NameCensus.

UK surname

Rattley

An English surname possibly derived from a place name incorporating the Old English elements "rā" (roebuck) and "lēah" (clearing or meadow).

In the 1881 census there were 25 people recorded with the Rattley surname, ranking it #30,077 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 86, ranked #32,570, down from #30,077 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wellingborough, Kettering and Northampton.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Rattley is 100 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 244.0%.

1881 census count

25

Ranked #30,077

Modern count

86

2016, ranked #32,570

Peak year

1998

100 bearers

Map years

1

1998 to 1998

Key insights

  • Rattley had 25 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #30,077 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 86 in 2016, ranked #32,570.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 78 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Rattley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Rattley surname density by area, 1998 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Rattley 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 22 #29,378
1861 historical 14 #32,072
1881 historical 25 #30,077
1891 historical 45 #30,747
1901 historical 54 #28,178
1911 historical 78 #25,013
1997 modern 94 #27,781
1998 modern 100 #27,619
1999 modern 99 #27,906
2000 modern 100 #27,695
2001 modern 89 #28,932
2002 modern 100 #27,944
2003 modern 97 #28,217
2004 modern 92 #29,197
2005 modern 85 #30,219
2006 modern 86 #30,425
2007 modern 86 #30,808
2008 modern 86 #31,114
2009 modern 92 #30,820
2010 modern 94 #31,111
2011 modern 90 #31,564
2012 modern 87 #32,180
2013 modern 85 #32,658
2014 modern 81 #33,061
2015 modern 80 #33,052
2016 modern 86 #32,570

Geography

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Where Rattleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wellingborough, Kettering, Northampton, Birmingham and Southend-on-Sea. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wellingborough 009 Wellingborough
2 Kettering 002 Kettering
3 Northampton 004 Northampton
4 Birmingham 110 Birmingham
5 Southend-on-Sea 015 Southend-on-Sea

Forenames

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First names often paired with Rattley

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Rattley

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

Rattley is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Rattley 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 Rattley is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Rattley, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Rattley

The surname Rattley is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is thought to be a locational name derived from a place name, likely referring to a settlement or area with a connection to the word "rattle," which can refer to a rattling sound or a device that makes such a noise.

One of the earliest records of the Rattley surname can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire, dated 1301, where a Thomas Rattley is mentioned. This suggests that the name was already established in that region by the early 14th century.

In the 15th century, the Rattley surname appears in various historical documents, such as court records and tax rolls. For example, in 1467, a John Rattley is listed in the Guild Rolls of York, indicating the presence of the family in that city.

During the Tudor period, the Rattley surname gained some prominence with the birth of William Rattley (c. 1495 - 1558), a prominent merchant and alderman in the city of Bristol. He was known for his involvement in trade with the Iberian Peninsula and his philanthropic efforts within the local community.

Another notable individual bearing the Rattley surname was Robert Rattley (1600 - 1680), a scholar and clergyman who served as the rector of Linton in Cambridgeshire. He authored several theological works and was known for his erudition in classical languages.

In the 18th century, the Rattley family had established a presence in various parts of England, with records showing individuals of that name residing in counties such as Lincolnshire, Derbyshire, and Lancashire. One prominent figure from this period was Elizabeth Rattley (1721 - 1795), a renowned botanist and naturalist who made significant contributions to the study of British flora.

As the centuries progressed, the Rattley surname continued to be found across various regions of England, with some members of the family migrating to other parts of the British Isles and beyond.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Rattley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Rattley 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. Northamptonshire leads with 10 Rattleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 43.63x.

County Total Index
Northamptonshire 10 43.63x
Sussex 7 17.04x
Gloucestershire 4 8.37x
Bedfordshire 2 15.85x
Hampshire 1 2.00x
Warwickshire 1 1.63x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bury in Sussex leads with 7 Rattleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 17500.00x.

Place Total Index
Bury 7 17500.00x
Cosgrove 5 10000.00x
Northampton St Sepulchre 4 341.88x
Cheltenham 3 81.30x
Southill 2 2000.00x
Aldershot 1 59.88x
Birmingham 1 4.88x
Chipping Campden 1 625.00x
Easton Maudit 1 10000.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Florence 2
Ann 1
Bessie 1
Charlotte 1
Elizabeth 1
Ellen 1
Henrietta 1
Kate 1
Margarett 1
Mary 1
Tryphenia 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 3
James 2
Thomas 2
Adolphus 1
Charles 1
Daniel 1
George 1
Robert 1
William 1

Top occupations

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 Rattley households.

FAQ

Rattley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Rattley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 25 people were recorded with the Rattley surname. That placed it at #30,077 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Rattley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 86 in 2016. That gives Rattley a modern rank of #32,570.

What does the Rattley surname mean?

An English surname possibly derived from a place name incorporating the Old English elements "rā" (roebuck) and "lēah" (clearing or meadow).

What does the Rattley map show?

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