NameCensus.

UK surname

Rafferty

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic Ó Raifeartaigh, meaning "descendant of Raifeartach," a personal name of uncertain meaning.

In the 1881 census there were 1,545 people recorded with the Rafferty surname, ranking it #2,723 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 5,019, ranked #1,350, up from #2,723 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Govan Combination and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Doncaster, Upper Nithsdale and Mauchline Rural.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Rafferty is 5,217 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 224.9%.

1881 census count

1,545

Ranked #2,723

Modern count

5,019

2016, ranked #1,350

Peak year

2010

5,217 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Rafferty had 1,545 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,723 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 5,019 in 2016, ranked #1,350.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,173 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Rafferty surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Rafferty surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Rafferty 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 564 #4,499
1861 historical 780 #3,524
1881 historical 1,545 #2,723
1891 historical 1,779 #2,568
1901 historical 2,173 #2,479
1911 historical 1,209 #3,899
1997 modern 4,488 #1,466
1998 modern 4,716 #1,445
1999 modern 4,823 #1,417
2000 modern 4,886 #1,396
2001 modern 4,731 #1,402
2002 modern 4,831 #1,408
2003 modern 4,724 #1,400
2004 modern 4,731 #1,398
2005 modern 4,723 #1,378
2006 modern 4,768 #1,371
2007 modern 4,814 #1,374
2008 modern 4,868 #1,363
2009 modern 5,097 #1,337
2010 modern 5,217 #1,333
2011 modern 5,057 #1,352
2012 modern 4,962 #1,349
2013 modern 5,020 #1,358
2014 modern 5,059 #1,353
2015 modern 4,998 #1,357
2016 modern 5,019 #1,350

Geography

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Where Raffertys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Govan Combination, Edinburgh, Manchester and Wigan. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Doncaster, Upper Nithsdale, Mauchline Rural, Wolverhampton and Staffordshire Moorlands. 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 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
2 Govan Combination Lanark
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 Wigan Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Doncaster 001 Doncaster
2 Upper Nithsdale Dumfries and Galloway
3 Mauchline Rural East Ayrshire
4 Wolverhampton 001 Wolverhampton
5 Staffordshire Moorlands 003 Staffordshire Moorlands

Forenames

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First names often paired with Rafferty

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Rafferty

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Rafferty, 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 Rafferty surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Rafferty 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, Rafferty 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

Rafferty 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

Rafferty falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Rafferty 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 - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Rafferty

The surname Rafferty originated in Ireland, with its earliest known roots dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to be an anglicized form of the Gaelic name Ó Rabhartaigh, which means "descendant of Rabhartach." Rabhartach was likely a personal name derived from the Old Irish word "rabarta," meaning "sport" or "frolic."

The Rafferty name is most commonly associated with County Donegal in Ulster, Ireland. Historical records suggest that the Rafferty clan was a prominent family in this region during the Middle Ages. The name appears in various medieval Irish manuscripts and annals, including the Annals of Ulster, which mention several members of the Rafferty family.

One of the earliest known bearers of the Rafferty name was Aodh Ó Rabhartaigh, who lived in the 14th century and was a chieftain of the Rafferty clan in County Donegal. Another notable figure was Ruaidhri Ó Rabhartaigh, who served as a member of the Irish Parliament in the 16th century.

As the Rafferty family spread throughout Ireland and beyond, the name underwent various spelling variations, including Raftery, Rafferty,Raverty, and Reverty. Some of these variations were influenced by anglicization, while others were regional adaptations.

In the 17th century, a branch of the Rafferty family settled in County Mayo, where they became prominent landowners. One notable member was John Rafferty, who was born in 1745 and served as a member of the Irish Parliament for County Mayo.

Other notable individuals with the Rafferty surname include:

1. Anthony Rafferty (1784-1854), an Irish-born American Catholic priest and educator. 2. Mary Rafferty (1884-1955), an Irish-American labor organizer and activist. 3. Geri Rafferty (1946-2011), an American jazz saxophonist and composer. 4. Patrick Rafferty (1957-2021), a Canadian playwright and screenwriter. 5. John Rafferty (1952-2018), an American football player who played for the Detroit Lions in the NFL.

The Rafferty surname has a rich history rooted in Ireland's ancient past, with connections to prominent figures and families throughout the centuries. While its spelling and regional variations have evolved over time, the name continues to hold significance as a marker of Irish heritage and identity.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Rafferty families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Rafferty 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. Lancashire leads with 384 Raffertys recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.15x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 384 2.15x
Lanarkshire 291 5.97x
Durham 133 2.97x
Yorkshire 131 0.88x
Cheshire 56 1.68x
Ayrshire 45 3.99x
Warwickshire 44 1.16x
Renfrewshire 40 3.42x
Midlothian 39 1.93x
Cumberland 38 2.93x
Northumberland 35 1.56x
Middlesex 33 0.22x
Staffordshire 31 0.61x
Aberdeenshire 26 1.86x
Angus 17 1.22x
Dumfriesshire 17 5.11x
Kirkcudbrightshire 16 7.33x
Devon 13 0.41x
Hampshire 13 0.42x
Carmarthenshire 10 1.57x
Kent 10 0.19x
Wigtownshire 10 5.00x
Dunbartonshire 9 2.22x
Bedfordshire 8 1.03x
Brecknockshire 7 2.32x
Channel Islands 7 1.57x
Surrey 7 0.10x
Leicestershire 6 0.36x
Lincolnshire 6 0.25x
Stirlingshire 6 1.08x
Suffolk 6 0.33x
Caithness 5 2.42x
East Lothian 5 2.50x
Essex 5 0.17x
Fife 5 0.56x
Oxfordshire 4 0.43x
Glamorgan 3 0.11x
Nottinghamshire 3 0.15x
Ross-shire 3 0.72x
Roxburghshire 3 1.10x
Buteshire 2 2.19x
Dorset 2 0.20x
Perthshire 2 0.30x
Royal Navy 2 1.11x
West Lothian 2 0.88x
Argyllshire 1 0.24x
Berkshire 1 0.09x
Caernarfonshire 1 0.16x
Cornwall 1 0.06x
Derbyshire 1 0.04x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Govan in Lanarkshire leads with 79 Raffertys recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.55x.

