NameCensus.

UK surname

Raphael

A surname of Hebrew origin meaning "God has healed," derived from the Biblical archangel Raphael.

In the 1881 census there were 207 people recorded with the Raphael surname, ranking it #12,555 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 694, ranked #7,758, up from #12,555 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St Botolph Aldgate, Christ Church Spitalfields and St Mary Whitechapel. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Carlisle and Watford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Raphael is 710 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 235.3%.

1881 census count

207

Ranked #12,555

Modern count

694

2016, ranked #7,758

Peak year

2010

710 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Raphael had 207 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,555 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 694 in 2016, ranked #7,758.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 410 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Raphael surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Raphael surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Raphael 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 114 #15,716
1861 historical 140 #16,169
1881 historical 207 #12,555
1891 historical 293 #11,319
1901 historical 410 #9,322
1911 historical 385 #9,551
1997 modern 600 #8,140
1998 modern 613 #8,263
1999 modern 634 #8,118
2000 modern 657 #7,870
2001 modern 643 #7,864
2002 modern 673 #7,753
2003 modern 667 #7,680
2004 modern 654 #7,796
2005 modern 649 #7,781
2006 modern 662 #7,707
2007 modern 667 #7,718
2008 modern 681 #7,644
2009 modern 685 #7,771
2010 modern 710 #7,700
2011 modern 687 #7,803
2012 modern 675 #7,838
2013 modern 686 #7,869
2014 modern 693 #7,837
2015 modern 693 #7,783
2016 modern 694 #7,758

Geography

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Where Raphaels are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St Botolph Aldgate, Christ Church Spitalfields, St Mary Whitechapel, Willesden 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 Carlisle and Watford. 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 St Botolph Aldgate London (Central Districts)
2 Christ Church Spitalfields London (East Districts)
3 St Mary Whitechapel London (East Districts)
4 Willesden Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
5 London parishes London 1

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Carlisle 013 Carlisle
2 Carlisle 011 Carlisle
3 Carlisle 005 Carlisle
4 Carlisle 006 Carlisle
5 Watford 012 Watford

Forenames

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First names often paired with Raphael

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Raphael

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Raphael surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Raphael household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Raphael is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Raphael 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

Raphael falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Raphael

The surname Raphael originates from the Hebrew language and is derived from the word "Refael", meaning "God has healed". It is believed to have been adopted as a surname by Jewish families in the Middle Ages, primarily in Germany and surrounding regions.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Raphael can be traced back to the 13th century in various German city records and tax rolls. In some cases, the name was spelled as "Raphel" or "Raffael", reflecting regional variations in pronunciation and spelling conventions of the time.

One notable historical figure bearing the surname Raphael was the Italian Renaissance artist and architect, Raffaello Santi (1483-1520), better known simply as Raphael. Although he did not use it as a surname, his given name contributed significantly to the popularity and recognition of the name across Europe.

Another prominent individual with the surname Raphael was Sir Herbert Raphael (1859-1924), a British lawyer and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Derbyshire from 1900 to 1918. He played a significant role in the campaign for Jewish emancipation in Britain.

In the realm of literature, the American author and playwright Frederic Raphael (born 1931) is known for his works such as "The Glittering Prizes" and "The Sokol Company". His surname has its roots in the Jewish tradition and reflects the widespread adoption of the name across various communities.

The surname Raphael also has a notable presence in the field of science. One example is the British mathematician and computer scientist Raphael M. Robinson (1911-1995), who made significant contributions to mathematical logic and decision problems.

Lastly, the Austrian-born American conductor and violinist Raphael Bronstein (1908-1990), who performed under the stage name Raphael Bronstein, is another notable figure associated with the surname Raphael. His name reflects the Jewish heritage of the name and its enduring presence across various cultures and professions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Raphael families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Raphael 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. Middlesex leads with 114 Raphaels recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.65x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 114 5.65x
Dumfriesshire 14 31.38x
Kirkcudbrightshire 13 44.47x
Lanarkshire 12 1.84x
Suffolk 10 4.07x
Lancashire 8 0.33x
Nottinghamshire 8 2.94x
Ayrshire 5 3.31x
Cornwall 5 2.19x
Warwickshire 5 0.98x
Devon 3 0.71x
Surrey 2 0.20x
Cheshire 1 0.22x
Cumberland 1 0.58x
Glamorgan 1 0.28x
Hampshire 1 0.24x
Kent 1 0.15x
Norfolk 1 0.32x
Staffordshire 1 0.15x
Sussex 1 0.29x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Mile End Old Town in Middlesex leads with 22 Raphaels recorded in 1881 and an index of 69.03x.

Place Total Index
Mile End Old Town 22 69.03x
Johnstone 10 1449.28x
Spitalfields London 10 65.83x
Westminster St 10 134.41x
St Marylebone London 9 8.35x
Nottingham St Mary 8 11.36x
Westminster St James 8 38.54x
Cheetham 7 39.17x
Ipswich St Clement 7 112.00x
Kirkcudbright 7 289.26x
St George In East 7 50.98x
St Giles In Fields 7 100.57x
Glasgow 6 5.17x
Hackney London 6 5.30x
Islington London 6 3.07x
Old Artillery Ground 6 344.83x
Paddington London 6 8.08x
St Botolph Aldgate 6 217.39x
Birmingham 5 2.95x
Govan 5 3.10x
Hampstead London 5 15.90x
Largs 5 140.45x
Madron Penzance 5 60.17x
Kelton 3 125.00x
Shire Hall Yard 3 1428.57x
Troqueer 3 78.33x
Dalton 2 500.00x
Plymouth St Andrew 2 6.18x
St James Dukes Place 2 465.12x
Barony 1 0.61x
Camberwell 1 0.78x
Cardiff St Mary 1 5.16x
Great Yarmouth 1 3.89x
Hale 1 64.94x
Hastings St Mary 1 11.81x
Marden 1 61.73x
Mile End New Town 1 36.23x
Moffat 1 49.02x
Newton 1 5.41x
Richmond 1 7.25x
Ryde 1 11.25x
St Andrew Holborn 1 14.60x
St Anne Soho London 1 8.67x
St Martin In Fields 1 8.27x
Stoke Upon Trent 1 1.38x
Tormoham 1 5.62x
Tundergarth 1 303.03x
Workington 1 10.05x

Top female names

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

FAQ

Raphael surname: questions and answers

How common was the Raphael surname in 1881?

In 1881, 207 people were recorded with the Raphael surname. That placed it at #12,555 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Raphael surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 694 in 2016. That gives Raphael a modern rank of #7,758.

What does the Raphael surname mean?

A surname of Hebrew origin meaning "God has healed," derived from the Biblical archangel Raphael.

What does the Raphael map show?

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