NameCensus.

UK surname

Rain

An English surname likely derived from Old English "regn" referring to frequent or abundant rainfall.

In the 1881 census there were 532 people recorded with the Rain surname, ranking it #6,457 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 290, ranked #15,099, down from #6,457 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Manchester and Kirkcudbright. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Rochdale and Sunderland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Rain is 699 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 45.5%.

1881 census count

532

Ranked #6,457

Modern count

290

2016, ranked #15,099

Peak year

1851

699 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Rain had 532 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,457 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 290 in 2016, ranked #15,099.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 699 in 1851.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Rain surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Rain surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Rain 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 699 #3,733
1861 historical 633 #4,233
1881 historical 532 #6,457
1891 historical 416 #8,596
1901 historical 337 #10,735
1911 historical 294 #11,622
1997 modern 271 #14,486
1998 modern 261 #15,241
1999 modern 265 #15,187
2000 modern 258 #15,427
2001 modern 251 #15,483
2002 modern 248 #15,896
2003 modern 239 #16,093
2004 modern 226 #16,829
2005 modern 234 #16,388
2006 modern 225 #16,941
2007 modern 226 #17,103
2008 modern 237 #16,688
2009 modern 243 #16,742
2010 modern 260 #16,343
2011 modern 256 #16,383
2012 modern 267 #15,791
2013 modern 268 #16,005
2014 modern 289 #15,251
2015 modern 287 #15,235
2016 modern 290 #15,099

Geography

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Where Rains are most common

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

The modern local-area list points to Rochdale and Sunderland. 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 Manchester Lancashire
3 Kirkcudbright Kirkcudbright
4 Preston Lancashire
5 Easington Durham

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Rochdale 002 Rochdale
2 Sunderland 003 Sunderland
3 Sunderland 023 Sunderland
4 Sunderland 004 Sunderland
5 Sunderland 006 Sunderland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Rain

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Rain

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

Young Families in Industrial Towns

Nationally, the Rain surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Rain household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Rain is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Rain is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Rain 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 Rain 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 - British

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

Meaning and origin of Rain

The surname RAIN is believed to have originated in England, with the earliest records dating back to the 12th century. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "regn," which means "rain" or "wet weather." This suggests that the name may have initially been used as a descriptive surname for someone who lived in a particularly rainy area or was associated with rainfall in some way.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname RAIN can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from the year 1166, which mentions a person named Reginald Rain. This is an anglicized version of the original Old English name, and it shows that the surname was already in use during the 12th century.

The RAIN surname is also believed to have ties to various place names in England, such as Rainhill in Lancashire and Rainford in Merseyside. These place names likely originated from the same Old English word "regn," and it is possible that the surname RAIN may have been derived from these locations.

During the medieval period, the RAIN surname appeared in various records and manuscripts, including the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which listed individuals with the surname in counties such as Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire.

One notable figure with the surname RAIN was Sir John Rain, who lived in the 14th century and served as a Member of Parliament for Gloucestershire in 1352. Another prominent individual was William Rain (1480-1545), an English clergyman who served as the Bishop of Llandaff and later the Bishop of Man.

In the 16th century, the RAIN surname can be found in the records of the College of Arms, which is responsible for maintaining official genealogical records in England. One example is Thomas Rain (1523-1598), who was granted a coat of arms in 1585.

Moving into the 17th century, the RAIN surname continued to appear in various records and documents. One notable figure was Richard Rain (1610-1678), an English writer and clergyman who authored several religious works.

Another significant individual with the surname RAIN was Sir Walter Rain (1672-1742), a British politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament for Chippenham in the early 18th century.

Throughout its history, the RAIN surname has been associated with various professions and social classes, from clergymen and writers to politicians and landowners. Its origins can be traced back to the Old English word "regn," reflecting the rich linguistic heritage of England and the descriptive nature of many surnames.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Rain families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Rain 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. Durham leads with 153 Rains recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.89x.

County Total Index
Durham 153 9.89x
Middlesex 79 1.52x
Yorkshire 67 1.30x
Lancashire 58 0.94x
Kirkcudbrightshire 27 35.88x
Lanarkshire 23 1.37x
Surrey 17 0.67x
Northumberland 15 1.94x
Aberdeenshire 13 2.70x
Warwickshire 13 0.99x
Cumberland 9 2.01x
Sussex 9 1.03x
Norfolk 7 0.88x
Oxfordshire 7 2.18x
Essex 6 0.58x
Midlothian 5 0.72x
Glamorgan 4 0.44x
Kent 4 0.23x
Cheshire 3 0.26x
Brecknockshire 2 1.92x
Hertfordshire 2 0.56x
Nottinghamshire 2 0.29x
Ayrshire 1 0.26x
Dumfriesshire 1 0.87x
East Lothian 1 1.45x
Hampshire 1 0.09x
Montgomeryshire 1 0.84x
Somerset 1 0.12x
Staffordshire 1 0.06x
Wigtownshire 1 1.45x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bishopwearmouth in Durham leads with 16 Rains recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.05x.

