UK surname
A surname derived from a place name in Norway, indicating origin from that location.
In the 1881 census there were 4 people recorded with the Rass surname, ranking it #33,288 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 11, ranked #37,501, down from #33,288 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Llansadwrn, Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars and Liverpool. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Rass is 109 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 175.0%.
1881 census count
4
Ranked #33,288
Modern count
11
2016, ranked #37,501
Peak year
1861
109 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Rass surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Rass 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 | 26 | #28,667 |
| 1861 | historical | 109 | #19,693 |
| 1881 | historical | 4 | #33,288 |
| 1891 | historical | 59 | #29,325 |
| 1901 | historical | 18 | #32,032 |
| 1911 | historical | 33 | #29,703 |
| 1997 | modern | 5 | #37,891 |
| 1998 | modern | 4 | #38,082 |
| 1999 | modern | 6 | #37,696 |
| 2000 | modern | 6 | #37,624 |
| 2001 | modern | 6 | #37,456 |
| 2002 | modern | 8 | #37,206 |
| 2003 | modern | 10 | #36,964 |
| 2004 | modern | 12 | #36,835 |
| 2005 | modern | 14 | #36,730 |
| 2006 | modern | 12 | #37,014 |
| 2007 | modern | 14 | #36,886 |
| 2008 | modern | 18 | #36,607 |
| 2009 | modern | 15 | #36,942 |
| 2010 | modern | 20 | #36,599 |
| 2011 | modern | 15 | #37,030 |
| 2012 | modern | 12 | #37,292 |
| 2013 | modern | 9 | #37,653 |
| 2014 | modern | 8 | #37,806 |
| 2015 | modern | 11 | #37,467 |
| 2016 | modern | 11 | #37,501 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Llansadwrn, Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars, Liverpool, Warboys and Childwall. 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 | Llansadwrn | Carmarthenshire |
| 2 | Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars | Leicestershire |
| 3 | Liverpool | Lancashire |
| 4 | Warboys | Huntingdonshire |
| 5 | Childwall | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Rass 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 Rass, 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 Rass surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Rass 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, Rass 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 Rass is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Rass, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname RASS has its origins in Germany, dating back to the 12th century. Derived from the Old German word "ras" meaning swift or rapid, it was initially used as a descriptive name for someone who possessed these qualities or lived near a fast-moving stream.
The earliest known record of the RASS name appears in the Codex Diplomaticus Saxoniae, a collection of medieval documents from Saxony, where a certain Henricus Rass is mentioned in a land transaction from 1187. This suggests the name was already established in this region during the High Middle Ages.
In the 14th century, the RASS family appears to have spread across various parts of Germany, with various spellings such as Rasse, Rassow, and Raschen emerging in different localities. This was a common occurrence as surnames solidified and passed down through generations.
One notable early bearer of the RASS name was Johannes Rass, a wealthy merchant from Nuremberg who lived from 1412 to 1487. His successful trading ventures allowed him to amass a considerable fortune, which he used to fund the construction of a chapel in the city's St. Sebald Church.
Another historical figure was Christoph Rass (1550-1617), a Lutheran theologian and pastor from Saxony, who played a significant role in the Protestant Reformation. His influential writings on Christian doctrine were widely read throughout Germany during his lifetime.
In the 17th century, the RASS surname can be found in connection with several villages and towns in Bavaria, such as Rassdorf and Rassbach, suggesting the name may have originated from or been influenced by these place names.
During the 18th century, a notable bearer of the RASS name was Johann Georg Rass (1721-1786), a German composer and organist who served at the court of Prince-Bishop Hieronymus von Colloredo in Salzburg. His compositions, though lesser-known today, were highly regarded in his time.
Another prominent figure was Friedrich Rass (1788-1867), a Prussian military officer who fought in the Napoleonic Wars and later became a respected military strategist and author on tactical warfare.
As the centuries progressed, the RASS surname spread further across German-speaking regions and eventually beyond, carried by individuals who migrated to other parts of Europe and the world.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Rass 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. Hampshire leads with 1 Rass' recorded in 1881 and an index of 16.69x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Hampshire | 1 | 16.69x |
| Lancashire | 1 | 2.88x |
| Middlesex | 1 | 3.42x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Fulham London in Middlesex leads with 1 Rass' recorded in 1881 and an index of 238.10x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Fulham London | 1 | 238.10x |
| Newton | 1 | 370.37x |
| Portsmouth | 1 | 714.29x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Rass surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Sarah | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Rass 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 Rass households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Charwomen | 1 |
| Cook | 1 |
| Stoker 22-2 | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 4 people were recorded with the Rass surname. That placed it at #33,288 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 11 in 2016. That gives Rass a modern rank of #37,501.
A surname derived from a place name in Norway, indicating origin from that location.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Rass 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.