UK surname
A surname derived from a nickname meaning "cunning" or "clever".
In the 1881 census there were 52 people recorded with the Raff surname, ranking it #26,281 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 65, ranked #34,017, down from #26,281 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Elgin and Pertenhall, Little Staughton, Bolnhurst (Riseley, Bedfordshire), Keysoe (Riseley, Bedfordshire). In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Raff is 131 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 25.0%.
1881 census count
52
Ranked #26,281
Modern count
65
2016, ranked #34,017
Peak year
1851
131 bearers
Map years
2
1851 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Raff surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Raff surname density by area, 1861 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 | 131 | #14,243 |
| 1861 | historical | 109 | #19,693 |
| 1881 | historical | 52 | #26,281 |
| 1891 | historical | 51 | #30,158 |
| 1901 | historical | 54 | #28,178 |
| 1911 | historical | 57 | #27,099 |
| 1997 | modern | 46 | #33,077 |
| 1998 | modern | 48 | #33,111 |
| 1999 | modern | 49 | #33,130 |
| 2000 | modern | 61 | #32,039 |
| 2001 | modern | 54 | #32,583 |
| 2002 | modern | 51 | #33,193 |
| 2003 | modern | 50 | #33,362 |
| 2004 | modern | 49 | #33,647 |
| 2005 | modern | 49 | #33,859 |
| 2006 | modern | 52 | #33,923 |
| 2007 | modern | 53 | #34,115 |
| 2008 | modern | 55 | #34,165 |
| 2009 | modern | 58 | #34,144 |
| 2010 | modern | 62 | #34,069 |
| 2011 | modern | 50 | #34,816 |
| 2012 | modern | 56 | #34,510 |
| 2013 | modern | 63 | #34,193 |
| 2014 | modern | 58 | #34,500 |
| 2015 | modern | 61 | #34,284 |
| 2016 | modern | 65 | #34,017 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Elgin, Pertenhall, Little Staughton, Bolnhurst (Riseley, Bedfordshire), Keysoe (Riseley, Bedfordshire), Manchester and Greenock. 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 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 2 | Elgin | Elgin |
| 3 | Pertenhall, Little Staughton, Bolnhurst (Riseley, Bedfordshire), Keysoe (Riseley, Bedfordshire) | Huntingdonshire |
| 4 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 5 | Greenock | Renfrew |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Raff 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 Raff, 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 Raff surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Raff 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, Raff 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 Raff is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Raff, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname RAFF is of German origin, with its roots traced back to the 14th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old German word "raffe," meaning "quick" or "swift." This suggests that the name may have originally been a descriptive nickname given to someone who was particularly agile or swift in their movements.
The earliest known records of the RAFF surname can be found in various regions of Germany, including Bavaria and Saxony. One of the earliest documented instances of the name appears in the town records of Nuremberg, dated 1378, where a certain Hans Raff is mentioned as a resident.
During the medieval period, the RAFF name also appeared in various ecclesiastical records and chronicles. For example, in the 15th century, a monk named Johannes Raff was recorded as a scribe at the Benedictine monastery in Tegernsee, Bavaria.
As the surname spread across different regions, it underwent slight variations in spelling, including Raffe, Rafe, and Raf. Some of these variations were influenced by local dialects and pronunciation differences.
Notable individuals bearing the RAFF surname throughout history include:
1. Joachim Raff (1822-1882), a German-Swiss composer and pedagogue, best known for his symphonic works. 2. Christian Daniel Raff (1776-1838), a German painter and engraver, known for his landscapes and portraits. 3. Georg Wolfgang Raff (1640-1694), a German theologian and author, who served as a professor at the University of Leipzig. 4. Johann Raff (1716-1794), a German architect and builder, known for his work on several churches and public buildings in Würzburg. 5. Anna Raff (1572-1629), a German midwife and herbalist, who was persecuted for her alleged involvement in witchcraft during the Bamberg witch trials.
It is worth noting that some variations of the RAFF surname, such as Rafe or Raf, may also have connections to other linguistic roots, including the Old Norse word "ráfr," meaning "wise" or "shrewd." However, the German origins of the name remain the most widely accepted.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Raff 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. Morayshire leads with 15 Raffs recorded in 1881 and an index of 197.89x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Morayshire | 15 | 197.89x |
| Nairnshire | 10 | 671.14x |
| Middlesex | 9 | 1.85x |
| Durham | 4 | 2.76x |
| Ayrshire | 2 | 5.48x |
| Banffshire | 2 | 19.78x |
| Surrey | 2 | 0.84x |
| Worcestershire | 2 | 3.14x |
| Cheshire | 1 | 0.93x |
| Lincolnshire | 1 | 1.28x |
| Monmouthshire | 1 | 2.84x |
| Sussex | 1 | 1.22x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Forres in Morayshire leads with 14 Raffs recorded in 1881 and an index of 1750.00x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Forres | 14 | 1750.00x |
| Nairn | 10 | 1111.11x |
| Greenford | 5 | 5555.56x |
| Shoreditch London | 4 | 18.92x |
| Whessoe | 4 | 10000.00x |
| Ayr | 2 | 116.28x |
| Keith | 2 | 185.19x |
| Wandsworth | 2 | 42.64x |
| Worcester St Martin | 2 | 232.56x |
| Caldicot | 1 | 434.78x |
| Chester St Peter St | 1 | 833.33x |
| Elgin | 1 | 68.03x |
| Great Grimsby | 1 | 20.20x |
| Hove | 1 | 27.70x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Raff 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 Raff 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 Raff households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 3 |
| Dressmaker Assist | 1 |
| Gen Lab | 1 |
| General Labourer | 1 |
| House Maid (Dom) | 1 |
| Iron Works Laberer | 1 |
| Iron Works Laberer Wife | 1 |
| Marine Store Dealer | 1 |
| Tailor | 1 |
| Upholsterer | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 52 people were recorded with the Raff surname. That placed it at #26,281 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 65 in 2016. That gives Raff a modern rank of #34,017.
A surname derived from a nickname meaning "cunning" or "clever".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Raff 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.