3.98x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Rabjohn 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 Rabjohn 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 Rabjohn households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 11 |
| Iron Moulder | 3 |
| Gardener | 2 |
| Lodging House Keeper | 2 |
| Scissor Forger | 2 |
| Wife | 2 |
| Ag Lab | 1 |
| Blacksmith | 1 |
| Blacksmith Wife | 1 |
| Coachman (6/2) | 1 |
| Daur | 1 |
| Decorator (Painter) | 1 |
| Drayman | 1 |
| Dressmaker | 1 |
| Farrier | 1 |
| Gardener Wife | 1 |
| House Maid | 1 |
| Housemaid | 1 |
| Lab Wife | 1 |
| Labourer | 1 |
| Lodging House Assistant | 1 |
| Lodging House Keeper Wife | 1 |
| Moulder (Iron) | 1 |
| News Dealer | 1 |
| Nurse | 1 |
| Plasterer | 1 |
| Platerer | 1 |
| Post Office Porter (Cs) | 1 |
| Scissor Smith | 1 |
| Servant G D | 1 |
| Shop Assistant | 1 |
| Tailoress | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 70 people were recorded with the Rabjohn surname. That placed it at #23,670 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 71 in 2016. That gives Rabjohn a modern rank of #33,633.
An Anglicized variant of a Scots surname derived from two names.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Rabjohn 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.