NameCensus.

UK surname

Rann

A surname derived from a place name, likely referring to someone from a location with the element "rann" or "rawn".

In the 1881 census there were 324 people recorded with the Rann surname, ranking it #9,214 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 599, ranked #8,731, up from #9,214 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Waltham Abbey or Holy Cross, Dudley and Newchurch. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Isle of Wight, Dudley and North Hertfordshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Rann is 623 in 2011. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 84.9%.

1881 census count

324

Ranked #9,214

Modern count

599

2016, ranked #8,731

Peak year

2011

623 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Rann had 324 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,214 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 599 in 2016, ranked #8,731.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 562 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Rann surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Rann surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Rann 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 234 #9,241
1861 historical 229 #10,660
1881 historical 324 #9,214
1891 historical 373 #9,367
1901 historical 460 #8,564
1911 historical 562 #7,170
1997 modern 604 #8,102
1998 modern 619 #8,209
1999 modern 603 #8,419
2000 modern 610 #8,339
2001 modern 595 #8,348
2002 modern 619 #8,262
2003 modern 602 #8,313
2004 modern 586 #8,487
2005 modern 566 #8,621
2006 modern 553 #8,775
2007 modern 566 #8,713
2008 modern 566 #8,772
2009 modern 582 #8,784
2010 modern 612 #8,654
2011 modern 623 #8,440
2012 modern 584 #8,773
2013 modern 600 #8,752
2014 modern 593 #8,884
2015 modern 598 #8,763
2016 modern 599 #8,731

Geography

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Where Ranns are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Waltham Abbey or Holy Cross, Dudley, Newchurch 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 Isle of Wight, Dudley and North Hertfordshire. 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 Waltham Abbey or Holy Cross Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
2 Dudley Staffordshire
3 Newchurch Hampshire
4 London parishes London 3
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Isle of Wight 017 Isle of Wight
2 Isle of Wight 018 Isle of Wight
3 Isle of Wight 003 Isle of Wight
4 Dudley 006 Dudley
5 North Hertfordshire 014 North Hertfordshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Rann

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Rann

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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Rann surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Rann household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Rann is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, 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

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

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

Rann 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

Rann falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Rann

The surname Rann is of English origin, deriving from the Old English word "rān" which means "open expanse of land; meadow". The name was particularly prevalent in the northern counties of England, with records indicating its presence in Yorkshire, Lancashire, and Northumberland as early as the 12th century.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Rann surname can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1166, where a "Radulfus de Rann" is mentioned. This suggests that the name may have originated as a locational surname, referring to someone who resided near a meadow or open field.

In the Domesday Book of 1086, there are several references to places with similar names, such as "Rane" in Lincolnshire and "Reneham" in Somerset, which could have contributed to the development of the surname over time.

Historically, the Rann surname has been associated with notable individuals, including William Rann (c. 1530-1597), an English clergyman and scholar who served as the Dean of Rochester Cathedral. Another prominent figure was Sir John Rann (1778-1857), an English lawyer and legal writer who served as the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Madras.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Rann surname was also found in various parish records and court documents across England. For example, a John Rann was mentioned in the parish registers of St. Bride's Church in London in 1623, while a Thomas Rann appeared in the court rolls of Cheshire in 1642.

Other notable individuals with the Rann surname include:

1. Gabriel Rann (1701-1776), an English clergyman and scholar who served as the Vicar of St. Mary's Church in Spital Square, London. 2. John Rann (1764-1827), an English actor and playwright who performed at the Covent Garden Theatre in London. 3. Mary Rann (1792-1856), an English author and poet known for her works on religious subjects. 4. Robert Rann (1822-1898), an English cricketer who played first-class cricket for Middlesex and Sussex. 5. William Rann (1670-1748), an English merchant and landowner who served as the High Sheriff of Gloucestershire in 1723.

The Rann surname has also been found in various place names across England, such as Rann Barn in Lincolnshire and Rann Meadow in Derbyshire, further reflecting its connection to open land and meadows.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Rann families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Rann 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. Hampshire leads with 98 Ranns recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.32x.

County Total Index
Hampshire 98 15.32x
Middlesex 37 1.19x
Sussex 33 6.27x
Essex 28 4.54x
Worcestershire 25 6.13x
Warwickshire 24 3.05x
Kent 19 1.78x
Surrey 14 0.92x
Yorkshire 10 0.32x
Derbyshire 6 1.23x
Norfolk 6 1.25x
Durham 5 0.54x
Hertfordshire 5 2.32x
Staffordshire 5 0.47x
Oxfordshire 2 1.04x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.53x
Royal Navy 1 2.69x
Wiltshire 1 0.36x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Carisbrooke in Hampshire leads with 21 Ranns recorded in 1881 and an index of 236.49x.

