UK surname
A French occupational surname referring to someone who cultivated grape vines.
In the 1881 census there were 83 people recorded with the Rape surname, ranking it #21,808 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 18, ranked #36,832, down from #21,808 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Haddington, Bingley and Bolton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Rape is 100 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 78.3%.
1881 census count
83
Ranked #21,808
Modern count
18
2016, ranked #36,832
Peak year
1861
100 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Rape surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Rape surname density by area, 1861 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 | 30 | #27,891 |
| 1861 | historical | 100 | #21,103 |
| 1881 | historical | 83 | #21,808 |
| 1891 | historical | 64 | #28,781 |
| 1901 | historical | 57 | #27,846 |
| 1911 | historical | 31 | #29,952 |
| 1997 | modern | 19 | #35,928 |
| 1998 | modern | 16 | #36,361 |
| 1999 | modern | 16 | #36,371 |
| 2000 | modern | 15 | #36,425 |
| 2001 | modern | 15 | #36,265 |
| 2002 | modern | 15 | #36,381 |
| 2003 | modern | 13 | #36,620 |
| 2004 | modern | 13 | #36,742 |
| 2005 | modern | 12 | #36,936 |
| 2006 | modern | 13 | #36,902 |
| 2007 | modern | 13 | #36,990 |
| 2008 | modern | 15 | #36,843 |
| 2009 | modern | 15 | #36,942 |
| 2010 | modern | 16 | #36,937 |
| 2011 | modern | 17 | #36,839 |
| 2012 | modern | 17 | #36,811 |
| 2013 | modern | 18 | #36,787 |
| 2014 | modern | 18 | #36,811 |
| 2015 | modern | 18 | #36,809 |
| 2016 | modern | 18 | #36,832 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Haddington, Bingley, Bolton, Liverpool and Keighley. 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 | Haddington | Haddington |
| 2 | Bingley | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 3 | Bolton | Cumberland |
| 4 | Liverpool | Lancashire |
| 5 | Keighley | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Rape 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 Rape, 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 Rape surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Rape 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, Rape 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 Rape is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Rape, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname RAPE has its origins in England and dates back to the medieval period. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word 'rap', which referred to a rope or cord. This suggests that the name may have initially been an occupational surname for someone who worked with ropes, such as a rope-maker or sailor.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name RAPE can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of land ownership and taxation in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The entry mentions a landowner named Radulfus Rape in Gloucestershire.
In the 13th century, there are records of a family named Rape residing in the village of Rape, which was located near the town of Andover in Hampshire. It is possible that the family took their surname from this place name, or that the place name itself was derived from their surname.
One notable individual with the surname RAPE was Sir John Rape, who lived in the 14th century and served as a member of the English parliament representing Somerset. Another individual of note was Thomas Rape, a merchant and alderman from London who lived in the late 15th century.
During the 16th century, the name RAPE appears in various spellings, including Rapp, Roppe, and Roper, which may have been influenced by the similar-sounding occupation of rope-maker. One example is John Roper, who was a prominent English lawyer and Member of Parliament during the reign of Henry VIII.
In the 17th century, the RAPE surname can be found in various parts of England, with records showing individuals bearing this name in counties such as Gloucestershire, Somerset, and Hampshire. One individual of note was William Rape, a wealthy landowner and justice of the peace in Gloucestershire who was born in 1620.
Throughout the centuries, the RAPE surname has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including farmers, merchants, and professionals. While the name may have originated from a humble occupation, it has become a part of the rich tapestry of English surnames.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Rape 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. Yorkshire leads with 20 Rapes recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.80x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Yorkshire | 20 | 2.80x |
| Lancashire | 19 | 2.22x |
| East Lothian | 10 | 104.60x |
| Stirlingshire | 6 | 22.55x |
| Cumberland | 5 | 8.05x |
| Suffolk | 5 | 5.69x |
| Devon | 4 | 2.66x |
| Kirkcudbrightshire | 2 | 19.14x |
| Glamorgan | 1 | 0.80x |
| Middlesex | 1 | 0.14x |
| Surrey | 1 | 0.28x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Haddington in East Lothian leads with 10 Rapes recorded in 1881 and an index of 709.22x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Haddington | 10 | 709.22x |
| Keighley | 9 | 118.11x |
| Bingley | 7 | 153.85x |
| Birkdale | 6 | 276.50x |
| Blackburn | 6 | 26.34x |
| Falkirk | 6 | 96.31x |
| Great Waldingfield | 5 | 3571.43x |
| Hapton | 5 | 925.93x |
| Low Bolton | 4 | 2500.00x |
| Stoke Damerel | 4 | 38.06x |
| Scarborough | 2 | 30.77x |
| Troqueer | 2 | 145.99x |
| Bermondsey | 1 | 4.66x |
| Cardiff St Mary | 1 | 14.45x |
| Clitheroe | 1 | 39.68x |
| Finchley | 1 | 36.10x |
| Liverpool | 1 | 1.92x |
| Moresby | 1 | 416.67x |
| Otley | 1 | 57.47x |
| York Holy Trinity | 1 | 161.29x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Rape 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 Rape 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 Rape households.
FAQ
In 1881, 83 people were recorded with the Rape surname. That placed it at #21,808 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 18 in 2016. That gives Rape a modern rank of #36,832.
A French occupational surname referring to someone who cultivated grape vines.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Rape 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.