NameCensus.

UK surname

Rackham

An English locational surname relating to a hamlet or meadow with abundant bracken.

In the 1881 census there were 815 people recorded with the Rackham surname, ranking it #4,592 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,332, ranked #4,515, up from #4,592 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Fritton and Hellesdon, St Mary in the Marsh, St Clement, St Martin at Oak, St Mary at Coslany, St Michael at Cos. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Norfolk, West Berkshire and Waveney.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Rackham is 1,415 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 63.4%.

1881 census count

815

Ranked #4,592

Modern count

1,332

2016, ranked #4,515

Peak year

2000

1,415 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Rackham had 815 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,592 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,332 in 2016, ranked #4,515.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,250 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Rackham surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Rackham surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Rackham 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 526 #4,768
1861 historical 455 #5,698
1881 historical 815 #4,592
1891 historical 954 #4,341
1901 historical 1,058 #4,547
1911 historical 1,250 #3,798
1997 modern 1,293 #4,411
1998 modern 1,361 #4,379
1999 modern 1,389 #4,334
2000 modern 1,415 #4,250
2001 modern 1,381 #4,259
2002 modern 1,400 #4,293
2003 modern 1,354 #4,339
2004 modern 1,345 #4,368
2005 modern 1,329 #4,357
2006 modern 1,332 #4,366
2007 modern 1,344 #4,366
2008 modern 1,366 #4,337
2009 modern 1,357 #4,438
2010 modern 1,368 #4,492
2011 modern 1,363 #4,455
2012 modern 1,314 #4,523
2013 modern 1,340 #4,524
2014 modern 1,360 #4,500
2015 modern 1,354 #4,472
2016 modern 1,332 #4,515

Geography

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Where Rackhams are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Fritton, Hellesdon, St Mary in the Marsh, St Clement, St Martin at Oak, St Mary at Coslany, St Michael at Cos and Lakenham , Eaton St Andrew, Town Close, St Stephen, St Peter Mancroft, St Giles, St Andrew, St John. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Norfolk, West Berkshire, Waveney and Mid Suffolk. 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 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 Fritton Norfolk
4 Hellesdon, St Mary in the Marsh, St Clement, St Martin at Oak, St Mary at Coslany, St Michael at Cos Norfolk
5 Lakenham , Eaton St Andrew, Town Close, St Stephen, St Peter Mancroft, St Giles, St Andrew, St John Norfolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Norfolk 015 South Norfolk
2 West Berkshire 002 West Berkshire
3 Waveney 010 Waveney
4 South Norfolk 012 South Norfolk
5 Mid Suffolk 001 Mid Suffolk

Forenames

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First names often paired with Rackham

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Rackham

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Rackham surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Rackham household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Rackham is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Rackham is most concentrated in decile 5 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Rackham falls in decile 6 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Rackham is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Rackham

The surname Rackham is of English origin and dates back to the late medieval period. It is derived from the Old English words "ræcc" meaning "domestic animal" and "ham" meaning "homestead" or "village". This suggests the name originally referred to a person who lived in a village or settlement associated with the rearing of animals.

The earliest recorded instances of the Rackham surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landowners and their holdings commissioned by William the Conqueror. Several individuals with variations of the name, such as Racham and Racheham, are listed as landholders in various counties.

One of the earliest known bearers of the Rackham surname was Walter de Racheham, who was recorded in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire in 1176. The Pipe Rolls were financial records kept by the English Exchequer, indicating that Walter de Racheham was a person of some means and importance.

In the 13th century, the surname Rackham can be found in various records, including the Feet of Fines for Essex in 1234, where a John de Racheham is mentioned. The Feet of Fines were legal documents relating to the transfer of land and property.

The Rackham surname is also associated with the village of Rackham, located in the county of Norfolk. This place name, recorded as "Racham" in the Domesday Book, likely contributed to the surname's popularity in the region.

Notable individuals with the Rackham surname include:

1. Sir Francis Rackham (1508-1574), an English judge and politician who served as Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer during the reign of Elizabeth I.

2. Arthur Rackham (1867-1939), a renowned English book illustrator best known for his imaginative and intricate illustrations for classic works such as Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Grimms' Fairy Tales.

3. Bernard Rackham (1876-1964), an English actor and theatre director who was a prominent figure in the early 20th century London theatre scene.

4. John Rackham (1682-1720), better known as Calico Jack, was an English pirate captain who operated in the Bahamas and the Caribbean during the early 18th century.

