NameCensus.

UK surname

Rattray

A locational surname derived from a place name in Perthshire, Scotland.

In the 1881 census there were 1,473 people recorded with the Rattray surname, ranking it #2,834 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,893, ranked #3,361, down from #2,834 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Govan Combination, Edinburgh and Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Blair Atholl, Strathardle and Glenshee, East Cairngorms and Badenoch and Strathspey North.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Rattray is 1,910 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 28.5%.

1881 census count

1,473

Ranked #2,834

Modern count

1,893

2016, ranked #3,361

Peak year

2010

1,910 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Rattray had 1,473 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,834 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,893 in 2016, ranked #3,361.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,803 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Rattray surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Rattray surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Rattray 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 1,048 #2,672
1861 historical 1,078 #2,610
1881 historical 1,473 #2,834
1891 historical 1,739 #2,617
1901 historical 1,803 #2,902
1911 historical 294 #11,622
1997 modern 1,826 #3,291
1998 modern 1,871 #3,350
1999 modern 1,897 #3,325
2000 modern 1,885 #3,325
2001 modern 1,809 #3,379
2002 modern 1,843 #3,391
2003 modern 1,835 #3,344
2004 modern 1,846 #3,326
2005 modern 1,820 #3,334
2006 modern 1,807 #3,363
2007 modern 1,832 #3,345
2008 modern 1,811 #3,418
2009 modern 1,864 #3,405
2010 modern 1,910 #3,403
2011 modern 1,868 #3,425
2012 modern 1,818 #3,446
2013 modern 1,818 #3,506
2014 modern 1,870 #3,444
2015 modern 1,876 #3,400
2016 modern 1,893 #3,361

Geography

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Where Rattrays are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Govan Combination, Edinburgh, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry, Perth and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Blair Atholl, Strathardle and Glenshee, East Cairngorms, Badenoch and Strathspey North, Oldmachar East and Ceredigion. 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 Govan Combination Lanark
2 Edinburgh Edinburgh
3 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar
4 Perth Perth
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Blair Atholl, Strathardle and Glenshee Perth and Kinross
2 East Cairngorms Aberdeenshire
3 Badenoch and Strathspey North Highland
4 Oldmachar East Aberdeen City
5 Ceredigion 011 Ceredigion

Forenames

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First names often paired with Rattray

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Rattray

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

Legacy Communities

Group

Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities

Nationally, the Rattray surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Rattray household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Households in these areas often include divorced or separated parents and commonly include children and young adults. The age structure is heavily skewed towards the most advanced age groups. Individuals identifying as members of ethnic minorities are not present in large numbers. Flats predominate, with some terraced, semi-detached, and detached units. Multiple car ownership is low, and housing is predominantly in the private and social rented sectors. Employment is less skewed towards traditional routine industrial occupations. Levels of educational attainment are generally low. The Group occurs principally in the Central Lowlands of Scotland and other Scottish towns.

Wider pattern

These neighbourhoods characteristically comprise pockets of flats that are scattered across the UK, particularly in towns that retain or have legacies of heavy industry or are in more remote seaside locations. Employed residents of these neighbourhoods work mainly in low-skilled occupations. Residents typically have limited educational qualifications. Unemployment is above average. Some residents live in overcrowded housing within the social rented sector and experience long-term disability. All adult age groups are represented, although there is an overall age bias towards elderly people in general and the very old in particular. Individuals identifying as belonging to ethnic minorities or Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups are uncommon.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Rattray 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

Rattray is most concentrated in decile 1 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Rattray

The surname Rattray is of Scottish origin, deriving from a place name in the parish of Blairgowrie in Perthshire, Scotland. The name is believed to have originated during the Middle Ages, around the 12th or 13th century.

The word "Rattray" itself comes from the Gaelic "rath-reidh," meaning "circle of the plain" or "fort on the level ground." This suggests that the surname may have been associated with a particular location or settlement in the Blairgowrie area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a historical document containing the names of Scottish landowners who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England. The name appears as "Walterus de Ratré," indicating that a person named Walter from Rattray was present at that time.

In the 14th century, the name Rattray appeared in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland, which were records of royal revenue and expenditure. This indicates that the Rattray family held a prominent position in Scottish society during that period.

A notable figure bearing the Rattray surname was Sir Patrick Rattray, who lived in the late 16th century and served as a Scottish judge and Lord of Session. Another prominent individual was James Rattray (1615-1700), a Scottish philosopher and writer who published works on philosophy and theology.

In the 18th century, Sylvester Douglas Rattray (1701-1776) was a Scottish landowner and Member of Parliament for the Perthshire burghs. He was also a prominent supporter of the Jacobite cause during the 1745 uprising.

One of the most famous individuals with the Rattray surname was Sir James Rattray (1818-1903), a British Army officer and explorer who served in India and Africa. He is particularly known for his explorations in the Sahara Desert and for his book "The Costumes of the Various Tribes of North-Western Africa."

Another notable figure was William Rattray (1870-1957), a Scottish missionary and anthropologist who conducted extensive research on the Ashanti people of Ghana. His work, "Religion and Art in Ashanti," published in 1927, is considered a significant contribution to the understanding of Ashanti culture.

Overall, the surname Rattray has a rich history rooted in Scotland, with various individuals bearing the name making significant contributions in fields such as law, literature, politics, exploration, and anthropology over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Rattray families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Rattray 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. Angus leads with 389 Rattrays recorded in 1881 and an index of 29.40x.

