UK surname
An uncommon Scottish surname derived from a word meaning "marsh" or "fen".
In the 1881 census there were 160 people recorded with the Rannie surname, ranking it #14,860 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 52, ranked #34,780, down from #14,860 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Edinburgh, Portsmouth, Portsea and Fyvie. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Rannie is 330 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 67.5%.
1881 census count
160
Ranked #14,860
Modern count
52
2016, ranked #34,780
Peak year
1851
330 bearers
Map years
5
1851 to 1901
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Rannie surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Rannie surname density by area, 1881 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 330 | #7,062 |
| 1861 | historical | 290 | #8,686 |
| 1881 | historical | 160 | #14,860 |
| 1891 | historical | 150 | #18,328 |
| 1901 | historical | 105 | #22,179 |
| 1911 | historical | 31 | #29,952 |
| 1997 | modern | 54 | #32,210 |
| 1998 | modern | 61 | #31,841 |
| 1999 | modern | 66 | #31,509 |
| 2000 | modern | 63 | #31,829 |
| 2001 | modern | 65 | #31,501 |
| 2002 | modern | 66 | #31,821 |
| 2003 | modern | 57 | #32,704 |
| 2004 | modern | 55 | #33,154 |
| 2005 | modern | 53 | #33,528 |
| 2006 | modern | 53 | #33,854 |
| 2007 | modern | 55 | #33,965 |
| 2008 | modern | 61 | #33,655 |
| 2009 | modern | 59 | #34,072 |
| 2010 | modern | 62 | #34,069 |
| 2011 | modern | 56 | #34,450 |
| 2012 | modern | 55 | #34,565 |
| 2013 | modern | 58 | #34,488 |
| 2014 | modern | 57 | #34,556 |
| 2015 | modern | 53 | #34,726 |
| 2016 | modern | 52 | #34,780 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Edinburgh, Portsmouth, Portsea, Fyvie, Monquitter and Longside. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Edinburgh | Edinburgh |
| 2 | Portsmouth, Portsea | Hampshire |
| 3 | Fyvie | Aberdeen |
| 4 | Monquitter | Aberdeen |
| 5 | Longside | Aberdeen |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Rannie surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Rannie, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Rannie surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Rannie household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Rannie is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Rannie is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Rannie, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname RANNIE is of Scottish origin and is derived from the old Scots word "ranny" which means a shrew or a peevish, ill-natured woman. It is believed to have originated as a nickname for someone with a quarrelsome or contentious nature.
The earliest known written record of the name dates back to the late 16th century in the parish records of Aberdeenshire, Scotland. One of the earliest recorded examples is that of James Rannie, who was born in the village of Inverurie in 1592.
During the 17th and 18th centuries, the name was most prevalent in the northeastern regions of Scotland, particularly in the counties of Aberdeenshire, Banffshire, and Kincardineshire. In some instances, the name was also spelled as Ranney, Rainey, or Rainnie.
One notable figure with the surname RANNIE was John Rannie, a Scottish civil engineer who lived from 1784 to 1856. He was best known for his work on the East and West India Docks in London, as well as the Montrose Suspension Bridge in Scotland.
Another prominent individual was Alexander Rannie, a Scottish minister and author born in 1784. He served as the minister of the parish of Muthill in Perthshire and wrote several books on religious and philosophical topics.
In the 19th century, the name RANNIE appeared in several historical records and manuscripts, including the Old Parochial Registers of Scotland. One such record mentions a James Rannie, born in 1812 in the parish of Fintray, Aberdeenshire.
A notable figure from this era was John Rannie, a Scottish-born Canadian politician who lived from 1849 to 1927. He served as a member of the House of Commons of Canada, representing the riding of Essex North.
Another individual of note was William Rannie, a Scottish-born Australian pastoralist and explorer who lived from 1825 to 1876. He was instrumental in the exploration and settlement of parts of Queensland and New South Wales.
While the surname RANNIE is still found primarily in Scotland and among Scottish descendants, it has also spread to other parts of the world through migration and immigration over the centuries.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Rannie surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Aberdeenshire leads with 58 Rannies recorded in 1881 and an index of 40.38x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Aberdeenshire | 58 | 40.38x |
| Lanarkshire | 16 | 3.19x |
| Banffshire | 15 | 46.63x |
| Middlesex | 13 | 0.84x |
| Hampshire | 10 | 3.15x |
| Ayrshire | 7 | 6.03x |
| Wigtownshire | 7 | 34.00x |
| Kincardineshire | 6 | 31.76x |
| Midlothian | 5 | 2.41x |
| Orkney | 5 | 29.31x |
| Renfrewshire | 5 | 4.16x |
| Kent | 4 | 0.76x |
| Morayshire | 3 | 12.45x |
| Roxburghshire | 3 | 10.68x |
| Berwickshire | 2 | 10.65x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Monquhitter in Aberdeenshire leads with 13 Rannies recorded in 1881 and an index of 872.48x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Monquhitter | 13 | 872.48x |
| Fyvie | 9 | 384.62x |
| Portsea | 9 | 14.45x |
| St Giles In Fields | 9 | 168.22x |
| Forgue | 8 | 620.16x |
| Govan | 8 | 6.45x |
| Turriff | 8 | 344.83x |
| Glasgow | 7 | 7.86x |
| Nigg | 6 | 384.62x |
| Old Cumnock | 6 | 232.56x |
| St Fergus | 6 | 740.74x |
| Shapinshay | 5 | 961.54x |
| Auchterless | 4 | 350.88x |
| Banff | 4 | 143.37x |
| Clerkenwell London | 4 | 10.93x |
| Cullen | 4 | 336.13x |
| Edinburgh Canongate | 4 | 75.61x |
| Glenbucket | 4 | 1481.48x |
| Oyne | 4 | 784.31x |
| Ramsgate | 4 | 46.30x |
| West Greenock | 4 | 18.54x |
| Fraserburgh | 3 | 74.26x |
| Kelso | 3 | 107.14x |
| Knockando | 3 | 306.12x |
| Leswalt | 3 | 212.77x |
| Sorbie | 3 | 333.33x |
| Tarves | 2 | 147.06x |
| Aberdeen Old Machar | 1 | 3.33x |
| Aberdour | 1 | 88.50x |
| Binsted | 1 | 82.64x |
| Chirnside | 1 | 125.00x |
| Coldingham | 1 | 59.17x |
| Echt | 1 | 144.93x |
| Edinburgh St Stephens | 1 | 24.45x |
| Inch | 1 | 49.75x |
| Kilbarchan | 1 | 27.40x |
| Marnoch | 1 | 57.80x |
| Old Monkland | 1 | 5.02x |
| Stevenston | 1 | 33.00x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Rannie surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Rannie surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Rannie households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 12 |
| Machinist | 2 |
| Capt Retired List Bengal Army | 1 |
| Engine Fitter Dockyd | 1 |
| Morning Governess (Teacher) | 1 |
| Porter | 1 |
| Sailor | 1 |
| Surgical Instr Mkr | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 160 people were recorded with the Rannie surname. That placed it at #14,860 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 52 in 2016. That gives Rannie a modern rank of #34,780.
An uncommon Scottish surname derived from a word meaning "marsh" or "fen".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Rannie bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.