Place Total Index
Govan 79 6.55x
Liverpool 69 6.35x
Glasgow 64 7.39x
Barony 47 3.81x
Manchester 42 5.22x
Wigan 40 16.01x
Toxteth Park 27 4.46x
Aston 26 2.48x
Salford 26 4.94x
Hamilton 19 13.98x
Maryhill 19 19.91x
New Monkland 18 12.49x
Birmingham 17 1.34x
Darlington 17 9.82x
Old Monkland 16 8.27x
Conside Knitsley 15 43.03x
Abbey 14 7.86x
Barrow In Furness 14 5.76x
Halifax 14 6.39x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 13 1.60x
Irvine 13 41.49x
Normanby In 13 32.56x
West Derby 12 2.29x
Birkenhead 11 4.15x
Bury 11 5.38x
Eccleston In Prescot 11 12.25x
Gateshead 11 3.28x
Huddersfield 11 5.06x
Nantwich 11 28.45x
Peterhead 11 14.90x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 10 3.83x
Dundee 10 1.92x
Kidwelly 10 77.10x
Stokesley 10 107.41x
Troqueer 10 34.94x
Ardwick 9 5.58x
Bothwell 9 6.81x
Byker 9 8.12x
Heap 9 9.49x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 9 4.63x
Iveston 9 43.56x
Newton 9 6.53x
Northowram 9 8.59x
Oldham 9 1.56x
Preston 9 1.88x
Beith 8 23.77x
Cambusnethan 8 7.39x
Leighton Buzzard 8 23.83x
Whitworth 8 24.37x
Bentham 7 61.51x
Benwell 7 28.56x
Bishopwearmouth 7 1.82x
Cockpen 7 29.66x
Crosscanonby 7 16.31x
Dewsbury 7 4.57x
Heckmondwike 7 14.57x
Hylton 7 88.61x
Liff Benvie 7 3.30x
Millom 7 17.60x
Otley 7 19.31x
Sale 7 17.15x
Shoreditch London 7 1.07x
St Helier 7 4.81x
Widnes 7 5.43x
Wolstanton 7 4.53x
York St Denis In 7 106.87x
Bury St Edmunds St James 6 12.24x
Cleator 6 11.11x
Cumbernauld 6 27.04x
Galston 6 19.45x
Glanford Brigg 6 69.77x
Kilbirnie 6 22.16x
Kirkmabreck 6 62.89x
Little Clifton 6 271.49x
Llanelly 6 16.64x
Monkwearmouth 6 13.98x
Newcastle Under Lyme 6 6.67x
Washington 6 31.91x
Westoe 6 2.36x
Widley 6 108.89x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 107
Catherine 35
Bridget 32
Elizabeth 31
Ellen 27
Margaret 26
Jane 19
Ann 18
Sarah 16
Annie 12
Alice 9
Kate 6
Agnes 5
Hannah 5
Rose 5
Emma 4
Julia 4
Amelia 3
Eliza 3
Elizth. 3
Emily 3
Lydia 3
Martha 3
Susan 3
Winifred 3
Ada 2
Anne 2
Charlotte 2
Deborah 2
Helen 2
Maria 2
Susannah 2
Adeline 1
Anny 1
Augusta 1
Beatrice 1
Blanch 1
Cathrine 1
Clara 1
Easter 1
Esther 1
Harriet 1
Katherine 1
Kathleen 1
Laura 1
Lidia 1
Lilly 1
Liza 1
Margerat 1
Margret 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 108
James 68
Thomas 57
Patrick 46
Michael 32
Peter 27
William 27
Francis 20
Joseph 18
Henry 9
Bernard 8
Charles 8
Martin 7
Daniel 6
Edward 6
Walter 6
Andrew 4
George 4
Owen 4
Philip 4
Thos. 4
Frederick 3
Hugh 3
Timothy 3
Arthur 2
Barnard 2
Bryan 2
Frank 2
Laurence 2
Lewis 2
Malcolm 2
Mary 2
Richard 2
Stephen 2
Terrance 2
Wm. 2
Alfred 1
Anthony 1
Brieney 1
Cornelius 1
Ezekil 1
Fredk. 1
Horatio 1
J. 1
Luke 1
Marcus 1
Mathew 1
Maxwell 1
Mich. 1
Micheal 1

FAQ

Rafferty surname: questions and answers

How common was the Rafferty surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,545 people were recorded with the Rafferty surname. That placed it at #2,723 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Rafferty surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 5,019 in 2016. That gives Rafferty a modern rank of #1,350.

What does the Rafferty surname mean?

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic Ó Raifeartaigh, meaning "descendant of Raifeartach," a personal name of uncertain meaning.

What does the Rafferty map show?

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