NameCensus.

UK surname

Raper

An English occupational surname referring to a rope-maker or someone who harvests turnips and other vegetables.

In the 1881 census there were 1,246 people recorded with the Raper surname, ranking it #3,263 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,530, ranked #4,047, down from #3,263 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, London parishes and Bradford. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Darlington, East Riding of Yorkshire and County Durham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Raper is 1,799 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 22.8%.

1881 census count

1,246

Ranked #3,263

Modern count

1,530

2016, ranked #4,047

Peak year

1911

1,799 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Raper had 1,246 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,263 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,530 in 2016, ranked #4,047.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,799 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Raper surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Raper surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Raper 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 912 #3,028
1861 historical 1,100 #2,552
1881 historical 1,246 #3,263
1891 historical 1,415 #3,081
1901 historical 1,661 #3,100
1911 historical 1,799 #2,725
1997 modern 1,707 #3,491
1998 modern 1,737 #3,571
1999 modern 1,750 #3,569
2000 modern 1,755 #3,543
2001 modern 1,711 #3,555
2002 modern 1,732 #3,599
2003 modern 1,671 #3,635
2004 modern 1,651 #3,672
2005 modern 1,622 #3,689
2006 modern 1,606 #3,722
2007 modern 1,615 #3,739
2008 modern 1,632 #3,734
2009 modern 1,676 #3,728
2010 modern 1,691 #3,779
2011 modern 1,667 #3,778
2012 modern 1,578 #3,900
2013 modern 1,593 #3,932
2014 modern 1,609 #3,921
2015 modern 1,556 #3,997
2016 modern 1,530 #4,047

Geography

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Where Rapers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, London parishes, Bradford, Scarborough and Sculcoates. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Darlington, East Riding of Yorkshire, County Durham, Hartlepool and Doncaster. 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 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
2 London parishes London 3
3 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Scarborough Yorkshire, North Riding
5 Sculcoates Yorkshire, East Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Darlington 006 Darlington
2 East Riding of Yorkshire 018 East Riding of Yorkshire
3 County Durham 064 County Durham
4 Hartlepool 002 Hartlepool
5 Doncaster 003 Doncaster

Forenames

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First names often paired with Raper

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Raper

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Raper 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

Raper is most concentrated in decile 6 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Raper falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Raper is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Raper

The surname Raper has its origins in the Middle Ages, originating from northern England and Scotland. It is derived from the Old English word 'rap', meaning a rope or cord. This suggests that the name may have originally referred to a rope maker or seller.

One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Raper can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which lists a landowner named William Raper in Yorkshire. The name also appears in various medieval records and tax rolls from the 13th and 14th centuries in northern counties like Northumberland, Durham, and Lancashire.

In some instances, the surname Raper may have evolved from place names like Raper, a small village in the East Riding of Yorkshire, or Rapers Hill in Northumberland. The name could also be related to the Old Norse word 'hraap', meaning a heap or pile, potentially indicating an occupation or descriptor related to heaping or piling.

Notable individuals with the surname Raper throughout history include John Raper (1568-1616), an English politician who served as Mayor of Newcastle upon Tyne. Another prominent figure was Abraham Raper (1711-1733), a British naval officer and explorer who surveyed parts of the Pacific Northwest coast of North America.

In the literary world, there was Martha Raper (1736-1811), an English poet and playwright known for her works such as "The Innocents" and "The Gamester". A more recent figure was Sir Christopher Raper (1869-1947), a British civil servant who served as the Governor of the Bahamas and the Governor of North Borneo.

One of the earliest recorded bearers of the name in Scotland was John Raper, who was born in Edinburgh in the late 16th century and served as a merchant and burgess of the city.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Raper families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Raper 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 812 Rapers recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.69x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 812 6.69x
Durham 121 3.32x
Middlesex 100 0.82x
Surrey 36 0.60x
Lancashire 34 0.23x
Northumberland 21 1.15x
Lincolnshire 16 0.82x
Norfolk 16 0.85x
Sussex 15 0.73x
Essex 13 0.54x
Channel Islands 10 2.75x
Warwickshire 9 0.29x
Somerset 7 0.35x
Cumberland 6 0.57x
Kent 6 0.14x
Cheshire 5 0.18x
Dorset 4 0.50x
Shropshire 4 0.38x
Banffshire 3 1.18x
Glamorgan 3 0.14x
Hampshire 3 0.12x
Herefordshire 3 0.60x
Lanarkshire 3 0.08x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.09x
Devon 1 0.04x
Leicestershire 1 0.07x
Midlothian 1 0.06x
Morayshire 1 0.53x
Roxburghshire 1 0.45x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Scarborough in Yorkshire leads with 61 Rapers recorded in 1881 and an index of 55.29x.

