NameCensus.

UK surname

Raven

An English and Scottish surname derived from the black bird, indicating a person with dark hair or complexion.

In the 1881 census there were 2,515 people recorded with the Raven surname, ranking it #1,777 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 3,053, ranked #2,207, down from #1,777 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard and Nottingham St Mary. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include King's Lynn and West Norfolk, Waveney and Southend-on-Sea.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Raven is 3,392 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 21.4%.

1881 census count

2,515

Ranked #1,777

Modern count

3,053

2016, ranked #2,207

Peak year

1911

3,392 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Raven had 2,515 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,777 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 3,053 in 2016, ranked #2,207.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 3,392 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Raven surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Raven surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Raven 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 1,703 #1,695
1861 historical 1,377 #2,078
1881 historical 2,515 #1,777
1891 historical 2,410 #1,949
1901 historical 2,966 #1,888
1911 historical 3,392 #1,543
1997 modern 3,103 #2,064
1998 modern 3,220 #2,080
1999 modern 3,227 #2,092
2000 modern 3,225 #2,084
2001 modern 3,158 #2,082
2002 modern 3,248 #2,072
2003 modern 3,144 #2,087
2004 modern 3,089 #2,126
2005 modern 2,978 #2,173
2006 modern 2,980 #2,177
2007 modern 2,956 #2,212
2008 modern 2,960 #2,224
2009 modern 3,057 #2,204
2010 modern 3,110 #2,218
2011 modern 3,080 #2,210
2012 modern 3,035 #2,200
2013 modern 3,129 #2,175
2014 modern 3,149 #2,179
2015 modern 3,077 #2,195
2016 modern 3,053 #2,207

Geography

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Where Ravens are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, Nottingham St Mary 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 King's Lynn and West Norfolk, Waveney 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 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
4 Nottingham St Mary Nottinghamshire
5 Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars Leicestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 King's Lynn and West Norfolk 002 King's Lynn and West Norfolk
2 Waveney 014 Waveney
3 Southend-on-Sea 014 Southend-on-Sea
4 King's Lynn and West Norfolk 001 King's Lynn and West Norfolk
5 Southend-on-Sea 017 Southend-on-Sea

Forenames

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First names often paired with Raven

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Raven

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Raven is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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 concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Raven is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Raven falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Raven

The surname Raven has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English word "hræfn," which means "raven," a type of black bird. This surname likely originated as a nickname for someone with dark hair or a swarthy complexion, resembling the raven's plumage.

In the Domesday Book, a historical record compiled in 1086 for William the Conqueror, there are several entries related to the name Raven or its variants. For instance, the name "Rauen" is mentioned in Suffolk, and "Rauene" is listed in Lincolnshire.

One of the earliest recorded bearers of the Raven surname was Ralph Raven, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire in 1195. Another early record is that of Roger Raven, who lived in Norfolk during the reign of King John, around 1200-1216.

The surname Raven can also be traced back to various place names in England, such as Ravenfield in Yorkshire, Ravenhall in Derbyshire, and Ravensden in Bedfordshire. These locations likely derived their names from the presence of ravens or raven-like birds in the area.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the Raven surname. One of them was John Raven (1562-1622), an English clergyman and academic who served as the Master of Christ's College, Cambridge. Another was Thomas Raven (1610-1676), an English mathematician and astronomer who made significant contributions to the study of celestial mechanics.

Another notable bearer of the Raven surname was John James Raven (1833-1906), an English architect and businessman who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Royal Aquarium and the Royal School of Mines.

In the literary realm, Julien Raven (1888-1972) was a British author and playwright known for his novels and plays set in the early 20th century.

Lastly, Bertram Raven (1926-2020) was an American psychologist renowned for his research on social power and interpersonal influence, including his formulation of the "bases of social power" theory.

These examples illustrate the long and diverse history of the Raven surname, which has been borne by individuals from various walks of life, including clergy, academics, architects, authors, and psychologists.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Raven families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Raven 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. Essex leads with 509 Ravens recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.51x.

County Total Index
Essex 509 10.51x
Middlesex 311 1.27x
Norfolk 212 5.62x
Suffolk 170 5.69x
Surrey 148 1.24x
Warwickshire 144 2.33x
Lancashire 123 0.42x
Leicestershire 117 4.30x
Nottinghamshire 116 3.51x
Kent 115 1.37x
Yorkshire 111 0.46x
Cumberland 73 3.46x
Cambridgeshire 50 3.22x
Westmorland 47 8.72x
Durham 25 0.34x
Derbyshire 23 0.60x
Gloucestershire 23 0.48x
Cheshire 22 0.41x
Hertfordshire 20 1.18x
Sussex 19 0.46x
Northumberland 17 0.47x
Worcestershire 15 0.47x
Staffordshire 14 0.17x
Huntingdonshire 13 2.67x
Wiltshire 13 0.60x
Lincolnshire 10 0.26x
Berkshire 9 0.49x
Oxfordshire 8 0.53x
Devon 6 0.12x
Buckinghamshire 4 0.27x
Cornwall 4 0.14x
Hampshire 4 0.08x
Lanarkshire 3 0.04x
Northamptonshire 3 0.13x
Somerset 3 0.08x
Bedfordshire 2 0.16x
Dorset 2 0.12x
Carmarthenshire 1 0.10x
Channel Islands 1 0.14x
Denbighshire 1 0.11x
Dunbartonshire 1 0.15x
Flintshire 1 0.15x
Monmouthshire 1 0.06x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Leicester St Margaret in Leicestershire leads with 71 Ravens recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.71x.

