NameCensus.

UK surname

Rawle

A surname derived from a variant spelling of the Old French surname Roelle, meaning a small wheeled vehicle.

In the 1881 census there were 590 people recorded with the Rawle surname, ranking it #5,919 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 688, ranked #7,804, down from #5,919 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Bedminster and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include West Somerset, Sedgemoor and County Durham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Rawle is 793 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 16.6%.

1881 census count

590

Ranked #5,919

Modern count

688

2016, ranked #7,804

Peak year

1911

793 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Rawle had 590 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,919 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 688 in 2016, ranked #7,804.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 793 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Rawle surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Rawle surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Rawle 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 325 #7,157
1861 historical 339 #7,522
1881 historical 590 #5,919
1891 historical 608 #6,315
1901 historical 714 #6,181
1911 historical 793 #5,505
1997 modern 675 #7,452
1998 modern 703 #7,455
1999 modern 704 #7,479
2000 modern 679 #7,671
2001 modern 681 #7,513
2002 modern 702 #7,492
2003 modern 688 #7,485
2004 modern 710 #7,313
2005 modern 669 #7,613
2006 modern 668 #7,637
2007 modern 676 #7,651
2008 modern 690 #7,567
2009 modern 697 #7,662
2010 modern 712 #7,679
2011 modern 711 #7,606
2012 modern 700 #7,607
2013 modern 717 #7,600
2014 modern 718 #7,630
2015 modern 709 #7,646
2016 modern 688 #7,804

Geography

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Where Rawles are most common

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

The modern local-area list points to West Somerset, Sedgemoor and County Durham. 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 Bedminster Somerset
3 London parishes London 3
4 St Philip and Jacob Gloucestershire
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 West Somerset 005 West Somerset
2 West Somerset 001 West Somerset
3 Sedgemoor 011 Sedgemoor
4 County Durham 008 County Durham
5 West Somerset 003 West Somerset

Forenames

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First names often paired with Rawle

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Rawle

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

Rawle is most concentrated in decile 2 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Rawle

The surname RAWLE is of English origin and can be traced back to the 12th century. It is believed to be a locational name, derived from the place name Rawle in Staffordshire, which itself is thought to come from the Old English words 'raw' meaning 'row' and 'hyll' meaning 'hill'.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name RAWLE can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is listed as 'Rauel'. This suggests that the name was well-established in England by the time of the Norman Conquest.

During the 13th and 14th centuries, the RAWLE surname began to spread across various parts of England, with records showing individuals bearing the name in counties such as Somerset, Wiltshire, and Gloucestershire. The name also appeared in various spellings, including Rawle, Rawles, Rawls, and Rawlin.

One notable individual with the RAWLE surname was Sir Thomas Rawle (c. 1505-1563), who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1548. Another significant figure was Walter Rawle (1642-1697), an English philosopher and author who wrote extensively on the subject of ethics.

In the 17th century, the RAWLE name found its way to the American colonies, with several individuals bearing the surname settling in Pennsylvania and Maryland. One of the most prominent early American RAWLEs was William Rawle (1759-1836), a lawyer and legal scholar who served as the United States District Attorney for Pennsylvania.

Other notable individuals with the RAWLE surname include Sir Henry Rawlinson (1810-1895), a British army officer and pioneering Assyriologist, and Sir Benjamin Rawle (1836-1912), an English civil engineer who was involved in the construction of several notable bridges and railway lines.

Throughout its history, the RAWLE surname has been associated with various professions, including law, academia, military service, and engineering. While its origins can be traced back to a specific location in England, the name has since spread across the globe, reflecting the diverse journeys and contributions of those who have borne it.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Rawle families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Rawle 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. Somerset leads with 206 Rawles recorded in 1881 and an index of 22.16x.

County Total Index
Somerset 206 22.16x
Devon 107 8.90x
Gloucestershire 63 5.56x
Middlesex 46 0.80x
Glamorgan 37 3.68x
Cornwall 36 5.51x
Surrey 14 0.50x
Essex 13 1.14x
Lancashire 13 0.19x
Monmouthshire 11 2.63x
Hampshire 10 0.84x
Kent 7 0.36x
Nottinghamshire 7 0.90x
Warwickshire 6 0.41x
Cheshire 5 0.39x
Hertfordshire 4 1.00x
Midlothian 2 0.26x
Royal Navy 2 2.91x
Berkshire 1 0.23x
Staffordshire 1 0.05x
Yorkshire 1 0.02x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Minehead in Somerset leads with 53 Rawles recorded in 1881 and an index of 1509.97x.