Place Total Index
Scarborough 61 55.29x
Leeds 42 6.13x
Bowling 31 25.78x
Armley 30 56.02x
Thorne 25 166.00x
Hunslet 23 12.15x
Tong 23 98.08x
Hackney London 21 3.06x
Manningham 20 13.37x
Headingley Cum Burley 19 24.31x
Camberwell 18 2.30x
Horton In Bradford 16 8.44x
Northallerton 15 96.77x
Shoreditch London 15 2.82x
East Witton Within 14 1284.40x
Holme On Spalding Moor 14 175.88x
Sculcoates 14 7.27x
St Pancras London 14 1.42x
Bethnal Green London 13 2.44x
Cawood 13 279.57x
Gateshead 13 4.76x
Pocklington 13 113.44x
Esh 12 45.23x
Kexby 12 2105.26x
Thirsk 11 78.52x
Wortley In Bramley 11 11.44x
Yarm 11 176.57x
Barnard Castle 10 55.49x
Darlington 10 7.11x
Newington 10 2.21x
Ripon 10 35.50x
Stockton On Tees 10 5.69x
York St Mary 10 19.89x
Balby Cum Hexthorpe 9 62.11x
Brandon Byshottles 9 19.71x
Coxlodge 9 64.94x
Flaxton 9 584.42x
Great Wakering 9 166.36x
Holy Trinity 9 3.08x
St Helier 9 7.61x
Sutton Stoneferry 9 25.91x
Woodland 9 371.90x
Battle 8 57.39x
Harlington 8 123.84x
Holbeck 8 9.95x
Hunmanby 8 141.09x
Knaresborough 8 41.95x
Southcoates 8 11.87x
Wakefield 8 8.58x
Bedminster 7 3.78x
Bishop Auckland 7 14.31x
Blyton 7 236.49x
Bradford 7 2.38x
Escrick 7 283.40x
Goole 7 34.41x
Kings Lynn St Margaret 7 12.38x
Pannal 7 60.09x
Sheffield 7 1.81x
Twickenham 7 13.33x
Wavertree 7 15.04x
Alverthorpe Cum Thornes 6 13.61x
Charlton Next Woolwich 6 13.76x
Denton 6 18.62x
Kirby Misperton 6 526.32x
Lambeth 6 0.56x
Linthwaite 6 23.51x
Liverpool 6 0.68x
Lockngtn In Kilnwck 6 277.78x
Pittington 6 58.54x
Romanby 6 342.86x
Scammonden 6 235.29x
Sowerby In Thirsk 6 82.08x
Towton 6 1500.00x
Tunstall In Richmond 6 588.24x
Wothersome 6 3529.41x
York St Margaret 6 79.68x
York St Maurice 6 26.25x
Aston 5 0.59x
Elswick 5 3.44x
York All Sts Peasholme 5 253.81x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 94
William 93
Thomas 51
George 41
James 39
Joseph 24
Charles 22
Robert 19
Henry 18
Edward 12
Arthur 10
Alfred 9
Frank 9
Fred 9
Richard 9
Walter 9
Frederick 8
Harry 8
Albert 7
Christopher 7
Samuel 7
Francis 6
Matthew 6
Wm. 5
Edwin 4
Herbert 4
Benjamin 3
Ernest 3
Fredk. 3
Mark 3
Martin 3
Sidney 3
Tom 3
Ben 2
Chas. 2
David 2
Fredrick 2
Harold 2
Isaac 2
J. 2
Jno. 2
Riddle 2
Andrew 1
Bryan 1
Cecil 1
Enoch 1
Ephraim 1
F. 1
Jas.Booth 1
Wm.Hy. 1

FAQ

Raper surname: questions and answers

How common was the Raper surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,246 people were recorded with the Raper surname. That placed it at #3,263 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Raper surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,530 in 2016. That gives Raper a modern rank of #4,047.

What does the Raper surname mean?

An English occupational surname referring to a rope-maker or someone who harvests turnips and other vegetables.

What does the Raper map show?

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