UK surname
An English surname likely derived from a medieval occupation involving pricing or tax collection.
In the 1881 census there were 16 people recorded with the Rates surname, ranking it #31,301 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 20, ranked #36,679, down from #31,301 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Biggleswade, Halifax and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Rates is 105 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 25.0%.
1881 census count
16
Ranked #31,301
Modern count
20
2016, ranked #36,679
Peak year
1861
105 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Rates surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Rates 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 | 105 | #20,298 |
| 1881 | historical | 16 | #31,301 |
| 1891 | historical | 77 | #27,169 |
| 1901 | historical | 22 | #31,562 |
| 1911 | historical | 22 | #31,030 |
| 1997 | modern | 21 | #35,692 |
| 1998 | modern | 28 | #35,053 |
| 1999 | modern | 31 | #34,821 |
| 2000 | modern | 29 | #34,976 |
| 2001 | modern | 25 | #35,248 |
| 2002 | modern | 26 | #35,338 |
| 2003 | modern | 26 | #35,371 |
| 2004 | modern | 22 | #35,878 |
| 2005 | modern | 26 | #35,674 |
| 2006 | modern | 24 | #35,981 |
| 2007 | modern | 26 | #35,932 |
| 2008 | modern | 27 | #35,956 |
| 2009 | modern | 27 | #36,045 |
| 2010 | modern | 26 | #36,220 |
| 2011 | modern | 26 | #36,193 |
| 2012 | modern | 26 | #36,166 |
| 2013 | modern | 24 | #36,344 |
| 2014 | modern | 20 | #36,654 |
| 2015 | modern | 18 | #36,809 |
| 2016 | modern | 20 | #36,679 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Biggleswade, Halifax, Manchester, St Giles-in-the-Fields 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 No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Biggleswade | Bedfordshire |
| 2 | Halifax | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 3 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 4 | St Giles-in-the-Fields | London (Central Districts) |
| 5 | Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars | Leicestershire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Rates 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 Rates, 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 Rates surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Rates 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, Rates 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 Rates is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Rates, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname RATES has its origins in the Germanic regions of central Europe, tracing back to the early medieval period around the 9th century AD. It is believed to have derived from the Old German word "ratt" or "rat," which referred to a council or assembly. This suggests that the name may have initially been associated with individuals who held positions of authority or participated in local governing bodies.
One of the earliest recorded mentions of the RATES surname can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus Saxoniae Regiae, a collection of historical documents from the Saxon region, dated around the 11th century. The name appears as "Ratus" in a document from the year 1063, referring to a landowner in the area now known as Saxony-Anhalt, Germany.
In the 12th century, the name surfaced in various forms such as "Rattes" and "Ratez" in records from the Holy Roman Empire, particularly in regions like Bavaria and Franconia. These variations likely emerged due to regional dialects and differences in scribal transcription.
A notable early bearer of the RATES surname was Johannes Rates, a German monk and chronicler who lived in the late 14th century. He is known for his work, the Chronica Regia Coloniensis, which detailed the history of the Archbishopric of Cologne.
Another prominent figure was Wilhelm Rates, a German soldier and military commander who served during the Thirty Years' War in the early 17th century. He played a significant role in several battles and was recognized for his strategic leadership.
In the 16th century, the RATES surname appeared in several place names across Germany, such as Ratesfeld and Rateshausen, indicating the presence of families bearing this name in those locations.
In the 17th century, the English variant "Rates" emerged, likely due to the migration of individuals from Germanic regions to England. One notable bearer was Thomas Rates, an English merchant and writer who lived from 1625 to 1687 and authored a book on international trade.
Throughout the centuries, the RATES surname has been carried by various individuals across Europe, including scholars, artists, and military figures. Some examples include Johann Rates, a German painter from the 18th century, and Hans Rates, a Swiss mathematician and astronomer who lived in the late 15th century.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Rates 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. Warwickshire leads with 9 Rates' recorded in 1881 and an index of 22.88x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Warwickshire | 9 | 22.88x |
| Kent | 3 | 5.64x |
| Hampshire | 2 | 6.25x |
| Gloucestershire | 1 | 3.27x |
| Middlesex | 1 | 0.64x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Atherstone in Warwickshire leads with 8 Rates' recorded in 1881 and an index of 4000.00x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Atherstone | 8 | 4000.00x |
| Alton | 2 | 833.33x |
| Deptford St Paul | 2 | 48.66x |
| Birmingham | 1 | 7.63x |
| Littleworth | 1 | 3333.33x |
| Sevenoaks | 1 | 232.56x |
| St Marylebone London | 1 | 12.00x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Rates 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 Rates 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 Rates households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 2 |
| Baker | 1 |
| Brass Finisher | 1 |
| Carpenter | 1 |
| Cook Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Domestic Butler | 1 |
| General Servant | 1 |
| Laborer | 1 |
| Messenger | 1 |
| Wife | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 16 people were recorded with the Rates surname. That placed it at #31,301 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 20 in 2016. That gives Rates a modern rank of #36,679.
An English surname likely derived from a medieval occupation involving pricing or tax collection.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Rates 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.