Place Total Index
Minehead 53 1509.97x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 23 21.57x
Porlock 22 1456.95x
Bedminster 20 22.90x
Tormoham 15 29.49x
Ilfracombe 14 113.18x
Weston Super Mare 14 59.65x
Stoke Pero 13 13000.00x
Stapleton 12 55.87x
Winsford 12 1250.00x
Cardiff St Mary 11 19.86x
Ystradyfodwg 11 12.47x
Culbone 10 14285.71x
Roath 10 21.90x
Chipstable 9 1384.62x
St Pancras London 9 1.94x
Tiverton 9 43.46x
Bristol St James St Paul 8 21.19x
Colchester St Giles 8 71.05x
Musbury 8 761.90x
St Columb Minor 8 145.72x
Barnstaple 7 37.10x
Bedwellty 7 9.50x
Camberwell 7 1.90x
Dulverton 7 257.35x
Egloskerry 7 813.95x
Newton St Cyres 7 414.20x
Nottingham St Mary 7 3.48x
Birmingham 6 1.24x
Bow London 6 8.16x
High Bickington 6 441.18x
Kensington London 6 1.87x
Lewisham 6 5.71x
Milverton 6 174.93x
Thornton In Fylde 6 40.03x
Bishops Hull 5 166.67x
Bishops Tawton 5 133.33x
Bisley 5 48.73x
Chorlton On Medlock 5 4.59x
Hackney London 5 1.54x
Morebath 5 568.18x
Padstow 5 115.21x
St Clement 5 73.31x
St Juliot 5 1136.36x
Taunton St James 5 36.87x
Thorverton 5 273.22x
Berkhampstead 4 44.69x
Bristol St Augustine 4 21.88x
Mile End Old Town 4 4.39x
Pilton 4 100.76x
Plymouth St Andrew 4 4.32x
Portsea 4 1.72x
Ryde 4 15.73x
St Budeaux 4 106.95x
St Woollos 4 8.59x
Stockport 4 6.10x
Winscombe 4 159.36x
Brislington 3 173.41x
Clifton 3 5.24x
Dunster 3 134.53x
Forrabury 3 508.47x
Hammersmith London 3 2.11x
Lambeth 3 0.60x
Lynton 3 125.00x
Minchinhampton 3 33.26x
Paddington London 3 1.41x
West Ham 3 1.19x
Westbury On Trym 3 7.82x
Wick 3 416.67x
Atherington 2 196.08x
Elworthy 2 606.06x
Exton 2 250.00x
Luccombe 2 273.97x
Rackenford 2 277.78x
Royal Navy 2 3.40x
St George Hanover 2 2.65x
Stringston 2 869.57x
Taunton St Mary 2 11.72x
Walthamstow 2 4.87x
Willesden 2 3.67x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 45
John 31
George 20
Thomas 19
James 14
David 13
Richard 12
Robert 10
Charles 9
Henry 9
Joseph 7
Alfred 6
Edward 6
Albert 4
Arthur 4
Francis 4
Frank 4
Fredrick 4
Philip 4
Samuel 4
Edwin 3
Frederick 3
Harry 3
Walter 3
Herbert 2
Lewis 2
Willie 2
Cecil 1
Chas.Ed. 1
Claude 1
Colston 1
Douglas 1
Ernest 1
Frances 1
Fred 1
Fred.J. 1
Gilbert 1
Jas 1
Jonathan 1
Jonathon 1
Lewin 1
Michael 1
R. 1
Ralph 1
Reginald 1
Rewben 1
Solomon 1
Tom 1
W. 1
Wm.T. 1

FAQ

Rawle surname: questions and answers

How common was the Rawle surname in 1881?

In 1881, 590 people were recorded with the Rawle surname. That placed it at #5,919 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Rawle surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 688 in 2016. That gives Rawle a modern rank of #7,804.

What does the Rawle surname mean?

A surname derived from a variant spelling of the Old French surname Roelle, meaning a small wheeled vehicle.

What does the Rawle map show?

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