NameCensus.

UK surname

Raggett

An English surname derived from a diminutive form of the given name Roger.

In the 1881 census there were 374 people recorded with the Raggett surname, ranking it #8,364 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 727, ranked #7,484, up from #8,364 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Godalming, London parishes and Rickmansworth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Waverley, Woking and Kingston upon Thames.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Raggett is 817 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 94.4%.

1881 census count

374

Ranked #8,364

Modern count

727

2016, ranked #7,484

Peak year

2000

817 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Raggett had 374 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,364 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 727 in 2016, ranked #7,484.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 674 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Raggett surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Raggett surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Raggett 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 187 #10,978
1861 historical 224 #10,882
1881 historical 374 #8,364
1891 historical 459 #7,965
1901 historical 608 #7,000
1911 historical 674 #6,264
1997 modern 760 #6,812
1998 modern 794 #6,788
1999 modern 789 #6,872
2000 modern 817 #6,664
2001 modern 792 #6,692
2002 modern 807 #6,729
2003 modern 782 #6,779
2004 modern 776 #6,837
2005 modern 763 #6,859
2006 modern 745 #7,018
2007 modern 747 #7,075
2008 modern 741 #7,166
2009 modern 779 #7,031
2010 modern 788 #7,120
2011 modern 774 #7,133
2012 modern 737 #7,322
2013 modern 738 #7,438
2014 modern 741 #7,454
2015 modern 730 #7,482
2016 modern 727 #7,484

Geography

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Where Raggetts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Godalming, London parishes, Rickmansworth, Portsmouth, Portsea and Farnham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Waverley, Woking, Kingston upon Thames, Ashford and Teignbridge. 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 Godalming Surrey
2 London parishes London 3
3 Rickmansworth Hertfordshire
4 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire
5 Farnham Surrey

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Waverley 001 Waverley
2 Woking 005 Woking
3 Kingston upon Thames 006 Kingston upon Thames
4 Ashford 012 Ashford
5 Teignbridge 017 Teignbridge

Forenames

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First names often paired with Raggett

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Raggett

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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Raggett surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Raggett household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Raggett is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Raggett is most concentrated in decile 5 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Raggett falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Raggett 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 Raggett, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Raggett

The surname Raggett is of English origin, with records dating back to the late 16th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "raggede," meaning "ragged" or "unkempt," suggesting it may have initially been a descriptive nickname for someone with a disheveled appearance.

One of the earliest known references to the name can be found in the parish records of St. Mary's Church in Lewisham, Kent, where a William Raggett was recorded in 1599. Records from this period often contained variations in spelling, with entries such as Ragget, Raggat, and Raggitt appearing in various locations across southern England.

The Raggett surname is particularly prevalent in areas of Kent and Sussex, potentially indicating its origins may have been concentrated in these regions. However, it is also found in other parts of England, as well as in some areas of the United States and Australia, likely due to migration patterns over the centuries.

Notable individuals with the surname Raggett include:

1. Thomas Raggett (c. 1590-1664), an English clergyman who served as the Vicar of Dodderhill in Worcestershire during the 17th century.

2. John Raggett (1798-1868), a British architect known for his work on several churches and public buildings in London and the surrounding areas.

3. Emily Raggett (1853-1928), a British suffragette and activist who campaigned for women's rights and was involved in the Women's Social and Political Union.

4. Henry Raggett (1872-1949), an English cricketer who played first-class cricket for Kent County Cricket Club in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

5. Reginald Raggett (1917-1983), a British actor and writer who appeared in numerous television and film productions, including roles in several classic British sitcoms.

While the Raggett surname may have originated as a descriptive nickname, it has since evolved into a distinct family name with a rich history and a presence in various parts of the English-speaking world.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Raggett families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Raggett 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. Surrey leads with 112 Raggetts recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.32x.

County Total Index
Surrey 112 6.32x
Middlesex 58 1.59x
Hertfordshire 46 18.34x
Hampshire 41 5.50x
Sussex 26 4.24x
Kent 17 1.37x
Berkshire 10 3.66x
Devon 8 1.06x
Yorkshire 8 0.22x
Gloucestershire 7 0.98x
Cumberland 6 1.92x
Essex 6 0.84x
Lancashire 5 0.12x
Westmorland 4 5.00x
Wiltshire 4 1.24x
Bedfordshire 3 1.59x
Dorset 3 1.26x
Oxfordshire 3 1.34x
Glamorgan 2 0.32x
Montgomeryshire 1 1.20x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.20x
Shropshire 1 0.32x
Somerset 1 0.17x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Farnham in Surrey leads with 26 Raggetts recorded in 1881 and an index of 188.54x.

