NameCensus.

UK surname

Raffell

In the 1881 census there were 109 people recorded with the Raffell surname, ranking it #18,793 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 188, ranked #20,417, down from #18,793 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Salcombe Regis and Gateshead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Northumberland, South Somerset and Teignbridge.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Raffell is 219 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 72.5%.

1881 census count

109

Ranked #18,793

Modern count

188

2016, ranked #20,417

Peak year

2002

219 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Raffell had 109 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #18,793 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 188 in 2016, ranked #20,417.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 146 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Raffell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Raffell surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Raffell 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 48 #24,615
1861 historical 94 #21,883
1881 historical 109 #18,793
1891 historical 142 #18,995
1901 historical 146 #18,335
1911 historical 140 #18,657
1997 modern 185 #18,506
1998 modern 194 #18,451
1999 modern 199 #18,293
2000 modern 213 #17,503
2001 modern 204 #17,736
2002 modern 219 #17,288
2003 modern 212 #17,454
2004 modern 208 #17,758
2005 modern 203 #17,961
2006 modern 199 #18,357
2007 modern 206 #18,142
2008 modern 204 #18,403
2009 modern 201 #18,965
2010 modern 204 #19,200
2011 modern 201 #19,213
2012 modern 196 #19,463
2013 modern 197 #19,725
2014 modern 192 #20,230
2015 modern 190 #20,272
2016 modern 188 #20,417

Geography

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Where Raffells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Salcombe Regis, Gateshead, Beckenham and Branscombe. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Northumberland, South Somerset, Teignbridge, East Hampshire and Kirriemuir. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 Salcombe Regis Devon
3 Gateshead Durham
4 Beckenham Kent
5 Branscombe Devon

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Northumberland 026 Northumberland
2 South Somerset 019 South Somerset
3 Teignbridge 017 Teignbridge
4 East Hampshire 007 East Hampshire
5 Kirriemuir Angus

Forenames

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First names often paired with Raffell

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Raffell

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Raffell, 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 Raffell surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Raffell 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

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Raffell is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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

These residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Raffell is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Raffell falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Raffell is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

1881 census detail

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Raffell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Raffell 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. Devon leads with 28 Raffells recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.65x.

County Total Index
Devon 28 12.65x
Durham 23 7.27x
Northumberland 17 10.75x
Middlesex 14 1.32x
Berkshire 7 8.77x
Dorset 5 7.17x
Derbyshire 4 2.40x
Lancashire 4 0.32x
Somerset 2 1.17x
Buckinghamshire 1 1.56x
Hampshire 1 0.46x
Kent 1 0.28x
Surrey 1 0.19x
Yorkshire 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. Branscombe in Devon leads with 11 Raffells recorded in 1881 and an index of 3666.67x.

Place Total Index
Branscombe 11 3666.67x
Cowpen 9 247.25x
Newcastle On Tyne St John 8 384.62x
St Luke London 7 41.06x
Brandon Byshottles 6 151.52x
East Rainton 6 983.61x
Hammersmith London 6 22.91x
Plymouth St Andrew 6 35.19x
Reading St Mary 6 93.90x
Salcombe Regis 6 2857.14x
Westoe 6 33.46x
Lyme Regis 5 595.24x
Stanton Newhall 4 754.72x
Toxteth Park 4 9.36x
West Rainton 3 306.12x
Littleham 2 123.46x
Trimdon 2 178.57x
Wellington 2 86.21x
Broadhembury 1 400.00x
Darenth 1 178.57x
Devonport 1 39.37x
Ferry Fryston 1 243.90x
Guildford St Mary 1 156.25x
Holy Rood 1 227.27x
Paddington London 1 2.56x
Reading St Giles 1 12.77x
Sidmouth 1 78.74x
Wraysbury 1 416.67x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 7
Elizabeth 6
Annie 4
Margaret 4
Ann 3
Ellen 3
Jane 3
Martha 2
Alice 1
Anne 1
Beatrice 1
Betsy 1
Eleanor 1
Emily 1
Emma 1
Flora 1
Florence 1
Georgina 1
Grace 1
Hannah 1
Isabella 1
Janet 1
Joanna 1
Leah 1
Louisa 1
Lucy 1
Merina 1
Sarah 1
Sylvia 1
Thomasine 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 14
George 7
John 6
Edward 3
Henry 3
Thomas 3
Frederick 2
Samuel 2
Albert 1
Albion 1
Albior 1
Alf 1
Alfred 1
Anthony 1
Charles 1
Chas. 1
Edwin 1
Hy. 1
Jon 1
Joseph 1
Josiah 1
Tom 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Raffell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Raffell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 109 people were recorded with the Raffell surname. That placed it at #18,793 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Raffell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 188 in 2016. That gives Raffell a modern rank of #20,417.

What does the Raffell map show?

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