NameCensus.

UK surname

Rait

A Scottish surname possibly derived from a place name meaning "promontory, ridge" or "cliff".

In the 1881 census there were 232 people recorded with the Rait surname, ranking it #11,677 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 240, ranked #17,278, down from #11,677 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Forfar, Arbroath and St. Vigeans and Govan Combination. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Inverness West Rural, Oldham and Hillingdon.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Rait is 242 in 2015. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 3.4%.

1881 census count

232

Ranked #11,677

Modern count

240

2016, ranked #17,278

Peak year

2015

242 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Rait had 232 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,677 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 240 in 2016, ranked #17,278.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 241 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Rait surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Rait surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Rait 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 173 #11,629
1861 historical 194 #12,310
1881 historical 232 #11,677
1891 historical 236 #13,278
1901 historical 241 #13,417
1911 historical 57 #27,099
1997 modern 193 #18,035
1998 modern 197 #18,283
1999 modern 201 #18,179
2000 modern 204 #17,987
2001 modern 200 #17,948
2002 modern 215 #17,487
2003 modern 210 #17,559
2004 modern 213 #17,492
2005 modern 209 #17,629
2006 modern 216 #17,397
2007 modern 220 #17,377
2008 modern 217 #17,693
2009 modern 224 #17,685
2010 modern 218 #18,375
2011 modern 219 #18,145
2012 modern 227 #17,630
2013 modern 236 #17,472
2014 modern 241 #17,338
2015 modern 242 #17,191
2016 modern 240 #17,278

Geography

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Where Raits are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Forfar, Arbroath and St. Vigeans, Govan Combination, Edinburgh and Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Inverness West Rural, Oldham, Hillingdon, South Bucks and Ythanside. 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 Forfar Forfar
2 Arbroath and St. Vigeans Forfar
3 Govan Combination Lanark
4 Edinburgh Edinburgh
5 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Inverness West Rural Highland
2 Oldham 020 Oldham
3 Hillingdon 032 Hillingdon
4 South Bucks 006 South Bucks
5 Ythanside Aberdeenshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Rait

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Rait

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

Established Multi-Ethnic Communities

Nationally, the Rait surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established Multi-Ethnic Communities, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Rait household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Parents and young children in this Group are drawn from diverse ethnic backgrounds in broadly similar proportions. Employment is typically in elementary occupations, though workers in professional, intermediate or skilled trades occupations are also present. The residential landscape is dominated by terraced housing, although semi-detached houses and flats are also present. This Group is found in London and in many provincial towns and cities throughout the U.K.

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

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Rait is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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

These residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Rait 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

Rait 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 Rait 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
Asian - Indian

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

Meaning and origin of Rait

The surname Rait originated in Scotland, with its earliest known usage dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "raed," meaning "red," possibly referring to a person with reddish hair or complexion.

One of the earliest known references to the name can be found in the Ragman Rolls, a collection of homage rolls from the late 13th century. This document records the names of Scottish nobles who swore fealty to King Edward I of England, including several individuals with the surname Rait.

In the 15th century, the Rait family held lands in Angus, a historic county in eastern Scotland. The name is associated with the village of Rait, located near the town of Nairn, which may have served as the family's ancestral seat.

The Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landholdings in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086, does not contain any entries for the surname Rait. This suggests that the name originated and remained primarily concentrated in Scotland during the medieval period.

Notable individuals with the surname Rait throughout history include:

1. Sir John Rait (c. 1435-1505), a Scottish landowner and member of the Scottish Parliament. 2. Robert Rait (1628-1681), a Scottish minister and theologian who served as Principal of the University of Edinburgh. 3. Sir William Rait (1760-1842), a Scottish soldier who served in the British Army during the Napoleonic Wars. 4. Robert Sangster Rait (1834-1905), a Scottish philosopher and author who wrote extensively on moral philosophy. 5. Sir Robert Rait (1855-1936), a Scottish historian and academic who served as Principal of the University of Glasgow.

While the Rait surname has its roots in Scotland, it has since spread to other parts of the world through emigration and diaspora. However, its origins can be traced back to the medieval period in Scotland, where it was closely associated with specific regions and places.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Rait families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Rait 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. Lanarkshire leads with 52 Raits recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.14x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 52 7.14x
Aberdeenshire 44 21.08x
Angus 35 16.77x
Middlesex 22 0.98x
Surrey 20 1.82x
Midlothian 18 5.96x
Fife 14 10.50x
Perthshire 11 10.88x
Kent 6 0.78x
Worcestershire 2 0.68x
Cheshire 1 0.20x
East Lothian 1 3.35x
Hampshire 1 0.22x
Kincardineshire 1 3.64x
Morayshire 1 2.86x
Royal Navy 1 3.72x
Staffordshire 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. Govan in Lanarkshire leads with 35 Raits recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.42x.

Place Total Index
Govan 35 19.42x
Aberdeen Old Machar 10 22.95x
Cruden 9 334.57x
Hampstead London 9 25.65x
Penge 9 62.54x
Forfar 8 70.80x
Islington London 8 3.66x
Leuchars 7 414.20x
Montrose 7 55.34x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 6 15.37x
Camberwell 6 4.17x
Deptford St Paul 6 10.12x
Inverkeillor 6 465.12x
Maryhill 6 42.05x
Moulin 6 375.00x
St Andrews 6 98.85x
Perth East Church 5 52.47x
St Vigeans 5 44.37x
Dun 4 952.38x
Edinburgh Buccleuch 4 56.02x
Edinburgh St Stephens 4 67.34x
Keig 4 666.67x
Logie Buchan 4 666.67x
Rutherglen 4 37.42x
South Leith 4 11.78x
Barony 3 1.63x
Clerkenwell London 3 5.64x
Edinburgh Canongate 3 39.06x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 3 2.47x
Ellon 3 104.53x
Kintore 3 165.75x
Lambeth 3 1.53x
Bothwell 2 10.12x
Dundee 2 2.57x
Glasgow 2 1.55x
Monymusk 2 224.72x
St Marylebone London 2 1.66x
Streatham 2 11.96x
Yardley 2 26.56x
Aberlady 1 129.87x
Burton Upon Trent 1 5.62x
Christchurch 1 9.99x
Dyce 1 111.11x
Elgin 1 14.68x
Ferry Port On Craig 1 45.66x
Higher Bebington 1 31.45x
Liff Benvie 1 3.16x
Monifieth 1 13.57x
Newhills 1 23.42x
Panbride 1 91.74x
Rayne 1 101.01x
Royal Navy 1 4.36x
St Cyrus 1 86.96x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 3
Ann 2
Annie 2
Helen 2
Margaret 2
Minnie 2
Alice 1
Anne 1
Bertha 1
Christina 1
E.T. 1
Eliza 1
Elizabeth 1
Emma 1
Ester 1
Esther 1
Georgina 1
Lettes 1
M. 1
M.E. 1
M.G. 1
Marion 1
Rosetta 1
Sarah 1
Sophia 1
Susan 1
Winifred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
David 2
George 2
James 2
Walter 2
Donald 1
Edwd. 1
F.C. 1
H.J. 1
Harry 1
Henry 1
Jas.M. 1
Legan 1
T. 1
W.R. 1
William 1
Wm.Henry 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 Rait households.

FAQ

Rait surname: questions and answers

How common was the Rait surname in 1881?

In 1881, 232 people were recorded with the Rait surname. That placed it at #11,677 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Rait surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 240 in 2016. That gives Rait a modern rank of #17,278.

What does the Rait surname mean?

A Scottish surname possibly derived from a place name meaning "promontory, ridge" or "cliff".

What does the Rait map show?

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