NameCensus.

UK surname

Rae

A Scottish and English topographic surname denoting someone who lived near a roe deer habitat.

In the 1881 census there were 1,185 people recorded with the Rae surname, ranking it #3,399 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 10,116, ranked #634, up from #3,399 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Govan Combination, Edinburgh and Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Lockerbie, Hawick Central and Bonnyrigg North.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Rae is 10,180 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 753.7%.

1881 census count

1,185

Ranked #3,399

Modern count

10,116

2016, ranked #634

Peak year

2010

10,180 bearers

Map years

7

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Rae had 1,185 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,399 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 10,116 in 2016, ranked #634.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 8,645 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Rae surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Rae surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Rae 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 4,784 #582
1861 historical 11 #32,452
1881 historical 1,185 #3,399
1891 historical 6,404 #716
1901 historical 8,645 #610
1997 modern 9,368 #670
1998 modern 9,732 #671
1999 modern 9,758 #674
2000 modern 9,728 #673
2001 modern 9,435 #676
2002 modern 9,738 #671
2003 modern 9,619 #662
2004 modern 9,679 #657
2005 modern 9,669 #649
2006 modern 9,669 #647
2007 modern 9,736 #646
2008 modern 9,868 #645
2009 modern 10,017 #648
2010 modern 10,180 #648
2011 modern 10,005 #651
2012 modern 9,900 #645
2013 modern 10,021 #651
2014 modern 10,164 #647
2015 modern 10,109 #637
2016 modern 10,116 #634

Geography

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Where Raes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Govan Combination, Edinburgh, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry, Glasgow and Aberdeen and Old Machar. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Lockerbie, Hawick Central, Bonnyrigg North, Cumnock Rural and Largs Central and Cumbrae. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Govan Combination Lanark
2 Edinburgh Edinburgh
3 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar
4 Glasgow Lanark
5 Aberdeen and Old Machar Aberdeen

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Lockerbie Dumfries and Galloway
2 Hawick Central Scottish Borders
3 Bonnyrigg North Midlothian
4 Cumnock Rural East Ayrshire
5 Largs Central and Cumbrae North Ayrshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Rae

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Rae

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Rae surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Rae household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Rae 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

Rae is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Rae 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 Rae 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 Rae, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Rae

The surname Rae is of Scottish origin and dates back to the 11th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old Norse word "ra", meaning a boundary or corner where land meets the sea. This suggests that the name was initially given to someone who lived near such a location.

One of the earliest recorded bearers of the name was Walter de Ra, who was mentioned in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which documented those who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England. The surname was also found in various other medieval records, such as the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland in 1366, where a John Rae was listed.

The name Rae can be traced back to the Scottish Borders region, particularly in the counties of Berwickshire and Roxburghshire. It is also closely associated with the town of Dunbar, where the Rae family held lands and played a significant role in local affairs.

In the 16th century, a prominent member of the Rae family was John Rae (c. 1510-1590), a Scottish Protestant reformer and minister who served as the Superintendent of Dunbar. Another notable figure was Sir David Rae (1594-1677), a Scottish lawyer and judge who served as Lord Advocate of Scotland.

During the 17th century, the Rae family produced several distinguished individuals, including Sir Harry Rae (1624-1704), a Scottish landowner and Member of Parliament, and Sir William Rae (1636-1719), a Scottish lawyer and judge who served as Lord Advocate of Scotland.

In more recent times, one of the most famous bearers of the surname was John Rae (1813-1893), a Scottish explorer and surveyor who made significant contributions to the exploration of the Arctic regions. He was the first European to discover the final link in the Northwest Passage and was recognized for his achievements with numerous honors and awards.

Other notable individuals with the surname Rae include John Rae (1845-1915), a Scottish-American architect and designer who contributed to the development of the Arts and Crafts movement, and Iain Rae (1935-2021), a Scottish actor and writer known for his work in television and theater.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Rae families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Rae 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. Lanarkshire leads with 1,274 Raes recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.92x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 1,274 5.92x
Aberdeenshire 915 14.84x
Dumfriesshire 447 30.40x
Midlothian 390 4.37x
Stirlingshire 351 14.30x
Angus 336 5.45x
Kirkcudbrightshire 291 30.20x
Lancashire 239 0.30x
Berwickshire 203 25.19x
Ayrshire 202 4.06x
Roxburghshire 190 15.76x
Middlesex 170 0.26x
Renfrewshire 163 3.16x
Kincardineshire 138 17.03x
Selkirkshire 112 18.60x
Fife 105 2.66x
Banffshire 101 7.32x
Cumberland 101 1.76x
Surrey 91 0.28x
Perthshire 79 2.64x
Dunbartonshire 78 4.36x
Yorkshire 78 0.12x
Durham 63 0.32x
Northumberland 47 0.47x
Argyllshire 46 2.48x
Cheshire 44 0.30x
Kent 40 0.18x
Sutherland 38 7.42x
West Lothian 37 3.69x
Caithness 32 3.51x
Cambridgeshire 32 0.76x
Ross-shire 26 1.42x
Wigtownshire 25 2.83x
Hampshire 24 0.18x
Morayshire 23 2.22x
Essex 21 0.16x
Gloucestershire 20 0.15x
Buteshire 19 4.71x
Norfolk 16 0.16x
Suffolk 15 0.19x
Clackmannanshire 13 2.37x
Devon 13 0.09x
Warwickshire 13 0.08x
Peeblesshire 10 3.19x
Derbyshire 9 0.09x
Isle of Man 9 0.73x
Orkney 9 1.23x
Staffordshire 9 0.04x
Worcestershire 9 0.10x
Hertfordshire 8 0.17x
Northamptonshire 8 0.13x
Royal Navy 8 1.01x
Bedfordshire 7 0.20x
Flintshire 7 0.39x
Herefordshire 7 0.26x
Monmouthshire 6 0.12x
Nottinghamshire 6 0.07x
Caernarfonshire 5 0.19x
Glamorgan 5 0.04x
Anglesey 4 0.34x
Berkshire 4 0.08x
Buckinghamshire 4 0.10x
Shropshire 4 0.07x
Sussex 4 0.04x
Cornwall 3 0.04x
Dorset 3 0.07x
Channel Islands 2 0.10x
East Lothian 2 0.23x
Merionethshire 2 0.16x
Somerset 2 0.02x
Denbighshire 1 0.04x
Inverness-shire 1 0.05x
Leicestershire 1 0.01x
Nairnshire 1 0.49x
Oxfordshire 1 0.02x
Westmorland 1 0.07x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Aberdeen Old Machar in Aberdeenshire leads with 313 Raes recorded in 1881 and an index of 24.32x.