Place Total Index
Farnham 26 188.54x
Godalming 26 232.97x
Rickmansworth 24 347.32x
Bramley 22 1410.26x
Portsea 15 10.26x
Hemel Hempstead 13 115.04x
Lambeth 12 3.78x
Maidstone 10 27.04x
St Pancras London 9 3.07x
Great Gaddesden 8 683.76x
Isleworth 8 49.44x
Basing 7 503.60x
Brighton 7 5.66x
Clerkenwell London 7 8.15x
Greywell 7 1842.11x
Kensington London 7 3.46x
Leeds 7 3.44x
Newton Abbot St Nicholas 7 451.61x
St Marylebone London 7 3.60x
Stoke 7 83.63x
Tewkesbury 7 109.89x
Gosforth 6 392.16x
Hampton Wick London 6 224.72x
Lewisham 6 9.06x
Mile End Old Town 6 10.45x
Odiham 6 183.49x
Wonersh 6 271.49x
Brentwood 5 114.16x
Fernhurst 5 367.65x
Beetham 4 325.20x
Clewer 4 35.75x
Hartfield 4 206.19x
Mortimer 4 305.34x
Swindon 4 16.03x
Battersea 3 2.24x
Blackburn 3 2.61x
Luton 3 9.20x
Melcombe Regis 3 30.30x
Merton 3 96.77x
Midhurst 3 149.25x
Newhaven 3 60.24x
Paddington London 3 2.24x
Penge 3 12.91x
Woodstock 3 212.77x
Cardiff St John 2 9.67x
Hartley Wintney 2 89.29x
Long Sutton 2 500.00x
Petworth 2 54.64x
St George Hanover 2 4.21x
Teddington London 2 24.27x
Basingstoke 1 11.66x
Berkhampstead 1 17.73x
Binsted 1 588.24x
Camberwell 1 0.43x
Carlton 1 17.86x
East Horndon 1 158.73x
Eastbourne 1 3.54x
Everton 1 0.73x
Middle 1 116.28x
Montgomery 1 67.11x
Preston 1 0.87x
Reading St Giles 1 3.73x
Richmond 1 4.03x
Ryde 1 6.24x
Shalford 1 51.02x
Southwark St George Martyr 1 1.37x
Tormoham 1 3.12x
Walcot 1 3.21x
Warfield 1 40.32x
West Wickham 1 83.33x
Whitechapel London 1 2.79x
York Marygate St Olave 1 71.94x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 18
Emily 13
Sarah 13
Edith 9
Elizabeth 9
Charlotte 7
Fanny 7
Kate 7
Eliza 6
Emma 6
Jane 6
Annie 5
Harriet 5
Agnes 4
Alice 4
Ann 4
Florence 4
Helen 4
Lucy 4
Ada 3
Caroline 3
Ellen 3
Harriett 3
Louisa 3
Maria 3
Minnie 3
Amelia 2
Anna 2
Beatrice 2
Frances 2
Gertrude 2
Olive 2
Rose 2
Bernise 1
Catherine 1
Edna 1
Eleanor 1
Elizth. 1
Ena 1
Ethel 1
Evelyn 1
Helena 1
Henrietta 1
Infant 1
Jessie 1
Kitty 1
Laura 1
Lavinia 1
Lizzie 1
Sylvia 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 20
William 20
Henry 12
James 9
John 8
Charles 7
Albert 6
Herbert 6
Alfred 5
Harry 5
Thomas 5
Walter 5
Arthur 4
Frederick 4
Stephen 4
David 3
Edward 3
Frank 3
Robert 3
Edwin 2
Ernest 2
Fredk. 2
Reuben 2
Archibald 1
Charley 1
Eli 1
Elijah 1
Elisha 1
Elvenson 1
Francis 1
Fred 1
Freddy 1
Fredrick 1
Geo. 1
J. 1
Jesse 1
Job 1
Mark 1
Mathew 1
Montague 1
Moses 1
Nathanial 1
Obed 1
Percy 1
Peter 1
Richard 1
Rufus 1
Samuel 1
Theophilios 1

FAQ

Raggett surname: questions and answers

How common was the Raggett surname in 1881?

In 1881, 374 people were recorded with the Raggett surname. That placed it at #8,364 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Raggett surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 727 in 2016. That gives Raggett a modern rank of #7,484.

What does the Raggett surname mean?

An English surname derived from a diminutive form of the given name Roger.

What does the Raggett map show?

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