NameCensus.

UK surname

Raif

An Arabic surname meaning "prosperous" or "wealthy."

In the 1881 census there were 8 people recorded with the Raif surname, ranking it #32,581 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 110, ranked #29,225, up from #32,581 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Lewisham, Enfield and Bexley.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Raif is 113 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 1275.0%.

1881 census count

8

Ranked #32,581

Modern count

110

2016, ranked #29,225

Peak year

2014

113 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • Raif had 8 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #32,581 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 110 in 2016, ranked #29,225.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 9 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Raif surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Raif surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Raif 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 4 #32,658
1861 historical 7 #33,053
1881 historical 8 #32,581
1891 historical 9 #33,451
1901 historical 4 #33,876
1911 historical 3 #33,789
1997 modern 79 #29,672
1998 modern 89 #29,026
1999 modern 92 #28,833
2000 modern 89 #29,173
2001 modern 92 #28,528
2002 modern 98 #28,243
2003 modern 104 #27,101
2004 modern 100 #27,964
2005 modern 105 #27,203
2006 modern 99 #28,453
2007 modern 104 #28,020
2008 modern 106 #28,016
2009 modern 109 #28,145
2010 modern 112 #28,336
2011 modern 111 #28,294
2012 modern 102 #29,902
2013 modern 110 #29,028
2014 modern 113 #28,779
2015 modern 108 #29,512
2016 modern 110 #29,225

Geography

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Where Raifs 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 Lewisham, Enfield, Bexley and Hackney. 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 Lewisham 015 Lewisham
2 Enfield 026 Enfield
3 Bexley 021 Bexley
4 Hackney 019 Hackney
5 Enfield 006 Enfield

Forenames

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First names often paired with Raif

These lists show first names that appear often with the Raif 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 Raif

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Raif surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Raif 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 is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Raif is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Raif 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

Raif falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Raif 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
Other Ethnic Group

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

Meaning and origin of Raif

The surname RAIF has its roots in the German and Swiss regions, with origins dating back to the 16th century. It is believed to have originated from the Old German word "rauf," which means "rough" or "coarse." This suggests that the name may have initially been used as a descriptive nickname for someone with a rugged or robust appearance.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the RAIF surname can be found in the city of Zurich, Switzerland, where a record from 1587 mentions a Johann Raif. This document provides evidence of the name's presence in the region during that time period.

In the 17th century, the surname RAIF appeared in various German records, including the Kirchenbücher (church books) of several villages in the Rhineland region. These records often contained details about births, marriages, and deaths within the local communities.

A notable figure from history bearing the RAIF surname was Hans Raif, a German painter and engraver who lived from 1580 to 1637. His works, which included religious scenes and portraiture, were highly regarded during his lifetime and can still be found in museums and collections across Europe.

Another individual of historical significance was Jakob Raif, a Swiss mathematician and astronomer who lived from 1622 to 1703. He made significant contributions to the field of astronomy and was instrumental in the development of advanced astronomical instruments used during his time.

In the 18th century, the RAIF surname gained prominence in the region of Bavaria, Germany. One notable individual was Johann Baptist Raif, a Bavarian painter and architect who lived from 1714 to 1783. His works can be found adorning several churches and buildings throughout Bavaria.

The surname RAIF also has connections to various place names in Germany and Switzerland. For instance, the village of Raiffeisenau in the state of Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, may have derived its name from the RAIF surname or a similar variation.

Throughout its history, the RAIF surname has been associated with various professions, including artisans, scholars, and craftsmen. While not as widely distributed as some other surnames, it has left a distinct mark in the regions where it originated and continues to be carried on by families with deep roots in these areas.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Raif families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Raif 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 8 Raifs recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.26x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 8 10.26x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hackney London in Middlesex leads with 7 Raifs recorded in 1881 and an index of 160.18x.

Place Total Index
Hackney London 7 160.18x
St Anne Soho London 1 222.22x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Francis 2
Archd.E. 1
Augt.S. 1
Ernest 1
Fredk.W. 1
T.Charles 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 Raif households.

FAQ

Raif surname: questions and answers

How common was the Raif surname in 1881?

In 1881, 8 people were recorded with the Raif surname. That placed it at #32,581 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Raif surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 110 in 2016. That gives Raif a modern rank of #29,225.

What does the Raif surname mean?

An Arabic surname meaning "prosperous" or "wealthy."

What does the Raif map show?

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