UK surname
A surname of German origin perhaps referring to a meadow or grasslands.
In the 1881 census there were 15 people recorded with the Rase surname, ranking it #31,451 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 16, ranked #36,998, down from #31,451 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Norton, Gillingham and St Margaret Westminster. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Rase is 127 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 6.7%.
1881 census count
15
Ranked #31,451
Modern count
16
2016, ranked #36,998
Peak year
1891
127 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Rase surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Rase surname density by area, 1891 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 | 44 | #25,328 |
| 1861 | historical | 109 | #19,693 |
| 1881 | historical | 15 | #31,451 |
| 1891 | historical | 127 | #20,496 |
| 1901 | historical | 34 | #30,281 |
| 1911 | historical | 24 | #30,800 |
| 1997 | modern | 19 | #35,928 |
| 1998 | modern | 14 | #36,565 |
| 1999 | modern | 16 | #36,371 |
| 2000 | modern | 14 | #36,522 |
| 2001 | modern | 16 | #36,160 |
| 2002 | modern | 13 | #36,570 |
| 2003 | modern | 16 | #36,304 |
| 2004 | modern | 13 | #36,742 |
| 2005 | modern | 10 | #37,180 |
| 2006 | modern | 13 | #36,902 |
| 2007 | modern | 14 | #36,886 |
| 2008 | modern | 13 | #37,056 |
| 2009 | modern | 17 | #36,753 |
| 2010 | modern | 20 | #36,599 |
| 2011 | modern | 18 | #36,739 |
| 2012 | modern | 17 | #36,811 |
| 2013 | modern | 13 | #37,224 |
| 2014 | modern | 13 | #37,256 |
| 2015 | modern | 14 | #37,157 |
| 2016 | modern | 16 | #36,998 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Norton, Gillingham, St Margaret Westminster, Newcastle All Saints and St Dunstan Stepney. 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 | Norton | Yorkshire, North Riding |
| 2 | Gillingham | Dorset |
| 3 | St Margaret Westminster | London (West Districts) |
| 4 | Newcastle All Saints | Northumberland |
| 5 | St Dunstan Stepney | London (East Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Rase 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 Rase, 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 Rase surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Rase 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, Rase 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 Rase is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Rase, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname RASE has its origins in medieval England, tracing back to the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "ræs," which means a rush, a type of tall, grass-like plant commonly found in wetlands.
One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name RASE can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1166, where it was spelled "de Rase." This suggests that the name may have been initially associated with a particular place or location known for its abundance of rushes.
In the 13th century, the name RASE appeared in various forms in different parts of England. The Hundred Rolls of Bedfordshire from 1275 recorded a Nicholas de la Rese, while the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire in 1297 listed a William de Rasse.
As time passed, the spelling of the name evolved, with variations such as Rase, Rasse, Raze, and Raison appearing in various historical documents. One notable bearer of the name was Robert Rase, a merchant from London who was mentioned in the Patent Rolls of 1477 during the reign of King Edward IV.
In the 16th century, the RASE surname was particularly prevalent in the counties of Norfolk and Suffolk. John Rase, a yeoman farmer from Norfolk, was recorded in the Muster Rolls of 1522. Another individual named Thomas Rase was listed in the Lay Subsidy Rolls of Suffolk in 1568.
The 17th century saw the name RASE spread further across England, with records showing bearers in various counties. One notable figure was William Rase, a clergyman from Lincolnshire, who served as the rector of Bicker from 1635 until his death in 1651.
In the 18th century, the RASE surname continued to be found in various parts of England, with some bearers achieving notable positions. For example, John Rase (1723-1804) was a prominent lawyer and Member of Parliament who represented Tregony in Cornwall.
Throughout its history, the surname RASE has been associated with numerous locations and place names, reflecting the widespread distribution of its bearers across England. Some examples include Rase Close in Lincolnshire, Rase Hill in Northumberland, and Rase Farm in Yorkshire.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Rase 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 5 Rases recorded in 1881 and an index of 36.95x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Aberdeenshire | 5 | 36.95x |
| Middlesex | 5 | 3.42x |
| Cheshire | 1 | 3.10x |
| Kent | 1 | 2.01x |
| Lancashire | 1 | 0.58x |
| Sussex | 1 | 4.06x |
| Yorkshire | 1 | 0.69x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Aberdeen Old Machar in Aberdeenshire leads with 5 Rases recorded in 1881 and an index of 177.31x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Aberdeen Old Machar | 5 | 177.31x |
| Kensington London | 3 | 36.95x |
| St Pancras London | 2 | 17.01x |
| Altrincham | 1 | 178.57x |
| Ardwick | 1 | 64.10x |
| Lower Beeding | 1 | 1428.57x |
| Sheffield | 1 | 21.69x |
| Stoke | 1 | 3333.33x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Rase 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 Rase 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 Rase households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Box Maker | 1 |
| Bricklayer | 1 |
| Bricklayers Labourer | 1 |
| Carpenter | 1 |
| Hotel Keeper | 1 |
| None | 1 |
| Plasterer | 1 |
| Railway Laborer | 1 |
| Seamstress | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 15 people were recorded with the Rase surname. That placed it at #31,451 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 16 in 2016. That gives Rase a modern rank of #36,998.
A surname of German origin perhaps referring to a meadow or grasslands.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Rase 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.