NameCensus.

UK surname

Rattle

A surname derived from the instrument or the action of making a rattling noise.

In the 1881 census there were 206 people recorded with the Rattle surname, ranking it #12,596 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 151, ranked #23,615, down from #12,596 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Dallinghoo and Blakenham, Little. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Cambridgeshire, Suffolk Coastal and Pembrokeshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Rattle is 303 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 26.7%.

1881 census count

206

Ranked #12,596

Modern count

151

2016, ranked #23,615

Peak year

1911

303 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Rattle had 206 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,596 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 151 in 2016, ranked #23,615.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 303 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Rattle surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Rattle surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Rattle 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 134 #14,033
1861 historical 149 #15,373
1881 historical 206 #12,596
1891 historical 238 #13,202
1901 historical 278 #12,252
1911 historical 303 #11,372
1997 modern 183 #18,642
1998 modern 187 #18,857
1999 modern 193 #18,642
2000 modern 193 #18,616
2001 modern 186 #18,773
2002 modern 189 #18,950
2003 modern 178 #19,489
2004 modern 170 #20,146
2005 modern 167 #20,296
2006 modern 162 #20,886
2007 modern 161 #21,201
2008 modern 166 #20,966
2009 modern 168 #21,290
2010 modern 169 #21,652
2011 modern 166 #21,745
2012 modern 155 #22,762
2013 modern 151 #23,529
2014 modern 155 #23,333
2015 modern 149 #23,817
2016 modern 151 #23,615

Geography

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Where Rattles are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Dallinghoo, Blakenham, Little, London parishes and Woodbridge. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Cambridgeshire, Suffolk Coastal and Pembrokeshire. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 Dallinghoo Suffolk
3 Blakenham, Little Suffolk
4 London parishes London 3
5 Woodbridge Suffolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Cambridgeshire 007 East Cambridgeshire
2 Suffolk Coastal 009 Suffolk Coastal
3 Suffolk Coastal 014 Suffolk Coastal
4 Pembrokeshire 015 Pembrokeshire
5 Suffolk Coastal 008 Suffolk Coastal

Forenames

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First names often paired with Rattle

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Rattle

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Rattle, 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 Rattle surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Rattle 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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Rattle is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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 neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Rattle is most concentrated in decile 5 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Rattle falls in decile 10 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.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Rattle

The surname Rattle is believed to have originated in England, with its roots dating back to the Middle Ages. It is thought to be a descriptive name derived from the Old English word "hratol," which means to rattle or make a rattling sound. This suggests that the name may have been initially given to someone whose occupation or personal characteristic was associated with rattling or making noise.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Rattle can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire, a census-like document from 1273, which mentions a "Willelmus Ratel." This early spelling variation, "Ratel," further supports the connection to the Old English word "hratol."

During the 14th century, the surname appeared in various records and manuscripts across different regions of England. In the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex from 1327, a "Johannes Ratel" is listed, while the Poll Tax Returns of Yorkshire in 1379 mention a "Thomas Ratyll."

The Rattle name has also been linked to certain place names in England. For instance, there is a village called Rattle in Staffordshire, which may have contributed to the surname's development in that area.

One notable individual who bore the Rattle surname was John Rattle (c. 1655-1742), an English clergyman and author who served as the Rector of Bushley in Worcestershire. Another prominent figure was Samuel Rattle (1675-1737), a British architect and surveyor who worked on several significant projects in London during the early 18th century.

In the 19th century, William Rattle (1816-1899) gained recognition as a British architect and surveyor, responsible for designing several notable buildings in London and the surrounding areas. Additionally, John Rattle (1820-1893) was a successful engineer and inventor who made contributions to the development of steam engines and locomotives.

Another noteworthy individual was Thomas Rattle (1841-1912), a British artist and illustrator known for his paintings and illustrations depicting rural life in England during the Victorian era.

The Rattle surname continues to be found throughout various parts of England, as well as in other English-speaking countries where descendants of English settlers have migrated over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Rattle families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Rattle 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. Suffolk leads with 84 Rattles recorded in 1881 and an index of 34.32x.

