NameCensus.

UK surname

Raines

Derived from a place name or from the Old English word "regen," meaning "rain" or "downpour."

In the 1881 census there were 602 people recorded with the Raines surname, ranking it #5,818 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 955, ranked #6,017, down from #5,818 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Westbury and St Marylebone. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Ryedale, King's Lynn and West Norfolk and Wigan.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Raines is 1,077 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 58.6%.

1881 census count

602

Ranked #5,818

Modern count

955

2016, ranked #6,017

Peak year

1999

1,077 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Raines had 602 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,818 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 955 in 2016, ranked #6,017.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 961 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Raines surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Raines surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Raines 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 363 #6,525
1861 historical 370 #6,899
1881 historical 602 #5,818
1891 historical 631 #6,133
1901 historical 790 #5,701
1911 historical 961 #4,699
1997 modern 1,037 #5,329
1998 modern 1,061 #5,403
1999 modern 1,077 #5,374
2000 modern 1,033 #5,534
2001 modern 1,015 #5,515
2002 modern 1,011 #5,638
2003 modern 972 #5,725
2004 modern 957 #5,813
2005 modern 971 #5,667
2006 modern 960 #5,742
2007 modern 969 #5,755
2008 modern 978 #5,750
2009 modern 983 #5,844
2010 modern 1,015 #5,816
2011 modern 990 #5,865
2012 modern 969 #5,876
2013 modern 968 #5,980
2014 modern 976 #5,971
2015 modern 954 #6,054
2016 modern 955 #6,017

Geography

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Where Raines' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Westbury, St Marylebone, Wye and London parishes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Ryedale, King's Lynn and West Norfolk, Wigan and East Riding of Yorkshire. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 Westbury Wiltshire
3 St Marylebone London (North Districts)
4 Wye Kent
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Ryedale 007 Ryedale
2 King's Lynn and West Norfolk 003 King's Lynn and West Norfolk
3 Wigan 026 Wigan
4 East Riding of Yorkshire 044 East Riding of Yorkshire
5 East Riding of Yorkshire 008 East Riding of Yorkshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Raines

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Raines

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Raines, 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 Raines surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Raines 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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Raines 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

Raines is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Raines falls in decile 4 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Raines

The surname Raines originates from the Old French word "raine", meaning a frog. It is believed to have emerged as a surname in England during the late 12th century, likely referring to an occupation or relating to a place name associated with frogs or a marshy area.

Raines was first recorded as a surname in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1191, when a Robert de Raines was mentioned. Another early record is found in the Curia Regis Rolls for Lincolnshire in 1206, where a Willelmus de Raines is listed.

The name may also be derived from the Old French "regne", meaning kingdom or reign, suggesting a possible connection to someone in service to a royal household or a place name related to a sovereign's domain.

In the Hundred Rolls of 1273, a Henry de Raines is recorded in Oxfordshire. The Raines surname is also found in the Subsidy Rolls for Yorkshire in 1327, with a John de Raynes listed.

One of the earliest notable individuals with the Raines surname was Sir John Raines (c. 1438-1505), a wealthy merchant and Lord Mayor of London in 1486. He was a prominent figure in the city's affairs and a benefactor to several churches and charitable institutions.

Another historical figure was William Raines (1567-1638), an English clergyman and author who served as the Bishop of Norwich from 1629 until his death. He was known for his work on the history of the English Church.

In the 17th century, Francis Raines (1609-1675) was an English lawyer and antiquarian, known for his collection of manuscripts and his scholarly work on English history and genealogy.

Robert Raines (1765-1827) was a notable English engraver and painter who was particularly skilled in portraiture and landscapes. His works were exhibited at the Royal Academy and are held in various collections.

Lastly, Juliana Horatia Ewing (née Gatty) (1841-1885), better known by her married name Juliana Horatia Ewing, was a renowned English writer and novelist, best known for her children's stories and books, including "Mrs. Overtheway's Remembrances" and "Jackanapes".

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Raines families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Raines 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. Yorkshire leads with 105 Raines' recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.80x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 105 1.80x
Somerset 75 7.92x
Middlesex 70 1.19x
Kent 64 3.19x
Norfolk 58 6.41x
Wiltshire 42 8.07x
Cheshire 25 1.93x
Durham 25 1.43x
Derbyshire 20 2.17x
Lincolnshire 20 2.13x
Surrey 17 0.59x
Lancashire 14 0.20x
Nottinghamshire 9 1.14x
Bedfordshire 8 2.63x
Monmouthshire 8 1.88x
Hampshire 7 0.58x
Glamorgan 5 0.49x
Northumberland 5 0.57x
Sussex 4 0.40x
Channel Islands 3 1.72x
Gloucestershire 3 0.26x
Shropshire 3 0.59x
Stirlingshire 3 1.38x
Northamptonshire 2 0.36x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.28x
Clackmannanshire 1 2.06x
Essex 1 0.09x
Hertfordshire 1 0.25x
Leicestershire 1 0.15x
Staffordshire 1 0.05x
Warwickshire 1 0.07x
Worcestershire 1 0.13x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Dukinfield in Cheshire leads with 21 Raines' recorded in 1881 and an index of 35.00x.

