NameCensus.

UK surname

Rackley

An English locational surname derived from a place name meaning "woodland clearing frequented by roe deer."

In the 1881 census there were 316 people recorded with the Rackley surname, ranking it #9,375 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 601, ranked #8,708, up from #9,375 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Yately, St Leonard Shoreditch and Bray, Maidenhead, Cookham. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Windsor and Maidenhead, Teignbridge and Greenwich.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Rackley is 606 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 90.2%.

1881 census count

316

Ranked #9,375

Modern count

601

2016, ranked #8,708

Peak year

2014

606 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Rackley had 316 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,375 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 601 in 2016, ranked #8,708.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 431 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Rackley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Rackley surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Rackley 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 210 #10,030
1861 historical 235 #10,427
1881 historical 316 #9,375
1891 historical 325 #10,426
1901 historical 352 #10,394
1911 historical 431 #8,789
1997 modern 575 #8,388
1998 modern 590 #8,492
1999 modern 587 #8,569
2000 modern 596 #8,465
2001 modern 588 #8,417
2002 modern 583 #8,610
2003 modern 565 #8,665
2004 modern 572 #8,618
2005 modern 557 #8,714
2006 modern 559 #8,714
2007 modern 562 #8,750
2008 modern 562 #8,812
2009 modern 583 #8,773
2010 modern 586 #8,946
2011 modern 587 #8,837
2012 modern 574 #8,891
2013 modern 589 #8,855
2014 modern 606 #8,743
2015 modern 598 #8,763
2016 modern 601 #8,708

Geography

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Where Rackleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Yately, St Leonard Shoreditch, Bray, Maidenhead, Cookham, Kenton, Alphington, Dawlish and Chesham (incl. Chartridge, Billington & Latimers with Waterside. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Windsor and Maidenhead, Teignbridge, Greenwich and Dacorum. 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 Yately Surrey
2 St Leonard Shoreditch London (East Districts)
3 Bray, Maidenhead, Cookham Berkshire
4 Kenton, Alphington, Dawlish Devon
5 Chesham (incl. Chartridge, Billington & Latimers with Waterside Buckinghamshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Windsor and Maidenhead 009 Windsor and Maidenhead
2 Teignbridge 006 Teignbridge
3 Greenwich 025 Greenwich
4 Dacorum 001 Dacorum
5 Teignbridge 010 Teignbridge

Forenames

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First names often paired with Rackley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Rackley

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

Established Multi-Ethnic Communities

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Parents and young children in this Group are drawn from diverse ethnic backgrounds in broadly similar proportions. Employment is typically in elementary occupations, though workers in professional, intermediate or skilled trades occupations are also present. The residential landscape is dominated by terraced housing, although semi-detached houses and flats are also present. This Group is found in London and in many provincial towns and cities throughout the U.K.

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Rackley is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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 concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Rackley 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

Rackley falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Rackley 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
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Rackley

The surname Rackley is of English origin, and it is believed to have originated in the late 12th or early 13th century. The name is derived from the Old English words "racu" or "racca," meaning a ridge, and "leah," meaning a meadow or clearing. This suggests that the name likely referred to someone who lived near a ridge or clearing.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Rackley can be found in medieval records from the county of Worcestershire, England. Some of the earliest variations of the spelling include "Rakeleia," "Rakuley," and "Rakelye." These variations were likely due to the inconsistencies in spelling and record-keeping during that time period.

One notable historical reference to the surname Rackley is found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from the year 1327, which mentions a "Robertus de Rakelye." This record suggests that the name was already well-established in the region by the 14th century.

In the 16th century, the surname Rackley began to spread beyond Worcestershire to other parts of England. One notable individual from this period was William Rackley (c. 1530-1595), a prominent landowner and merchant from the village of Alvechurch, Worcestershire.

During the 17th century, the Rackley family continued to establish itself in various parts of England. One prominent member was John Rackley (1612-1680), a wealthy landowner and magistrate from the town of Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire.

In the 18th century, the surname Rackley made its way across the Atlantic to the American colonies. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name in America was that of Thomas Rackley (1725-1802), a farmer and Revolutionary War veteran from Virginia.

Another notable individual with the surname Rackley was Sir Ralph Rackley (1770-1842), a British naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars and was later knighted for his services.