Place Total Index
Bishopwearmouth 16 12.05x
Haswell 16 144.27x
Islington London 16 3.18x
Thornaby 15 77.92x
Govan 12 2.89x
St George In East 12 33.94x
Gateshead 11 9.50x
Camberwell 10 3.01x
Evenwood Barony 10 190.11x
Glasgow 10 3.35x
Sunderland 10 36.60x
Chilton 9 186.34x
King Edward 9 162.16x
Preston 9 5.45x
St George Martyr 9 102.74x
Easington 8 357.14x
Hackney London 8 2.74x
Heckmondwike 8 48.28x
Preston 8 52.25x
Buittle 7 395.48x
Caversham 7 109.03x
Cornsay 7 168.27x
Coventry St Michael 7 16.62x
Escomb 7 98.45x
Heigham 7 16.31x
Shoreditch London 7 3.11x
Thornley 7 125.00x
Bellister 6 2500.00x
Birmingham 6 1.37x
Everton 6 3.05x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 6 8.96x
Kirkcudbright 6 96.31x
Manchester 6 2.16x
Westminster St 6 31.30x
Barrow In Furness 5 5.96x
Bilsdale Midcable 5 416.67x
Dalton In Furness 5 21.00x
Keighley 5 9.10x
Kingsbury 5 370.37x
Plenmeller 5 1515.15x
Urr 5 51.07x
West Acklam 5 1724.14x
Westoe 5 5.70x
Whitehaven 5 20.96x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 4 4.44x
Auckland St Andrew 4 98.04x
Droylsden 4 19.87x
Gorton 4 6.90x
Kirkdale 4 3.85x
Leyton Low 4 19.18x
Mickleton 4 336.13x
North Bedburn 4 92.59x
Stranton 4 7.68x
Tunstall 4 51.95x
Benfieldside 3 29.50x
Chorlton On Medlock 3 3.06x
Elham 3 141.51x
Ellerbeck 3 2307.69x
Hornsey 3 4.56x
Marton In Middlesbrough 3 159.57x
Merthyr Tydfil 3 3.45x
Shadforth 3 100.00x
St Giles 3 31.09x
Tottenham 3 3.62x
Whitwell House 3 1250.00x
Wolsingham 3 21.28x
Allerston 2 253.16x
Barnes 2 18.67x
Broxbourne 2 28.17x
Clapham 2 3.08x
Clerkenwell London 2 1.63x
Crossmichael 2 84.03x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 2 0.71x
Kensington London 2 0.69x
Kirkleavington 2 540.54x
Kirkmabreck 2 60.79x
Lanchester 2 70.42x
Sewerby Cum Marton 2 204.08x
Sutton 2 10.91x
Wetheral 2 33.73x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 24
Mary 24
Jane 17
Sarah 15
Ann 13
Margaret 12
Annie 10
Isabella 7
Ellen 6
Catherine 5
Jessie 5
Grace 4
Alice 3
Caroline 3
Eliza 3
Florence 3
Frances 3
Julia 3
Margret 3
Maria 3
Martha 3
Nellie 3
Ada 2
Anne 2
C. 2
Emily 2
Francis 2
Harriet 2
Henrietta 2
Janet 2
Kate 2
Margt. 2
Marion 2
Al. 1
Anna 1
Anny 1
Cecilia 1
Chrissie 1
Elisabeth 1
Elizbeth 1
Emma 1
Esther 1
Ethel 1
Fanny 1
Hellin 1
Jenny 1
Louisa 1
Mander 1
Margeret 1
Margrat 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 41
William 33
James 17
Joseph 13
Thomas 13
Robert 12
George 8
Edward 7
Henry 5
Alfred 4
A. 3
Arthur 3
Herbert 3
Nicholas 3
Samuel 3
Albert 2
Alexander 2
Andrew 2
Cuthbert 2
David 2
Francis 2
Frederick 2
Isaac 2
J. 2
Jeremiah 2
Matthew 2
Michael 2
Percy 2
Peter 2
Richard 2
Stephen 2
Thos. 2
Wm. 2
Allan 1
Bejamin 1
Bruce 1
Charles 1
Christopher 1
Daniel 1
Edgar 1
Forrester 1
Geo. 1
Issie 1
Jacob 1
Jonathan 1
Robson 1
Robt. 1
Robt.H. 1
Robt.W. 1
Rubin 1

FAQ

Rain surname: questions and answers

How common was the Rain surname in 1881?

In 1881, 532 people were recorded with the Rain surname. That placed it at #6,457 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Rain surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 290 in 2016. That gives Rain a modern rank of #15,099.

What does the Rain surname mean?

An English surname likely derived from Old English "regn" referring to frequent or abundant rainfall.

What does the Rain map show?

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