NameCensus.

UK surname

Rastall

A surname derived from a place name indicating someone who lived near a road or intersection.

In the 1881 census there were 309 people recorded with the Rastall surname, ranking it #9,517 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 356, ranked #12,978, down from #9,517 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Broadway, Pickworth and Worcester St John Bedwardine, Kenswick. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Rushcliffe, Worcester and East Riding of Yorkshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Rastall is 468 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 15.2%.

1881 census count

309

Ranked #9,517

Modern count

356

2016, ranked #12,978

Peak year

1911

468 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Rastall had 309 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,517 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 356 in 2016, ranked #12,978.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 468 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Rastall surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Rastall surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Rastall 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 191 #10,808
1861 historical 201 #11,949
1881 historical 309 #9,517
1891 historical 406 #8,765
1901 historical 426 #9,067
1911 historical 468 #8,247
1997 modern 388 #11,255
1998 modern 390 #11,563
1999 modern 399 #11,463
2000 modern 392 #11,564
2001 modern 379 #11,676
2002 modern 387 #11,713
2003 modern 381 #11,667
2004 modern 389 #11,516
2005 modern 360 #12,112
2006 modern 357 #12,253
2007 modern 363 #12,255
2008 modern 372 #12,123
2009 modern 372 #12,383
2010 modern 377 #12,529
2011 modern 366 #12,667
2012 modern 353 #12,877
2013 modern 363 #12,815
2014 modern 363 #12,908
2015 modern 351 #13,135
2016 modern 356 #12,978

Geography

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Where Rastalls are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Broadway, Pickworth, Worcester St John Bedwardine, Kenswick, Kings Norton and Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Rushcliffe, Worcester, East Riding of Yorkshire, Melton and Monmouthshire. 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 Broadway Worcestershire
2 Pickworth Lincolnshire
3 Worcester St John Bedwardine, Kenswick Worcestershire
4 Kings Norton Worcestershire
5 Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars Leicestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Rushcliffe 010 Rushcliffe
2 Worcester 012 Worcester
3 East Riding of Yorkshire 014 East Riding of Yorkshire
4 Melton 001 Melton
5 Monmouthshire 007 Monmouthshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Rastall

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Rastall

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

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Rastall surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Rastall 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 comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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, Rastall 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

Rastall is most concentrated in decile 3 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Rastall falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Rastall

The surname Rastall originates from England, with its earliest known roots dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "raes" meaning a rush or reed, and "stall" or "stallu," referring to a place or enclosure. This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived near a place overgrown with rushes or reeds.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Rastall can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire, dated 1273, which mentions a Walter Rastall. The Rastall family is also referenced in various historical records from Norfolk and Suffolk, indicating their presence in those areas during the Middle Ages.

In the late 14th century, a John Rastall was listed as a resident of Yorkshire in the Poll Tax returns of 1379. Additionally, the Subsidy Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1327 mention a William Rastall, suggesting the name's spread across different regions of England.

One notable figure bearing the Rastall surname was John Rastell (c. 1475-1536), a prominent English writer, printer, and lawyer during the Renaissance period. He was also the father-in-law of the famous English scholar and humanist, Sir Thomas More.

Another individual of historical significance was William Rastell (c. 1508-1565), the son of John Rastell. He was a judge and legal writer who authored several important works on English law during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

In the 17th century, the Rastall family had established roots in various parts of England, including Lincolnshire, where records show a Thomas Rastall was born in 1632. Around the same time, a Robert Rastall (1592-1680) served as a Member of Parliament for the borough of Brackley in Northamptonshire.

Other notable individuals with the Rastall surname include Richard Rastall (1530-1603), an English composer and playwright during the Elizabethan era, and John Rastrick (1650-1727), a prominent English industrialist and engineer who played a significant role in the early development of the steam engine.

While the Rastall name may have originated from a specific geographic location, it eventually spread across various regions of England, with members of the family making noteworthy contributions in fields such as law, literature, politics, and engineering over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Rastall families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Rastall 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. Lincolnshire leads with 85 Rastalls recorded in 1881 and an index of 17.64x.

County Total Index
Lincolnshire 85 17.64x
Worcestershire 57 14.48x
Leicestershire 41 12.27x
Warwickshire 34 4.47x
Middlesex 23 0.76x
Staffordshire 12 1.18x
Yorkshire 11 0.37x
Nottinghamshire 10 2.46x
Surrey 8 0.54x
Gloucestershire 7 1.18x
Lancashire 6 0.17x
Northumberland 5 1.11x
Renfrewshire 4 1.71x
Derbyshire 3 0.64x
Brecknockshire 1 1.66x
Cheshire 1 0.15x
Denbighshire 1 0.88x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Leicester St Margaret in Leicestershire leads with 23 Rastalls recorded in 1881 and an index of 28.22x.

