NameCensus.

UK surname

Rattenbury

An English surname derived from a place name, possibly related to "ratun" meaning a district or region.

In the 1881 census there were 415 people recorded with the Rattenbury surname, ranking it #7,763 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 366, ranked #12,690, down from #7,763 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Exeter St David (including Castle Yard), London parishes and Exbourne. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include West Dorset, West Devon and Carmarthenshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Rattenbury is 495 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 11.8%.

1881 census count

415

Ranked #7,763

Modern count

366

2016, ranked #12,690

Peak year

1891

495 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Rattenbury had 415 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,763 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 366 in 2016, ranked #12,690.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 495 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Rattenbury surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Rattenbury surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Rattenbury 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 294 #7,758
1861 historical 300 #8,432
1881 historical 415 #7,763
1891 historical 495 #7,489
1901 historical 436 #8,907
1911 historical 487 #7,992
1997 modern 439 #10,264
1998 modern 448 #10,442
1999 modern 440 #10,648
2000 modern 448 #10,477
2001 modern 435 #10,526
2002 modern 425 #10,941
2003 modern 420 #10,862
2004 modern 423 #10,816
2005 modern 413 #10,918
2006 modern 395 #11,364
2007 modern 400 #11,374
2008 modern 400 #11,468
2009 modern 398 #11,768
2010 modern 419 #11,550
2011 modern 401 #11,843
2012 modern 383 #12,099
2013 modern 385 #12,270
2014 modern 376 #12,553
2015 modern 378 #12,405
2016 modern 366 #12,690

Geography

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Where Rattenburys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Exeter St David (including Castle Yard), London parishes, Exbourne, Honiton and St Matthew Bethnal Green. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to West Dorset, West Devon, Carmarthenshire and The Vale of Glamorgan. 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 Exeter St David (including Castle Yard) Devon
2 London parishes London 3
3 Exbourne Devon
4 Honiton Devon
5 St Matthew Bethnal Green London (East Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 West Dorset 005 West Dorset
2 West Devon 002 West Devon
3 Carmarthenshire 026 Carmarthenshire
4 West Devon 004 West Devon
5 The Vale of Glamorgan 008 Vale of Glamorgan

Forenames

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First names often paired with Rattenbury

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Rattenbury

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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Rattenbury surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Rattenbury household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Rattenbury is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Rattenbury is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Rattenbury

The surname Rattenbury is of English origin, emerging during the medieval period in various regions of Britain. It is believed to be a locational name derived from the old English words "ratten" and "bury," which together translate to "the fortified place of the rats." This suggests that the name may have originated in areas where rats were particularly prevalent or associated with a specific location.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Rattenbury name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which documented landholders and tenants throughout England. The name appears as "Rattenbyrig," indicating its presence during the Norman Conquest and the subsequent establishment of the Domesday survey.

In the 13th century, records show a Philip de Rattenbury residing in Gloucestershire, England. Another notable figure from this period was Sir John Rattenbury, a knight who fought alongside King Edward III during the Hundred Years' War in the 14th century.

The Rattenbury name has also been associated with various place names throughout England, such as Rattenbury Farm in Gloucestershire and Rattenbury Manor in Hertfordshire. These locations may have served as the original sources for the surname's derivation.

During the 16th century, a prominent individual named Thomas Rattenbury (1526-1592) made his mark as a successful merchant and landowner in London. His descendants continued to maintain a presence in the city for several generations.

Another notable figure was Francis Rattenbury (1867-1935), a British-born Canadian architect who designed iconic structures such as the British Columbia Parliament Buildings and the Empress Hotel in Victoria. His work significantly influenced the architectural landscape of the Pacific Northwest region.

In the realm of literature, the name Rattenbury is associated with Edith Rattenbury (1886-1967), a British novelist and playwright who penned several critically acclaimed works, including the novel "The Footman's Hearse."

Throughout history, the Rattenbury surname has been present across various regions of England, with individuals from this lineage making contributions in fields ranging from military service and commerce to architecture and literature.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Rattenbury families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Rattenbury 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. Devon leads with 176 Rattenburys recorded in 1881 and an index of 20.16x.

County Total Index
Devon 176 20.16x
Middlesex 58 1.38x
Surrey 38 1.86x
Cornwall 22 4.63x
Glamorgan 22 3.01x
Dorset 15 5.45x
Channel Islands 14 11.26x
Hampshire 12 1.40x
Berkshire 9 2.86x
Lincolnshire 7 1.04x
Yorkshire 7 0.17x
Carmarthenshire 6 3.39x
Kent 6 0.42x
Somerset 6 0.89x
Warwickshire 6 0.57x
Gloucestershire 5 0.61x
Norfolk 4 0.62x
Northamptonshire 4 1.01x
Essex 3 0.36x
Denbighshire 2 1.26x
Hertfordshire 2 0.69x
Royal Navy 2 4.00x
Wiltshire 2 0.54x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.38x
Cheshire 1 0.11x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Lyme Regis in Dorset leads with 15 Rattenburys recorded in 1881 and an index of 454.55x.