Place Total Index
Leicester St Margaret 71 10.71x
West Ham 51 4.77x
Nottingham St Mary 45 5.26x
Wrentham 37 446.32x
Basford 32 21.00x
Islington London 32 1.35x
Aston 30 1.76x
Bethnal Green London 29 2.72x
Birmingham 25 1.21x
Crosscanonby 25 35.80x
Henstead 24 530.97x
St Marylebone London 23 1.76x
Chelmsford 22 26.49x
Newington 22 2.43x
Great Tey 21 358.36x
Clerkenwell London 20 3.46x
Purleigh 20 276.63x
Colchester St Giles 19 39.72x
St Pancras London 19 0.96x
Dalton In Furness 18 16.02x
Poplar London 18 3.89x
Willingham 18 135.64x
Great Coggeshall 17 67.51x
Lewisham 17 3.81x
Kensington London 16 1.17x
Lowestoft 16 11.34x
Camberwell 15 0.96x
Foleshill 15 23.05x
Long Itchington 15 154.96x
Steeple 15 339.37x
Swainsthorpe 15 602.41x
Birkenhead 14 3.24x
Coventry Holy Trinity 14 7.58x
Croydon 14 2.11x
Elswick 14 4.81x
Heigham 14 6.92x
Lambeth 14 0.65x
Feering 13 203.76x
Kirkley 13 52.02x
Langdale 13 211.38x
Leamington Priors 13 8.54x
Barrow Upon Soar 12 53.43x
Bungay St Mary 12 81.08x
Everton 12 1.29x
Great Yarmouth 12 3.84x
Hackney London 12 0.87x
Rettendon 12 198.68x
Swindon 12 7.13x
Woolwich 12 3.88x
Beccles 11 22.88x
Brancaster 11 170.28x
Chesterton 11 22.97x
Clapham 11 3.59x
Deptford St Paul 11 1.70x
Earl Shilton 11 185.81x
Earls Colne 11 82.34x
Mansfield 11 9.62x
Mile End Old Town 11 2.84x
Prittlewell 11 16.40x
Sculcoates 11 2.86x
Belgrave 10 16.30x
Brightside Bierlow 10 2.10x
Dorking 10 12.46x
Great Wakering 10 92.42x
Halstead 10 17.71x
Ulverston 10 11.80x
Wethersfield 10 81.90x
Battersea 9 1.00x
Bradwell 9 108.56x
Chatham 9 3.91x
Feltwell Feltwell Anchor 9 131.00x
Great Fransham 9 327.27x
Harwich St Nicholas 9 24.07x
Hendon 9 10.20x
Leyton 9 10.79x
Little Baddow 9 196.51x
Mile End New Town 9 26.87x
Nether Hallam 9 2.74x
St Luke London 9 2.29x
Watford 9 6.87x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 138
Sarah 91
Elizabeth 79
Emma 58
Ann 50
Jane 46
Eliza 41
Emily 39
Annie 37
Alice 35
Ellen 33
Charlotte 26
Hannah 26
Edith 23
Margaret 20
Louisa 19
Maria 19
Florence 16
Rose 15
Harriett 14
Eleanor 13
Harriet 13
Martha 13
Caroline 12
Frances 12
Rosa 12
Ada 11
Anne 11
Fanny 11
Esther 10
Jessie 10
Kate 10
Susan 10
Amelia 9
Clara 9
Lucy 9
Rebecca 9
Agnes 8
Anna 8
Julia 8
Laura 7
Minnie 7
Susannah 7
Catherine 6
Lydia 6
Ruth 6
Elizth. 5
Henrietta 5
Isabella 5
Maud 5

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 190
John 163
Thomas 73
George 69
James 58
Henry 57
Joseph 44
Arthur 43
Charles 38
Robert 34
Alfred 33
Edward 33
Frederick 26
Walter 25
Harry 20
Richard 20
Albert 15
Ernest 15
Samuel 15
Edwin 14
Herbert 13
Frank 11
Benjamin 9
David 9
Fred 6
Fredk. 6
Francis 5
Percy 5
Wm. 5
Andrew 4
Daniel 4
Frederic 4
Mark 4
Martin 4
Tom 4
Chas. 3
Edgar 3
Isaac 3
Thos. 3
Vincent 3
Bertram 2
Edmund 2
Eustace 2
J. 2
Jasper 2
Jonathan 2
Leonard 2
Paul 2
R. 2
Sydney 2

FAQ

Raven surname: questions and answers

How common was the Raven surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,515 people were recorded with the Raven surname. That placed it at #1,777 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Raven surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 3,053 in 2016. That gives Raven a modern rank of #2,207.

What does the Raven surname mean?

An English and Scottish surname derived from the black bird, indicating a person with dark hair or complexion.

What does the Raven map show?

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