NameCensus.

UK surname

Rapp

A surname of German origin, derived from a shortened form of the given name Rupert or Ruprecht.

In the 1881 census there were 93 people recorded with the Rapp surname, ranking it #20,593 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 181, ranked #20,955, down from #20,593 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Marske, Norton and St James Westminster. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include County Durham, Westminster and Southend-on-Sea.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Rapp is 184 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 94.6%.

1881 census count

93

Ranked #20,593

Modern count

181

2016, ranked #20,955

Peak year

2002

184 bearers

Map years

6

1891 to 2016

Key insights

  • Rapp had 93 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #20,593 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 181 in 2016, ranked #20,955.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 131 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Rapp surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Rapp surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Rapp 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 42 #25,706
1861 historical 61 #26,170
1881 historical 93 #20,593
1891 historical 109 #22,701
1901 historical 117 #20,830
1911 historical 131 #19,404
1997 modern 165 #19,861
1998 modern 166 #20,329
1999 modern 174 #19,870
2000 modern 172 #19,974
2001 modern 169 #19,912
2002 modern 184 #19,275
2003 modern 181 #19,277
2004 modern 170 #20,146
2005 modern 178 #19,535
2006 modern 166 #20,534
2007 modern 160 #21,296
2008 modern 160 #21,521
2009 modern 169 #21,190
2010 modern 178 #20,965
2011 modern 180 #20,649
2012 modern 168 #21,516
2013 modern 174 #21,401
2014 modern 175 #21,477
2015 modern 179 #21,069
2016 modern 181 #20,955

Geography

Back to top

Where Rapps are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Marske, Norton, St James Westminster 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 County Durham, Westminster, Southend-on-Sea, Bolton and Peterborough. 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 Marske Yorkshire, North Riding
2 Norton Yorkshire, North Riding
3 St James Westminster London (West Districts)
4 London parishes London 3
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 County Durham 042 County Durham
2 Westminster 019 Westminster
3 Southend-on-Sea 015 Southend-on-Sea
4 Bolton 019 Bolton
5 Peterborough 009 Peterborough

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Rapp

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Rapp

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Rapp, 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 Rapp surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Rapp 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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Rapp is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Rapp 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

Rapp 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 Rapp 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 Rapp, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Rapp

The surname Rapp originated in Germany, with its earliest recorded use dating back to the 12th century. The name is derived from the Old German word "rap," which means "turnip" or "cabbage." It was likely an occupational name given to someone who grew or sold these vegetables.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Codex Traditionum Westfalicarum, a collection of medieval documents from Westphalia, Germany. In this text, a man named Hermannus Rapp is mentioned in an entry from the year 1181.

The Rapp surname also appears in various other medieval records, including the Liber Census Daniæ, a Danish census from the late 13th century, which lists several individuals with the name Rapp residing in various towns and villages.

In the 14th century, the name is found in the Stadtbuch von Augsburg, a record book from the city of Augsburg, Germany. One notable entry from 1357 refers to a man named Conradus Rapp, who was a merchant and landowner in the city.

As the name spread throughout Germany, it also took on various spelling variations, such as Rapp, Rappe, and Rappen. These variations were often influenced by local dialects and pronunciation differences.

Several notable individuals throughout history have borne the surname Rapp, including:

1. Jean Rapp (1772-1821), a French general who served under Napoleon Bonaparte and was known for his military campaigns in Germany and Italy.

2. Erasmus Rapp (1612-1686), a German Protestant theologian and author who wrote extensively on religious subjects.

3. Amon Henry Rapp (1803-1890), an American architect and pioneer who designed several notable buildings in Indiana and Ohio.

4. Tobias Rapp (c. 1570-1638), a German composer and organist who was active in the early Baroque period.

5. Georg Rapp (1757-1847), a German-American religious leader who founded the Harmony Society, a influential Christian separatist group that established several settlements in Pennsylvania and Indiana.

While the surname Rapp originated in Germany, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly through emigration. However, its roots can be traced back to the medieval period, when it was likely an occupational name associated with the cultivation or trade of turnips and cabbage.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Rapp families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Rapp 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 32 Rapps recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.53x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 32 3.53x
Yorkshire 22 2.45x
Essex 14 7.82x
Surrey 7 1.58x
Leicestershire 5 4.97x
Staffordshire 5 1.63x
Lancashire 3 0.28x
Derbyshire 2 1.41x
Kent 2 0.65x
Sussex 1 0.65x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hammersmith London in Middlesex leads with 9 Rapps recorded in 1881 and an index of 40.29x.

Place Total Index
Hammersmith London 9 40.29x
West Ham 9 22.77x
Marske In Guisbrough 7 437.50x
Norton In Malton 7 642.20x
St Marylebone London 6 12.39x
Dovercourt 5 793.65x
Harborne 5 50.97x
Leicester St Margaret 5 20.38x
Shoreditch London 5 12.72x
Farnham 3 87.21x
Lambeth 3 3.79x
Old Malton 3 526.32x
Charlton 2 97.09x
Derby St Peter 2 44.25x
Hampstead London 2 14.15x
Kensington London 2 3.97x
Mile End Old Town 2 13.97x
Poplar London 2 11.68x
Swinton Broughton In 2 1428.57x
Toxteth Park 2 5.49x
Acomb 1 212.77x
Farmanby 1 666.67x
Limehouse London 1 10.04x
Manchester 1 2.07x
Petworth 1 109.89x
Richmond 1 16.16x
St Botolph Aldgate 1 80.65x
St George Hanover 1 8.45x
St Pancras London 1 1.37x
Wigginton 1 769.23x

Top female names

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

Name Count
George 5
Charles 4
Louis 4
John 3
David 2
Thomas 2
William 2
Adolphus 1
Alfred 1
Arnold 1
August 1
Augustus 1
Bernard 1
Bertram 1
Carl 1
Eugene 1
Frank 1
Fred 1
Frederick 1
Henry 1
James 1
Julius 1
Nmcivars 1
Simpson 1
Talm 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Rapp surname: questions and answers

How common was the Rapp surname in 1881?

In 1881, 93 people were recorded with the Rapp surname. That placed it at #20,593 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Rapp surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 181 in 2016. That gives Rapp a modern rank of #20,955.

What does the Rapp surname mean?

A surname of German origin, derived from a shortened form of the given name Rupert or Ruprecht.

What does the Rapp map show?

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