Place Total Index
Aberdeen Old Machar 313 24.32x
Govan 295 5.54x
Barony 286 5.25x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 197 17.08x
Glasgow 160 4.19x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 152 4.24x
Falkirk 117 20.36x
Dundee 107 4.65x
Hamilton 73 12.16x
Lochmaben 69 107.09x
Annan 66 52.26x
Bothkennar 64 87.35x
Kirkcudbright 61 76.50x
Coldingham 58 80.06x
Larbert 57 38.84x
Cambusnethan 56 11.71x
New Monkland 54 8.49x
Liff Benvie 49 5.23x
Hawick 46 17.05x
Middlebie 45 102.02x
Galashiels 44 19.77x
Shotts 43 16.69x
Old Monkland 42 4.92x
Dalserf 40 18.62x
Lambeth 39 0.67x
Bothwell 38 6.51x
Newhills 38 30.11x
Wilton 37 27.97x
Rerrick 36 87.10x
Kirkintilloch 35 14.40x
Dumfries 32 22.06x
North Leith 32 7.76x
Liverpool 31 0.65x
Rutherglen 31 9.82x
Urr 31 24.73x
Eastwood 30 9.44x
Campbeltown 29 12.98x
Forfar 29 8.69x
Melrose 29 19.14x
Selkirk 29 17.10x
South Leith 29 2.89x
Abbey 28 3.56x
Crossmichael 28 91.92x
Kirkcaldy 28 14.33x
Wick 28 9.51x
Ferry Port On Craig 25 38.57x
Fetteresso 25 19.68x
Maryhill 25 5.93x
Paisley High Church 25 6.09x
Biggar 24 49.32x
Boyndie 24 52.48x
Buittle 24 106.10x
Ellon 24 28.31x
Gateshead 24 1.62x
Islington London 24 0.37x
Banchory Ternan 23 32.82x
Dryfesdale 23 33.94x
Foveran 23 49.29x
Inverurie 23 32.99x
Blantyre 22 9.82x
Kelton 22 27.80x
St Andrewthe Less 22 4.57x
Alvah 21 67.52x
Cummertrees 21 84.27x
Kensington London 21 0.57x
Kirkdale 21 1.58x
Slamannan 21 15.62x
St Pancras London 21 0.39x
Toxteth Park 21 0.79x
Auckinleck 20 12.97x
Cockpen 20 19.19x
Montrose 20 5.35x
Perth West Church 20 14.11x
Kintore 19 35.47x
New Machar 19 54.87x
Newton On Ayr 19 12.74x
Denny 18 13.79x
Kirkpatrick Fleming 18 53.60x
Manchester 18 0.51x
Preston 18 0.85x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 94
James 71
William 71
Robert 39
George 23
Alexander 19
Thomas 18
David 14
Joseph 14
Charles 12
Henry 11
Arthur 10
Andrew 8
Benjamin 8
Hugh 6
Walter 6
Alfred 5
Frederick 5
Richard 5
Wm. 5
Edward 4
Ernest 4
Samuel 4
Ebenezer 3
Francis 3
Gordon 3
Harry 3
Herbert 3
Matthew 3
Robt. 3
Austr.J. 2
Cecil 2
Duncan 2
Edgar 2
Frank 2
J. 2
Lewis 2
Mathew 2
Nicholas 2
Oswald 2
Peter 2
Sidney 2
Ebby 1
Edwin 1
Ewart 1
Hugo 1
Hy. 1
Hy.L. 1
Irving 1
Isaac 1

FAQ

Rae surname: questions and answers

How common was the Rae surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,185 people were recorded with the Rae surname. That placed it at #3,399 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Rae surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 10,116 in 2016. That gives Rae a modern rank of #634.

What does the Rae surname mean?

A Scottish and English topographic surname denoting someone who lived near a roe deer habitat.

What does the Rae map show?

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