NameCensus.

UK surname

Rachel

From the Hebrew name "Rachel" meaning "ewe," likely used as a surname for sheep farmers or shepherds.

In the 1881 census there were 50 people recorded with the Rachel surname, ranking it #26,587 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 161, ranked #22,606, up from #26,587 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Oddington, London parishes and Lambeth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Solihull, St Albans and Sandwell.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Rachel is 161 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 222.0%.

1881 census count

50

Ranked #26,587

Modern count

161

2016, ranked #22,606

Peak year

2016

161 bearers

Map years

2

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Rachel had 50 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #26,587 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 161 in 2016, ranked #22,606.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 145 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Rachel surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Rachel surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Rachel 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 51 #24,096
1861 historical 145 #15,715
1881 historical 50 #26,587
1891 historical 80 #26,785
1901 historical 50 #28,590
1911 historical 73 #25,541
1997 modern 73 #30,306
1998 modern 71 #30,869
1999 modern 75 #30,661
2000 modern 68 #31,380
2001 modern 67 #31,297
2002 modern 79 #30,499
2003 modern 86 #29,752
2004 modern 84 #30,244
2005 modern 91 #29,406
2006 modern 91 #29,725
2007 modern 90 #30,228
2008 modern 102 #28,664
2009 modern 99 #29,754
2010 modern 96 #30,854
2011 modern 107 #28,979
2012 modern 130 #25,559
2013 modern 132 #25,789
2014 modern 145 #24,395
2015 modern 152 #23,507
2016 modern 161 #22,606

Geography

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Where Rachels are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Oddington, London parishes, Lambeth, St Giles Camberwell and Birmingham Town: Aston. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Solihull, St Albans, Sandwell and Herefordshire. 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 Oddington Gloucestershire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Lambeth London (South Districts)
4 St Giles Camberwell London (South Districts)
5 Birmingham Town: Aston Warwickshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Solihull 005 Solihull
2 St Albans 018 St Albans
3 Sandwell 023 Sandwell
4 Herefordshire 017 Herefordshire, County of
5 Sandwell 002 Sandwell

Forenames

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First names often paired with Rachel

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Rachel

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Rachel surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Rachel household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

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Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Rachel is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Rachel 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

Rachel falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Rachel is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
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 Rachel, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Rachel

Rachel is a surname of Hebrew origin, derived from the biblical name "Rachel" meaning "ewe" or "female sheep". It is believed to have originated as a surname among Jewish communities in the Middle East and Europe during the Middle Ages.

The earliest recorded use of Rachel as a surname dates back to the 13th century, where it appears in various records and manuscripts from England and Germany. One notable mention is in the Hundredorum Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1279, which lists a "Robertus Rachel" as a landowner.

In the 14th century, the surname Rachel can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex, England, where a "Johannes Rachel" is listed as a taxpayer in 1332. During this period, the name was also present in parts of France, particularly in the region of Alsace, where it was often spelled as "Rahel" or "Raehel".

The Rachel surname has a strong association with Jewish communities throughout history. In the 16th century, the name appears in records of Jewish families residing in various parts of Europe, including Germany, Poland, and the Netherlands. One notable individual was Rabbi Shlomo Rachel (1510-1585), a renowned scholar and author from Krakow, Poland.

In the 17th century, the name can be found in the records of Jewish communities in England, particularly in London. One notable example is Elias Rachel (c. 1650-1720), a prominent merchant and philanthropist who was involved in the establishment of the Bevis Marks Synagogue in London.

As Jewish communities spread further across Europe and later to the Americas, the Rachel surname traveled with them. In the 18th century, there are records of individuals with the surname in places like Amsterdam, where a merchant named Jacob Rachel (1720-1795) established a successful trading business.

Other notable individuals with the Rachel surname include Sir Solomon Rachel (1818-1901), a British banker and philanthropist who was knighted for his contributions to the Jewish community in London, and Joseph Rachel (1839-1917), a American rabbi and author who served as the first president of the Hebrew Union College in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Throughout its history, the Rachel surname has maintained its connections to the Jewish faith and culture, while also being adopted by non-Jewish families in various parts of the world. Its origins can be traced back to the biblical name, reflecting its deep-rooted significance in Jewish tradition.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Rachel families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Rachel 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. Surrey leads with 16 Rachels recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.73x.

County Total Index
Surrey 16 6.73x
Gloucestershire 13 13.59x
Warwickshire 11 8.95x
Middlesex 3 0.62x
Monmouthshire 2 5.67x
Berkshire 1 2.73x
Lanarkshire 1 0.63x
Lancashire 1 0.17x
Somerset 1 1.27x
Worcestershire 1 1.57x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Birmingham in Warwickshire leads with 10 Rachels recorded in 1881 and an index of 24.40x.

Place Total Index
Birmingham 10 24.40x
Lambeth 10 23.52x
Broadwell 8 11428.57x
Newington 5 27.76x
Bethnal Green London 3 14.16x
Oddington 3 3750.00x
Llanthewy Rhytherch 2 3333.33x
Stow On The Wold 2 952.38x
Bedminster 1 13.57x
Camberwell 1 3.21x
Great Crosby 1 63.29x
Rutherglen 1 43.29x
Sunningwell 1 2000.00x
Wellesbourne Mountford 1 833.33x
Worcester St Andrew 1 454.55x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 8
Sarah 4
Edith 2
Eliza 2
Rachel 2
Agnes 1
Alice 1
Anne 1
Caroline 1
Elizabeth 1
Fanny 1
Flore. 1
Florence 1
Leah 1
Susan 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 4
George 3
Frank 2
Henry 2
Albert 1
Alfred 1
Arthur 1
Fred 1
Fredk. 1
Nicholas 1
Richard 1
Robert 1
Thomas 1
William 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 Rachel households.

FAQ

Rachel surname: questions and answers

How common was the Rachel surname in 1881?

In 1881, 50 people were recorded with the Rachel surname. That placed it at #26,587 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Rachel surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 161 in 2016. That gives Rachel a modern rank of #22,606.

What does the Rachel surname mean?

From the Hebrew name "Rachel" meaning "ewe," likely used as a surname for sheep farmers or shepherds.

What does the Rachel map show?

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