Place Total Index
Dukinfield 21 35.00x
Westbury 20 164.74x
Sedgeford 19 1241.83x
Castle Rising 15 2142.86x
Gaywood 14 864.20x
Kilham 12 489.80x
North Bradley 11 289.47x
Hackney London 10 3.03x
Sheldwich 10 781.25x
Shepton Mallet 10 94.16x
Worle 10 512.82x
Great Driffield 9 75.25x
Nafferton 9 362.90x
St Marylebone London 9 2.87x
St Paul Covent Garden 9 152.80x
Throwley 9 720.00x
Winscombe 9 351.56x
Sculcoates 8 8.66x
Ashwick 7 457.52x
Bedminster 7 7.87x
Holy Trinity 7 4.99x
Moss Side 7 19.06x
Radbourne 7 1372.55x
Scarborough 7 13.22x
Thornton In Bradford 7 36.08x
Tilney All Sts 7 614.04x
Westwood 7 648.15x
Worksop 7 29.77x
Bromley London 6 4.64x
East Harptree 6 451.13x
Faversham 6 31.35x
Ferryhill 6 98.04x
Islington London 6 1.05x
Luton 6 11.38x
Monkwearmouth 6 35.82x
Ryton 6 1428.57x
St Woollos 6 12.64x
Stoke Newington London 6 13.09x
Westoe 6 6.05x
Graveney 5 980.39x
Lambeth 5 0.97x
Newcastle On Tyne St 5 11.02x
Old Malton 5 136.61x
Ruckinge 5 625.00x
South Normanton 5 77.28x
Tupton 5 180.51x
Weare 5 381.68x
Westminster St John 5 6.98x
Banwell 4 115.61x
Brighton 4 2.00x
Fulham London 4 4.69x
Newington 4 1.84x
Norton In Malton 4 56.58x
Portsea 4 1.69x
Saltfleetby St Peter 4 606.06x
Sandal Magna 4 46.40x
St Lawrence 4 28.99x
Ashford 3 15.35x
Biddisham 3 1200.00x
Chartham 3 60.00x
Compton Martin 3 357.14x
Ealing 3 5.71x
Frimley 3 36.76x
Heeley 3 16.94x
Highley 3 410.96x
Kings Lynn St Margaret 3 11.05x
Llanguick 3 16.35x
Mile End Old Town 3 3.23x
Monkwearmouth Shore 3 8.78x
Newington In Elham 3 263.16x
Ospringe 3 121.46x
Paddington London 3 1.39x
Sheffield 3 1.62x
Southwark St George Martyr 3 2.53x
Spitalfields London 3 6.78x
St Michael Lincoln 3 117.65x
Stirling 3 10.97x
Wakefield 3 6.70x
Wells St Cuthbert Out 3 39.32x
Redbourne 2 270.27x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 40
Elizabeth 27
Sarah 17
Ann 16
Alice 14
Emily 13
Maria 13
Ellen 10
Annie 9
Hannah 9
Jane 8
Emma 6
Edith 5
Margaret 5
Fanny 4
Florence 4
Harriett 4
Louisa 4
Martha 4
Ada 3
Amelia 3
Amy 3
Caroline 3
Catherine 3
Clara 3
Eliza 3
Frances 3
Sophia 3
Anna 2
Anne 2
Betsy 2
Dorothy 2
Lucy 2
Nellie 2
Rachel 2
Rose 2
Agatha 1
Augusta 1
B.H. 1
Beatrice 1
Charity 1
Charlot 1
Dinah 1
Elizh. 1
Elizth. 1
Harriet 1
Honora 1
Isabella 1
Jemima 1
Winifred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 41
George 29
John 29
James 26
Charles 13
Thomas 12
Robert 11
Henry 10
Alfred 9
Edward 8
Joseph 8
Arthur 7
Richard 7
Albert 6
Ernest 4
Frederick 4
Harry 4
Herbert 4
Walter 4
Christopher 3
Edwin 3
Frank 3
Geo. 3
Samuel 3
Fred. 2
Thos. 2
Berty 1
David 1
Dennis 1
Edmund 1
Edwd. 1
Fred 1
Fredk.A. 1
Fredrick 1
Godfrey 1
Guy 1
Harold 1
Hedley 1
Hrank 1
Jack 1
Jacob 1
Joshua 1
Leonard 1
Luke 1
Norwood 1
Osmond 1
Renery 1
Reuben 1
Roger 1
Wright 1

FAQ

Raines surname: questions and answers

How common was the Raines surname in 1881?

In 1881, 602 people were recorded with the Raines surname. That placed it at #5,818 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Raines surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 955 in 2016. That gives Raines a modern rank of #6,017.

What does the Raines surname mean?

Derived from a place name or from the Old English word "regen," meaning "rain" or "downpour."

What does the Raines map show?

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