County Total Index
Suffolk 84 34.32x
Somerset 43 13.29x
Middlesex 37 1.84x
Surrey 22 2.25x
Yorkshire 6 0.30x
Devon 3 0.72x
Essex 2 0.50x
Kent 2 0.29x
Sussex 2 0.59x
Durham 1 0.17x
East Lothian 1 3.76x
Gloucestershire 1 0.25x
Norfolk 1 0.32x
Stirlingshire 1 1.35x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Little Blakenham in Suffolk leads with 15 Rattles recorded in 1881 and an index of 12500.00x.

Place Total Index
Little Blakenham 15 12500.00x
Dallinghoo 14 6666.67x
Kewstoke 10 1960.78x
Bermondsey 9 15.05x
Horringer 9 1956.52x
Shoreditch London 9 10.33x
Walton 9 1022.73x
Newington 8 10.78x
Weston Super Mare 8 97.92x
Grundisburgh 7 1228.07x
Kensington London 7 6.27x
Pettistree 7 3684.21x
Puxton 7 7777.78x
Winford 7 1076.92x
Congresbury 6 731.71x
Ratcliffe London 6 54.05x
Woodbridge 6 191.69x
Bredfield 5 1666.67x
Bromley London 4 9.05x
Ipswich St Clement 4 64.31x
St Stephen Coleman 4 740.74x
Egham 3 49.92x
Preston 3 272.73x
Chatham 2 10.60x
Great Bealings 2 1000.00x
Melton 2 208.33x
Ormesby 2 37.38x
Plymouth Charles The 2 10.85x
Rotherhithe 2 8.05x
Westminster St John 2 8.17x
Wrington 2 183.49x
Banwell 1 84.75x
Bedminster 1 3.29x
Clerkenwell London 1 2.11x
Compton 1 357.14x
Falkirk 1 5.76x
Findon 1 204.08x
Fulham London 1 3.43x
Great Clacton 1 74.07x
Hampstead London 1 3.20x
Hollington 1 82.64x
Ipswich St Mary At Elms 1 128.21x
Ipswich St Mary Stoke 1 44.05x
Ipswich St Peter 1 30.40x
Redenhall 1 83.33x
Rumburgh 1 400.00x
Sculcoates 1 3.17x
Seaham 1 45.87x
St Giles In Fields 1 14.43x
West Ham 1 1.14x
Westbury On Trym 1 7.49x
Westminster St 1 13.50x
Worle 1 149.25x
Yester 1 156.25x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 15
Ellen 6
Jane 4
Alice 3
Anne 3
Caroline 3
Emily 3
Emma 3
Harriet 3
Louisa 3
Sarah 3
Ada 2
Ann 2
Annie 2
Elizabeth 2
Hannah 2
Phoebe 2
Ammie 1
Amy 1
Anna 1
Bertie 1
Betsey 1
Candazy 1
Celeia 1
Charlotte 1
Christina 1
Eliza 1
Emmerline 1
Esther 1
Ethel 1
Georgiana 1
Hanah 1
Harriett 1
Henrietta 1
Hettey 1
Hilda 1
Jessie 1
Kate 1
Lily 1
Margaret 1
Maria 1
Martha 1
Marthar 1
Maryan 1
Maryann 1
Matilda 1
Minnie 1
Muriel 1
Rebecca 1
Rosanna 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 13
George 12
John 12
James 9
Samuel 8
Henry 6
Charles 4
Harry 4
Alfred 3
Edward 3
Ephraim 3
Frederick 3
Oliver 3
Edmund 2
Joseph 2
Philip 2
Tom 2
Abraham 1
Albert 1
Benjamin 1
Berdoe 1
Chas. 1
Daniel 1
David 1
Herbert 1
Jeremiah 1
Osborn 1
Robert 1
Sml. 1

FAQ

Rattle surname: questions and answers

How common was the Rattle surname in 1881?

In 1881, 206 people were recorded with the Rattle surname. That placed it at #12,596 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Rattle surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 151 in 2016. That gives Rattle a modern rank of #23,615.

What does the Rattle surname mean?

A surname derived from the instrument or the action of making a rattling noise.

What does the Rattle map show?

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