Place Total Index
Carisbrooke 21 236.49x
Birmingham 15 5.72x
Islington London 14 4.63x
Ryde 13 94.61x
Lewisham 11 19.37x
Portsea 11 8.77x
Aston 9 4.15x
Messing 9 1168.83x
Barcombe 8 634.92x
Brighton 8 7.53x
Mathon 8 666.67x
Reigate Foreign 8 48.57x
Deptford St Paul 7 8.52x
Dudley 7 14.12x
Hackney London 7 4.00x
Loughton 7 229.51x
Southampton St Mary 7 17.40x
Calbourne 6 869.57x
Falmer 6 967.74x
Nether Hallam 6 14.34x
St Pancras London 6 2.39x
Bromley London 5 7.28x
Dibden 5 925.93x
Fawley 5 246.31x
Great Dunham 5 1190.48x
Horley 5 196.08x
Ilkestonderbypart 5 349.65x
Kings Norton 5 13.68x
New Shoreham 5 158.73x
South Stoneham 5 36.02x
West Ham 5 3.68x
Arreton 4 195.12x
Beaulieu 4 404.04x
Shalfleet 4 325.20x
Sharlston 4 197.04x
St Nicholas 4 1052.63x
Waltham Holy Cross 4 69.44x
Binsted 3 122.95x
Cheshunt 3 39.89x
Leigh 3 60.61x
Slaugham 3 176.47x
Westoe 3 5.70x
Wolverhampton 3 3.70x
Broxbourne 2 46.95x
Framfield 2 122.70x
Godshill 2 135.14x
Gt Rollright 2 476.19x
Newland 2 833.33x
Poplar London 2 3.40x
Walthamstow 2 9.02x
Brading 1 11.76x
Chartham 1 37.74x
Downton 1 27.70x
Eling 1 15.43x
Elvet 1 14.93x
Fairfield 1 30.58x
Freshwater 1 34.25x
Hampstead London 1 2.06x
Handsworth 1 3.85x
Harborne 1 2.96x
Harton 1 27.25x
Heigham 1 3.88x
Kensington London 1 0.58x
Lambeth 1 0.37x
Nazeing 1 126.58x
Quainton 1 107.53x
Royal Navy 1 3.14x
St Faith Winchester 1 33.56x
Steyning 1 56.18x
Westminster St John 1 2.63x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 12
Elizabeth 11
Alice 9
Emma 9
Fanny 9
Jane 8
Sarah 8
Ellen 6
Emily 6
Annie 5
Charlotte 5
Harriett 5
Ann 4
Caroline 3
Catherine 3
Edith 3
Eliza 3
Esther 3
Florence 3
Frances 3
Harriet 3
Jessie 3
Louisa 3
Hannah 2
Lucy 2
Maria 2
Martha 2
Cathrine 1
Eda 1
Eleanor 1
Elenor 1
Elisa 1
Florana 1
Francis 1
Gertrude 1
Hariett 1
Hester 1
Jennie 1
Julia 1
Lilian 1
Louise 1
Lydia 1
Maddaline 1
Marianne 1
Maryanne 1
Mrs 1
Naomi 1
Nellie 1
Rebecca 1
Sophia 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 15
George 13
James 13
Thomas 13
Charles 12
John 7
Frederick 6
Henry 6
Walter 6
Edward 5
Frank 5
Albert 4
Alfred 4
Arthur 4
Harry 4
Joseph 4
Robert 4
Benjamin 2
Ernest 2
Herbert 2
Maurice 2
Richard 2
Wm. 2
Alice 1
Archibald 1
Cheslett 1
Cornelius 1
Daniel 1
David 1
Earnest 1
Edwin 1
Francis 1
Fred.M. 1
Fredk. 1
Herman 1
Leonard 1
Reuben 1
Rowley 1
Samuel 1
Thos. 1

FAQ

Rann surname: questions and answers

How common was the Rann surname in 1881?

In 1881, 324 people were recorded with the Rann surname. That placed it at #9,214 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Rann surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 599 in 2016. That gives Rann a modern rank of #8,731.

What does the Rann surname mean?

A surname derived from a place name, likely referring to someone from a location with the element "rann" or "rawn".

What does the Rann map show?

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