County Total Index
Angus 389 29.40x
Perthshire 206 32.14x
Lanarkshire 156 3.38x
Fife 130 15.38x
Aberdeenshire 124 9.38x
Midlothian 87 4.55x
Middlesex 45 0.32x
Banffshire 35 11.81x
Renfrewshire 30 2.71x
Northumberland 29 1.36x
Stirlingshire 29 5.51x
Lancashire 22 0.13x
Surrey 17 0.24x
Inverness-shire 14 3.28x
Durham 13 0.31x
Cheshire 12 0.38x
Selkirkshire 11 8.51x
Morayshire 10 4.51x
Ayrshire 9 0.84x
Dunbartonshire 9 2.35x
East Lothian 9 4.76x
Kent 9 0.18x
Cardiganshire 8 2.30x
Dorset 8 0.85x
Kinross-shire 8 22.16x
Kirkcudbrightshire 8 3.87x
Gloucestershire 7 0.25x
Devon 5 0.17x
Hampshire 5 0.17x
Kincardineshire 5 2.88x
Roxburghshire 5 1.93x
Hertfordshire 2 0.20x
Royal Navy 2 1.18x
Shetland 2 1.37x
West Lothian 2 0.93x
Lincolnshire 1 0.04x
Yorkshire 1 0.01x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Dundee in Angus leads with 172 Rattrays recorded in 1881 and an index of 34.82x.

Place Total Index
Dundee 172 34.82x
Kirriemuir 65 199.08x
Govan 57 4.99x
Barony 48 4.11x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 42 5.46x
Liff Benvie 39 19.42x
Glasgow 34 4.15x
Forfar 28 39.08x
Tyrie 25 150.60x
Beath 24 89.82x
Inveravon 23 182.11x
Perth West Church 21 69.03x
Perth East Church 18 29.79x
Aberdeen Old Machar 17 6.16x
Dunfermline 16 12.31x
Kettle 16 157.64x
Kirkmichael 15 360.58x
South Leith 15 6.97x
St Vigeans 15 21.00x
Crathie Braemar 14 176.99x
Kinloch 13 1040.00x
Stirling 13 19.58x
Strathmiglo 13 128.71x
Auchtermuchty 12 105.63x
Dunning 12 149.81x
Kirkmichael 12 228.14x
Bow London 11 6.05x
Clunie 11 387.32x
Glamis 11 137.84x
Moulin 11 108.59x
St Ninians 11 21.07x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 10 4.04x
Errol 10 84.25x
Galashiels 10 20.93x
Norham 10 211.86x
West Derby 10 2.02x
Cabrach 9 269.46x
Longside 9 57.00x
West Greenock 9 4.53x
West Lilburn 9 849.06x
Airlie 8 188.68x
Alyth 8 46.38x
Cambusnethan 8 7.80x
Cathcart 8 13.36x
Cleish 8 329.22x
Edzell 8 198.02x
Great Neston 8 76.85x
Inchture 8 250.78x
Kiltarlity 8 76.48x
Llanfihangel Y Croyddyn 8 65.36x
Mile End Old Town 8 3.55x
Rattray 8 53.62x
Balmaclellan 7 152.17x
Bendochy 7 200.57x
Blairgowrie 7 27.61x
Cromdale 7 39.22x
Dumbarton 7 13.10x
Dunlop 7 104.95x
Sunderland 7 9.33x
Ash Normandy 6 63.49x
Caputh 6 59.52x
Cupar 6 16.32x
Duddingston 6 15.63x
Dunbarney 6 162.16x
Monimail 6 144.93x
Montrose 6 7.48x
Salford 6 1.20x
Scoonie 6 32.77x
Tarves 6 47.96x
Aboyne 5 71.63x
Bethnal Green London 5 0.81x
Brechin 5 9.62x
Dunblane 5 32.59x
Dysart 5 8.78x
East Greenock 5 4.78x
Gartly 5 114.68x
Kingoldrum 5 263.16x
Penicuik 5 19.23x
St George Hanover 5 2.68x
Wemyss 5 13.98x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 12
Jane 8
Elizabeth 7
Agnes 5
Hannah 5
Isabella 5
Amelia 3
Ann 3
Eliza 3
Jessie 3
Louisa 3
Margaret 3
Maria 3
Alice 2
Charlotte 2
Eleanor 2
Ellen 2
Henrietta 2
Jeanie 2
Rosa 2
Sarah 2
Sophia 2
Violet 2
Adelaide 1
Adelheidt 1
Anne 1
Augusta 1
Christina 1
Christinia 1
Dorothy 1
Edith 1
Elbth. 1
Eva 1
Fanny 1
Harriette 1
Infant 1
Isabel 1
Janet 1
Jannett 1
Laura 1
Louie 1
Louise 1
Marion 1
Marjory 1
Maud 1
Rebecca 1
Rose 1
Selina 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 11
William 10
James 9
Robert 5
Arthur 4
Charles 4
David 3
George 3
Thomas 3
Andrew 2
Henry 2
Peter 2
Thos. 2
Alexander 1
Authur 1
Edward 1
Frederick 1
G.York 1
Gilbert 1
Haldane 1
Herbert 1
Jas. 1
Malcolm 1
P. 1
Ralph 1
Richard 1
Sidney 1
Stephen 1
Willm.C. 1

FAQ

Rattray surname: questions and answers

How common was the Rattray surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,473 people were recorded with the Rattray surname. That placed it at #2,834 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Rattray surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,893 in 2016. That gives Rattray a modern rank of #3,361.

What does the Rattray surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place name in Perthshire, Scotland.

What does the Rattray map show?

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