NameCensus.

UK surname

Ravey

A locational surname denoting a person from a place called Ravey.

In the 1881 census there were 47 people recorded with the Ravey surname, ranking it #27,019 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 155, ranked #23,197, up from #27,019 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Chesterfield and Oldham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ravey is 160 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 229.8%.

1881 census count

47

Ranked #27,019

Modern count

155

2016, ranked #23,197

Peak year

2010

160 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Ravey had 47 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #27,019 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 155 in 2016, ranked #23,197.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 90 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Ravey surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Ravey surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Ravey 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 71 #24,765
1881 historical 47 #27,019
1891 historical 90 #25,399
1901 historical 74 #25,958
1911 historical 74 #25,423
1997 modern 139 #22,132
1998 modern 147 #21,935
1999 modern 151 #21,740
2000 modern 149 #21,874
2001 modern 141 #22,344
2002 modern 143 #22,595
2003 modern 139 #22,734
2004 modern 151 #21,720
2005 modern 150 #21,786
2006 modern 141 #22,833
2007 modern 145 #22,693
2008 modern 151 #22,323
2009 modern 158 #22,168
2010 modern 160 #22,487
2011 modern 148 #23,520
2012 modern 152 #23,069
2013 modern 153 #23,314
2014 modern 157 #23,101
2015 modern 153 #23,413
2016 modern 155 #23,197

Geography

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Where Raveys 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 Chesterfield and Oldham. 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 Chesterfield 006 Chesterfield
2 Chesterfield 013 Chesterfield
3 Oldham 026 Oldham
4 Chesterfield 007 Chesterfield
5 Chesterfield 010 Chesterfield

Forenames

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First names often paired with Ravey

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Ravey

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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, Ravey 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

Ravey 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

Ravey falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Ravey is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Ravey

The surname Ravey is believed to have originated in France, possibly as early as the 12th century. It is thought to derive from the Old French word "ravir," meaning "to seize" or "to carry off." This could suggest that the name was initially given to someone who had a forceful or aggressive nature or perhaps to a soldier or warrior who had distinguished themselves in battle.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Ravey can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a survey of land ownership in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. However, the spelling in this document is slightly different, appearing as "Ravei."

By the 13th century, the name had spread across parts of northern France, particularly in the regions of Normandy and Brittany. Records from this period show variations in spelling, such as "Ravé," "Ravez," and "Raveis."

In the 14th century, a notable figure bearing the surname Ravey was Jean Ravey, a French monk and scholar who lived from approximately 1330 to 1395. He was known for his writings on theology and philosophy.

Another prominent individual with this surname was Étienne Ravey, a French architect and engineer who lived from 1490 to 1553. He was instrumental in the construction of several notable buildings in Paris, including parts of the Louvre Palace.

During the 16th century, the name Ravey appears to have spread to other parts of Europe, particularly in regions with close ties to France, such as the Low Countries and parts of Germany.

In the 17th century, a notable bearer of the surname was Pierre Ravey, a French military officer who served in the army of Louis XIV. He was born in 1648 and died in 1721.

Another individual of note was Marie-Thérèse Ravey, a French writer and poet who lived from 1712 to 1789. She was known for her works exploring themes of love and nature.

As the name traveled and evolved over time, it likely absorbed influences from various local dialects and languages, leading to further variations in spelling and pronunciation.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Ravey families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Ravey 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. Middlesex leads with 12 Raveys recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.62x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 12 2.62x
Lancashire 11 2.02x
Wigtownshire 7 114.94x
Cumberland 5 12.67x
Ayrshire 3 8.75x
Durham 2 1.47x
Kirkcudbrightshire 2 30.12x
Renfrewshire 2 5.63x
Lanarkshire 1 0.67x
Staffordshire 1 0.65x
Surrey 1 0.45x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Shoreditch London in Middlesex leads with 8 Raveys recorded in 1881 and an index of 40.26x.

Place Total Index
Shoreditch London 8 40.26x
Liverpool 6 18.17x
Stranraer 6 1071.43x
Crosscanonby 5 381.68x
Kensington London 3 11.77x
Newton On Ayr 3 291.26x
East Greenock 2 59.70x
Salford 2 12.50x
Ashton Under Lyne 1 8.41x
Benfieldside 1 111.11x
Bradford 1 39.22x
Burton Extra 1 112.36x
Croydon 1 8.06x
Ealing 1 24.39x
East Kilbride 1 158.73x
Kirkcudbright 1 181.82x
Manchester 1 4.09x
Ryhope 1 105.26x
Troqueer 1 114.94x
Wigtown 1 285.71x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Alice 2
Annette 2
Elizabeth 2
Mary 2
Agnes 1
Ann 1
Charlotte 1
Ellen 1
G.C. 1
Jane 1
Margaret 1
Sarah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 5
Thomas 3
Charles 2
Daniel 2
James 2
Frank 1
Michael 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 Ravey households.

FAQ

Ravey surname: questions and answers

How common was the Ravey surname in 1881?

In 1881, 47 people were recorded with the Ravey surname. That placed it at #27,019 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Ravey surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 155 in 2016. That gives Ravey a modern rank of #23,197.

What does the Ravey surname mean?

A locational surname denoting a person from a place called Ravey.

What does the Ravey map show?

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