Place Total Index
Lyme Regis 15 454.55x
Honiton 13 269.15x
Bethnal Green London 12 6.59x
Exbourne 12 2222.22x
Exeter St Sidwell 12 60.00x
Stoke Damerel 12 19.64x
Hackney London 11 4.68x
Lambeth 11 3.01x
Okehampton 11 334.35x
Exeter St David 10 134.05x
Stoke Climsland 10 330.03x
Luppitt 9 1034.48x
West Looe 9 720.00x
Witheridge 9 612.24x
Camberwell 8 2.99x
Reading St Mary 8 31.72x
Roath 8 24.12x
Swansea Town 8 13.36x
Shoreditch London 7 3.85x
Spilsby 7 328.64x
St Helier 7 17.30x
Bermondsey 6 4.81x
Birmingham 6 1.70x
Chard 6 73.35x
Edmonton 6 17.75x
Fulham London 6 9.86x
Llanelly 6 15.07x
Milton Abbott 6 476.19x
North Tawton 6 223.88x
St Peter Port 6 26.10x
Llandaff 5 20.58x
Monkton 5 2941.18x
Portsea 5 2.97x
St George Hanover 5 9.13x
Wolborough 5 45.29x
Bideford 4 42.78x
Clovelly 4 350.88x
Compton 4 689.66x
Croydon 4 3.53x
Exeter Holy Trinity 4 116.96x
Hatherleigh 4 184.33x
Headingley Cum Burley 4 14.95x
Islip 4 487.80x
Kenn 4 294.12x
Kensington London 4 1.72x
Mile End Old Town 4 6.04x
Rotherhithe 4 7.72x
South Molton 4 83.33x
Battersea 3 1.94x
Bristol St Peter 3 102.04x
Ecclesfield 3 9.84x
Farlington 3 170.45x
Hartland 3 110.29x
Seaton 3 89.02x
Southampton St Mary 3 5.55x
Spreyton 3 545.45x
Stratton 3 116.28x
West Ham 3 1.64x
Baldock 2 73.53x
Canterbury St Mary 2 20.83x
Fakenham 2 62.89x
Folkestone 2 7.20x
Halberton 2 98.52x
Holy Trinity 2 109.29x
Lewtrenchard 2 454.55x
Litcham 2 172.41x
Littleham 2 31.35x
Llangollen Bache 2 111.11x
Payhembury 2 317.46x
Poltimore 2 487.80x
Royal Navy 2 4.68x
Sampford Courtenay 2 152.67x
St Budeaux 2 73.53x
St Marylebone London 2 0.89x
Wrotham 2 42.19x
East Stonehouse 1 5.81x
Exeter St Mary Major 1 19.01x
Newbury 1 9.91x
Swindon 1 3.48x
Woking 1 8.12x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 27
Elizabeth 25
Sarah 13
Ann 12
Ellen 8
Eliza 7
Jane 7
Caroline 6
Emma 6
Louisa 6
Annie 5
Bessie 5
Fanny 5
Alice 4
Charlotte 4
Edith 4
Emily 4
Maria 4
Catherine 3
Clara 3
Ella 3
Florence 3
Julia 3
Margaret 3
Susan 3
Agnes 2
Amelia 2
Anne 2
Charity 2
Eva 2
Harriett 2
Jessie 2
Kate 2
Matilda 2
Phillippa 2
Rosina 2
Susannah 2
Deborah 1
Elizth. 1
Esther 1
Fanney 1
Frances 1
Georgina 1
Helen 1
Laura 1
Lavinia 1
Letitia 1
Lillie 1
Marrion 1
Thirza 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 38
John 36
James 18
Henry 11
Richard 9
George 7
Charles 5
Joseph 5
Alfred 4
Samuel 4
Albert 3
Benjamin 3
Edwin 3
Robert 3
Seth 3
Thomas 3
Arthur 2
Ernest 2
Francis 2
Frank 2
Frederick 2
Harold 2
Hugh 2
Philip 2
Reginald 2
Richd. 2
Wm. 2
Ebleya 1
Emery 1
Fredrick 1
G.W. 1
Gilbert 1
H. 1
Harry 1
Hatton 1
J. 1
Jno.D. 1
Jno.L. 1
Jno.O. 1
Job 1
Oscar 1
Owen 1
Phillip 1
Sidney 1
Simon 1
Sydney 1
Tho. 1
Thos. 1
Tom 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Rattenbury surname: questions and answers

How common was the Rattenbury surname in 1881?

In 1881, 415 people were recorded with the Rattenbury surname. That placed it at #7,763 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Rattenbury surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 366 in 2016. That gives Rattenbury a modern rank of #12,690.

What does the Rattenbury surname mean?

An English surname derived from a place name, possibly related to "ratun" meaning a district or region.

What does the Rattenbury map show?

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