Throughout the 19th century, the Rackley name continued to be found in various parts of England and the United States. One notable figure was Elizabeth Rackley (1832-1906), an English writer and activist who was a prominent advocate for women's rights and education.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Rackley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Rackley 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 68 Rackleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.21x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 68 2.21x
Buckinghamshire 65 34.99x
Berkshire 57 24.71x
Devon 23 3.60x
Durham 16 1.75x
Surrey 15 1.00x
Hertfordshire 14 6.61x
Hampshire 10 1.59x
Oxfordshire 9 4.74x
Suffolk 8 2.14x
Gloucestershire 6 1.00x
Nottinghamshire 5 1.21x
Yorkshire 5 0.16x
Glamorgan 3 0.56x
Somerset 3 0.61x
Sussex 3 0.58x
Kent 2 0.19x
Bedfordshire 1 0.63x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.51x
Lincolnshire 1 0.20x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Great Missenden in Buckinghamshire leads with 29 Rackleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 1266.38x.

Place Total Index
Great Missenden 29 1266.38x
Bray 26 383.48x
Sonning 20 784.31x
Shoreditch London 15 11.26x
Chesham 14 204.38x
Brixham 10 134.95x
Hillingdon 10 102.04x
Bovingdon 9 810.81x
Farnham Royal 9 818.18x
Feltham 9 293.16x
Witney 9 283.91x
Yateley 9 756.30x
Dawlish 8 167.71x
Acton 7 38.87x
Battersea 7 6.19x
Monkwearmouth Shore 7 39.24x
Bishopwearmouth 6 7.65x
Brantham 6 1395.35x
Fulham London 6 13.47x
St Marylebone London 6 3.66x
Arnold 5 82.64x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 5 8.81x
Amersham 4 152.09x
Chalfont St Giles 4 300.75x
Chesham Bois 4 1081.08x
Hurst 4 132.45x
Reading St Mary 4 21.66x
Stanwell 4 176.21x
Watford 4 24.36x
Bishops Lydeard 3 238.10x
Cardiff St Mary 3 10.18x
Darlington 3 8.50x
Holy Trinity 3 4.10x
Kingston On Thames 3 8.34x
Pinner 3 111.52x
Bermondsey 2 2.19x
Chelsea London 2 2.16x
East Grinstead 2 27.29x
Harkstead 2 512.82x
Kenton 2 99.01x
Ashurst 1 256.41x
Bethnal Green London 1 0.75x
Cheltenham 1 2.15x
Cholsey 1 54.95x
Clapham 1 2.60x
Clee With Weelsby 1 9.29x
Clewer 1 10.58x
Croydon 1 1.20x
Ealing 1 3.64x
East Hauxwell 1 1000.00x
Hampstead London 1 2.09x
Hatley St George 1 714.29x
Kensington London 1 0.59x
Kingstonupon Hull 1 40.98x
Lee 1 6.57x
Leighton Buzzard 1 14.62x
Longparish 1 140.85x
Plymouth St Andrew 1 2.03x
Rickmansworth 1 17.15x
Southwark St George Martyr 1 1.62x
St Bartholomew Less 1 63.29x
Stanford In Vale 1 108.70x
Tonbridge 1 2.64x
Tormoham 1 3.70x
Upton Cum Chalvey 1 13.51x
Westminster St James 1 3.17x
Withycombe Rawleigh 1 30.03x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 28
Sarah 14
Jane 10
Elizabeth 7
Charlotte 6
Ann 5
Ellen 5
Emma 5
Hannah 5
Kate 5
Louisa 5
Annie 4
Eliza 4
Emily 4
Fanny 4
Susan 4
Ada 3
Maria 3
Minnie 3
Rose 3
Catherine 2
Edith 2
Florence 2
Harriet 2
Margaret 2
Martha 2
Amelia 1
Amy 1
Anna 1
Barbara 1
Beatrice 1
Christina 1
Clara 1
Emeline 1
Ester 1
Frances 1
Georgenia 1
Harritt 1
Ida 1
Lettie 1
Lidia 1
Lottie 1
Lucy 1
Maud 1
Olive 1
Rebecca 1
Rosia 1
Rosina 1
Selena 1
Unity 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 31
George 18
James 13
John 10
Joseph 9
Henry 8
Albert 4
David 4
Edward 4
Samuel 4
Arthur 3
Charles 2
Frank 2
Fredrick 2
Job 2
Richd. 2
Stephen 2
Walter 2
Able 1
Alfred 1
Amos 1
Arron 1
Benjamin 1
Edwin 1
Elbert 1
Eleanor 1
Ernest 1
Fred 1
Graham 1
Harry 1
Horatio 1
Infant 1
Jesse 1
Josep 1
Mark 1
Mary 1
Percy 1
Reubin 1
Thomas 1
Thos. 1
Tomas 1
Vincent 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Rackley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Rackley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 316 people were recorded with the Rackley surname. That placed it at #9,375 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Rackley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 601 in 2016. That gives Rackley a modern rank of #8,708.

What does the Rackley surname mean?

An English locational surname derived from a place name meaning "woodland clearing frequented by roe deer."

What does the Rackley map show?

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