5. Margaret Rackham (1896-1962), an English author and illustrator of children's books, best known for her series of stories featuring the character Rabbit Robinson.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Rackham families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Rackham 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. Norfolk leads with 271 Rackhams recorded in 1881 and an index of 22.12x.

County Total Index
Norfolk 271 22.12x
Suffolk 203 20.91x
Middlesex 122 1.53x
Surrey 44 1.13x
Essex 35 2.22x
Kent 23 0.85x
Yorkshire 21 0.27x
Lancashire 16 0.17x
Northumberland 11 0.93x
Berkshire 9 1.50x
Bedfordshire 7 1.70x
Monmouthshire 7 1.22x
Warwickshire 7 0.35x
Cambridgeshire 6 1.19x
Durham 6 0.25x
Sussex 6 0.45x
Dorset 4 0.76x
Nottinghamshire 4 0.37x
Huntingdonshire 3 1.90x
Isle of Man 3 2.03x
Somerset 3 0.23x
Cheshire 2 0.11x
Lincolnshire 2 0.16x
Hertfordshire 1 0.18x
Midlothian 1 0.09x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Lowestoft in Suffolk leads with 30 Rackhams recorded in 1881 and an index of 65.43x.

Place Total Index
Lowestoft 30 65.43x
Great Yarmouth 19 18.72x
Lambeth 19 2.73x
Fritton 17 2741.94x
Heigham 17 25.85x
Wickham Market 17 423.94x
Aylsham 14 192.04x
Catton 14 682.93x
Hackney London 14 3.13x
Toft Monks 14 1296.30x
Wrentham 13 483.27x
Bethnal Green London 12 3.47x
Gillingham 12 975.61x
Deptford St Paul 11 5.24x
Frostenden 11 1047.62x
Shoreditch London 11 3.18x
Clerkenwell London 10 5.32x
Norwich St Peter 10 124.38x
Costessey 9 340.91x
Filby 9 566.04x
Morning Thorpe 9 2727.27x
Southchurch 9 620.69x
St Pancras London 9 1.40x
Carleton Forehoe 8 2222.22x
Didcot 8 784.31x
Islington London 8 1.04x
Kensington London 8 1.81x
Kessingland 8 238.81x
Lound 8 666.67x
Metfield 8 503.14x
Saxmundham 8 222.22x
South Lynn 8 57.85x
Woodford 8 44.92x
Aston Cum Aughton 7 108.36x
Beccles 7 44.81x
Spitalfields London 7 11.68x
St Marylebone London 7 1.65x
St Woollos 7 10.89x
Stratford On Avon 7 62.78x
Westminster St James 7 8.54x
Whitlingham 7 3684.21x
Elswick 6 6.34x
Gunton 6 2500.00x
Hempnall 6 250.00x
Huntingfield 6 618.56x
Kelsale 6 222.22x
Norwich St Benedict 6 109.89x
Norwich St Giles 6 153.06x
Paddington London 6 2.05x
Salford 6 2.16x
Sheffield 6 2.39x
St Luke London 6 4.69x
Sudbourne 6 379.75x
Barcombe 5 155.28x
Brightside Bierlow 5 3.23x
Carshalton 5 33.65x
Earsham 5 299.40x
Hackington St Stephen 5 287.36x
Hardwick 5 925.93x
Ipswich St Peter 5 38.26x
Kirby Cane 5 434.78x
North Shields 5 21.13x
Norwich St Julian 5 96.90x
Norwich St Michael At 5 70.32x
Rushmere 5 236.97x
Tasburgh 5 409.84x
Wenhaston 5 208.33x
Beeston With Bittering 4 291.97x
Booton 4 727.27x
Cransford 4 800.00x
Edmonton 4 6.23x
Heath Reach 4 136.52x
Kyo 4 35.84x
Milton In Gravesend 4 9.81x
Nottingham St Mary 4 1.44x
Parham 4 327.87x
Pendlebury 4 20.03x
Roydon In Guiltcross 4 239.52x
Southwark Christchurch 4 10.71x
Thorpe Next Norwich 4 30.79x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

FAQ

Rackham surname: questions and answers

How common was the Rackham surname in 1881?

In 1881, 815 people were recorded with the Rackham surname. That placed it at #4,592 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Rackham surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,332 in 2016. That gives Rackham a modern rank of #4,515.

What does the Rackham surname mean?

An English locational surname relating to a hamlet or meadow with abundant bracken.

What does the Rackham map show?

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