Place Total Index
Leicester St Margaret 23 28.22x
Birmingham 19 7.50x
Hallow 17 880.83x
Pickworth 12 5217.39x
Cropthorne 11 1506.85x
Ropsley 11 1641.79x
Broadway 10 591.72x
New Sleaford 10 323.62x
Harston 9 5294.12x
Kelby 9 9000.00x
Kings Norton 9 25.50x
Sutton Coldfield 9 112.64x
Donington 8 462.43x
Clerkenwell London 7 9.84x
Deeping St James 7 411.76x
Leicester St Mary 7 25.93x
Nottingham St Mary 7 6.66x
Chelsea London 6 6.61x
Clapham 6 15.92x
Flyford Flavell 6 3333.33x
Hornsey 6 15.74x
Wolverhampton 6 7.67x
Aunsby 5 3571.43x
Salford 5 4.75x
Tynemouth 5 20.82x
Winchcomb 5 170.65x
Folkingham 4 677.97x
Harborne 4 12.27x
Paisley Middle Church 4 29.41x
Spalding 4 41.84x
Hathersage 3 227.27x
Horncastle 3 60.36x
Huddersfield 3 6.89x
Ilmington 3 365.85x
Louth 3 27.15x
Market Deeping 3 240.00x
Ruswarp 3 90.36x
Aston Cantlow 2 175.44x
Childs Wyckham 2 434.78x
Lockwood 2 18.60x
Newark Upon Trent 2 13.70x
Sileby 2 94.79x
West Bromwich 2 3.43x
Bayton 1 227.27x
Boston 1 6.84x
Brightside Bierlow 1 1.71x
Cheadle 1 7.87x
Chertsey 1 10.54x
Claines 1 9.26x
Ecclesall Bierlow 1 1.65x
Frithville Fishtoft 1 285.71x
Grantham 1 15.92x
Hay 1 44.64x
Haydor 1 263.16x
Newington 1 0.90x
North Piddle 1 625.00x
Pershore Holy Cross 1 39.68x
Pinner 1 37.88x
Skircoat 1 8.49x
St Bride London 1 57.14x
St George Hanover 1 2.54x
St Pancras London 1 0.41x
Stapleford 1 625.00x
Swineshead 1 63.29x
Tanworth 1 49.75x
Toton 1 500.00x
Toxteth Park 1 0.83x
Wrexham Regis 1 11.82x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 22
Mary 22
Sarah 10
Florence 9
Annie 7
Ann 6
Emma 6
Alice 4
Emily 4
Fanny 4
Harriet 4
Charlotte 3
Edith 3
Louisa 3
Lucy 3
Maria 3
Sophia 3
Agnes 2
Amy 2
Eliza 2
Frances 2
Harriett 2
Jane 2
Kate 2
Martha 2
Rose 2
Ailwin 1
An 1
Betsey 1
Dinah 1
Eliz 1
Elizbeth 1
Ellen 1
Esther 1
Ethel 1
Eugene 1
Eunice 1
Evelina 1
Hannah 1
Isabella 1
Jessica 1
Lily 1
Lizzie 1
M.A. 1
Marg. 1
Miriam 1
Nelly 1
Rosanud 1
Ruth 1
Virtue 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 19
John 18
George 12
Thomas 10
Charles 8
Samuel 8
Henry 7
Joseph 7
James 5
Arthur 3
Edward 3
Walter 3
Alfred 2
Frank 2
Fredek. 2
Harry 2
Herbert 2
Rd. 2
Richard 2
Robert 2
Stephen 2
Alonzo 1
Amos 1
Authur 1
Benj. 1
Elisha 1
Ernest 1
Francis 1
Fred 1
Fred. 1
Frederick 1
Geo.W. 1
Infant 1
Jesse 1
Martin 1
Michael 1
Percy 1
Reuben 1
Richd. 1
Russell 1
Saml. 1
Sidney 1
Theodore 1

FAQ

Rastall surname: questions and answers

How common was the Rastall surname in 1881?

In 1881, 309 people were recorded with the Rastall surname. That placed it at #9,517 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Rastall surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 356 in 2016. That gives Rastall a modern rank of #12,978.

What does the Rastall surname mean?

A surname derived from a place name indicating someone who lived near a road or intersection.

What does the Rastall map show?

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