NameCensus.

UK surname

Rainforth

A locational surname referring to someone from a place called Rainforth.

In the 1881 census there were 154 people recorded with the Rainforth surname, ranking it #15,259 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 116, ranked #28,197, down from #15,259 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lincoln St Botolph, Knaresborough (Bilton and Harrogate, Scriven with Tentergate, Knaresborough), Pannall and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Southend-on-Sea, Hackney and Rochford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Rainforth is 190 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 24.7%.

1881 census count

154

Ranked #15,259

Modern count

116

2016, ranked #28,197

Peak year

1851

190 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Rainforth had 154 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #15,259 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 116 in 2016, ranked #28,197.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 190 in 1851.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Rainforth surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Rainforth surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Rainforth 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 190 #10,852
1861 historical 180 #13,057
1881 historical 154 #15,259
1891 historical 174 #16,520
1901 historical 164 #17,144
1911 historical 150 #17,866
1997 modern 107 #25,924
1998 modern 111 #25,990
1999 modern 127 #24,125
2000 modern 124 #24,469
2001 modern 119 #24,733
2002 modern 119 #25,231
2003 modern 107 #26,617
2004 modern 107 #26,899
2005 modern 109 #26,583
2006 modern 117 #25,695
2007 modern 119 #25,747
2008 modern 115 #26,635
2009 modern 114 #27,363
2010 modern 110 #28,666
2011 modern 106 #29,157
2012 modern 114 #27,868
2013 modern 117 #27,838
2014 modern 119 #27,813
2015 modern 116 #28,151
2016 modern 116 #28,197

Geography

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Where Rainforths are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lincoln St Botolph, Knaresborough (Bilton and Harrogate, Scriven with Tentergate, Knaresborough), Pannall, Manchester, Topcliffe and St Marylebone. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Southend-on-Sea, Hackney, Rochford, East Riding of Yorkshire and South Lakeland. 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 Lincoln St Botolph Lincolnshire
2 Knaresborough (Bilton and Harrogate, Scriven with Tentergate, Knaresborough), Pannall Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 Topcliffe Yorkshire, West Riding
5 St Marylebone London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Southend-on-Sea 005 Southend-on-Sea
2 Hackney 016 Hackney
3 Rochford 007 Rochford
4 East Riding of Yorkshire 034 East Riding of Yorkshire
5 South Lakeland 009 South Lakeland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Rainforth

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Rainforth

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

Rainforth 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

Rainforth falls in decile 8 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.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Rainforth is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Rainforth

The surname Rainforth is believed to have originated in England, tracing its roots back to the Anglo-Saxon era. It is derived from two Old English words, "regn" meaning rain and "ford" referring to a shallow river crossing. This suggests that the name may have been given to someone who lived near a ford that was prone to heavy rainfall or flooding.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Rainforth can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landowners and properties in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The entry mentions a "Regenford" residing in the county of Yorkshire.

During the Middle Ages, the name underwent various spelling variations, such as Raynford, Raineford, and Reynforth, reflecting the inconsistencies in record-keeping and regional dialects of the time. These variants can be found in various historical documents, including parish records and tax rolls.

In the 14th century, a notable figure named John Rainforth (c. 1320-1390) was documented as a prominent landowner and merchant in the city of York. His legacy is preserved in the Rainforth Chantry, a chapel he commissioned within the York Minster.

Another individual of note was Sir Thomas Rainforth (1556-1623), who served as a Member of Parliament for the borough of Appleby during the reign of King James I. He was known for his involvement in local politics and his advocacy for the rights of landowners.

In the 18th century, a clergyman named William Rainforth (1701-1773) gained recognition for his scholarly works on theology and his contributions to the Church of England. He served as the Archdeacon of Norwich and published several influential treatises.

During the Industrial Revolution, the Rainforth family played a significant role in the textile industry in the northern regions of England. Notable figures included Richard Rainforth (1785-1861), a successful mill owner and entrepreneur in the town of Rochdale, and his son, James Rainforth (1820-1898), who expanded the family's business ventures.

Throughout the centuries, the surname Rainforth has been associated with various professions and walks of life, from landowners and merchants to clergymen and industrialists. While the name's origins may be rooted in geographical features, it has since become a part of the rich tapestry of English history and culture.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Rainforth families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Rainforth 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 84 Rainforths recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.64x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 84 5.64x
Lincolnshire 22 9.16x
Middlesex 21 1.40x
Lancashire 10 0.56x
Surrey 5 0.68x
Somerset 4 1.65x
Worcestershire 2 1.02x
Angus 1 0.72x
Brecknockshire 1 3.33x
Cheshire 1 0.30x
Derbyshire 1 0.43x
Kent 1 0.20x
Leicestershire 1 0.60x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Rainton Cum Newby in Yorkshire leads with 26 Rainforths recorded in 1881 and an index of 13000.00x.

Place Total Index
Rainton Cum Newby 26 13000.00x
St Marylebone London 12 14.96x
Hunslet 8 34.47x
Bilton Cum Harrogate 7 137.52x
Islington London 7 4.81x
South Common Lincoln 7 5833.33x
Ecclesall Bierlow 6 19.82x
Acomb 5 641.03x
Mirfield 5 61.20x
Sharow 5 2500.00x
Batley 4 28.27x
Holy Trinity 4 11.17x
Wembdon 4 555.56x
Boston 3 41.15x
Pannal 3 209.79x
Southwark Christchurch 3 42.61x
St Botolph Lincoln 3 173.41x
St Maryle Wigford 3 160.43x
Broughton In Salford 2 12.27x
Clerkenwell London 2 5.64x
Croydon 2 4.92x
Great Grimsby 2 13.12x
Hulme 2 5.37x
Leeds 2 2.38x
Manchester 2 2.50x
Ripon 2 57.97x
Sowerby In Thirsk 2 222.22x
Worcester St Nicholas 2 215.05x
Arbroath 1 21.69x
Ardwick 1 6.22x
Ashton On Mersey 1 58.48x
Ashton Under Lyne 1 2.57x
Bardney 1 138.89x
Brecknock St John 1 39.53x
Chesterfield 1 11.34x
Drighlington 1 46.08x
Gainsborough 1 17.67x
Gillingham 1 9.46x
Holbeck 1 10.14x
Horbling 1 384.62x
Kingstonupon Hull 1 84.03x
Leicester St Mary 1 7.43x
Over Darwen 1 7.02x
St Swithin Lincoln 1 26.46x
Topcliffe 1 312.50x
Wardleworth 1 9.81x
Wetherby 1 103.09x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 15
William 10
Thomas 6
Joseph 5
George 4
Richard 4
Alfred 2
Edward 2
Henry 2
James 2
Wm. 2
Chas. 1
Christopher 1
Edmund 1
Edwin 1
Francis 1
Frederick 1
Friend 1
Geo. 1
Gregory 1
Joe 1
Miles 1
Philip 1
Sydney 1
Ths. 1
Wilfred 1

FAQ

Rainforth surname: questions and answers

How common was the Rainforth surname in 1881?

In 1881, 154 people were recorded with the Rainforth surname. That placed it at #15,259 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Rainforth surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 116 in 2016. That gives Rainforth a modern rank of #28,197.

What does the Rainforth surname mean?

A locational surname referring to someone from a place called Rainforth.

What does the Rainforth map show?

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