NameCensus.

UK surname

Rahilly

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic Ó Reachdaidh, meaning "descendant of the prosperous one."

In the 1881 census there were 20 people recorded with the Rahilly surname, ranking it #30,738 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 112, ranked #28,844, up from #30,738 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Westminster, Huntingdonshire and Brent.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Rahilly is 124 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 460.0%.

1881 census count

20

Ranked #30,738

Modern count

112

2016, ranked #28,844

Peak year

1998

124 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Rahilly had 20 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #30,738 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 112 in 2016, ranked #28,844.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 20 in 1881.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Rahilly surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Rahilly surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Rahilly 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 11 #31,309
1861 historical 18 #31,580
1881 historical 20 #30,738
1891 historical 16 #32,868
1901 historical 13 #32,633
1911 historical 17 #31,675
1997 modern 117 #24,553
1998 modern 124 #24,316
1999 modern 118 #25,227
2000 modern 119 #25,072
2001 modern 116 #25,089
2002 modern 112 #26,165
2003 modern 106 #26,775
2004 modern 112 #26,159
2005 modern 102 #27,689
2006 modern 101 #28,125
2007 modern 107 #27,557
2008 modern 112 #27,061
2009 modern 116 #27,062
2010 modern 116 #27,704
2011 modern 114 #27,784
2012 modern 116 #27,550
2013 modern 115 #28,176
2014 modern 112 #28,934
2015 modern 112 #28,809
2016 modern 112 #28,844

Geography

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Where Rahillys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Westminster, Huntingdonshire, Brent, Bromley and South Somerset. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Westminster 014 Westminster
2 Huntingdonshire 022 Huntingdonshire
3 Brent 017 Brent
4 Bromley 031 Bromley
5 South Somerset 019 South Somerset

Forenames

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First names often paired with Rahilly

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Rahilly

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

Rural Amenity

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Rahilly 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

Rahilly is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Rahilly falls in decile 9 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.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Rahilly is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Rahilly

The surname "RAHILLY" is of Irish origin and dates back to the 16th century. It is derived from the Irish Gaelic "O'Raighilligh" or "O'Reilly," which means "descendant of Raghaillach" or "descendant of the valiant one."

The name is believed to have originated in County Cavan, Ireland, where the O'Reilly clan was prominent and held significant influence. The O'Reillys were a powerful Irish family who ruled over the territory of East Breffny, which encompassed parts of present-day counties Cavan and Longford.

In ancient Irish manuscripts and historical records, the name is often spelled in various ways, such as "O'Reilly," "O'Reyly," or "O'Rely." One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name can be found in the Annals of Ulster, which date back to the 15th century and document the activities of the O'Reilly clan.

Historically, several notable individuals have borne the surname "RAHILLY." One of the most famous was Edmond O'Reilly (1598-1669), an Irish Franciscan friar and scholar who is renowned for his work in preserving and promoting the Irish language and culture.

Another prominent figure was Andrew Rahilly (1883-1966), an Irish language scholar and founder of the Tailteann Games, a revival of ancient Irish sporting festivals. Eileen Rahilly (1889-1957) was a notable Irish activist and politician who played a significant role in the Irish revolutionary period and women's suffrage movement.

In the literary realm, Conor Rahilly (1904-1992) was an Irish poet and writer who was a member of the esteemed Aosdána, an Irish association of artists and writers. Lastly, Patrick Rahilly (1885-1916) was an Irish nationalist and leader of the Irish Citizen Army during the Easter Rising of 1916.

While the surname "RAHILLY" has evolved over time, it remains deeply rooted in Irish history and culture, with its origins tracing back to the ancient O'Reilly clan and their stronghold in County Cavan.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Rahilly families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Rahilly 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. Middlesex leads with 13 Rahillys recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.67x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 13 6.67x
Hertfordshire 5 37.23x
Hampshire 1 2.50x
Kent 1 1.50x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Clerkenwell London in Middlesex leads with 6 Rahillys recorded in 1881 and an index of 130.43x.

Place Total Index
Clerkenwell London 6 130.43x
St Luke London 6 191.69x
Shenley 5 5555.56x
Chiswick 1 94.34x
Portsmouth 1 108.70x
Woolwich 1 40.65x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Catherine 2
Helen 2
Jessie 1
Julia 1
Kate 1
Lizzie 1
Mary 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 3
William 3
Thomas 2
Arthur 1
David 1
James 1

Top occupations

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 Rahilly households.

FAQ

Rahilly surname: questions and answers

How common was the Rahilly surname in 1881?

In 1881, 20 people were recorded with the Rahilly surname. That placed it at #30,738 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Rahilly surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 112 in 2016. That gives Rahilly a modern rank of #28,844.

What does the Rahilly surname mean?

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic Ó Reachdaidh, meaning "descendant of the prosperous one."

What does the Rahilly map show?

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