NameCensus.

UK surname

Rawling

An English occupational surname referring to someone who spun or worked with raw wool.

In the 1881 census there were 1,089 people recorded with the Rawling surname, ranking it #3,653 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 829, ranked #6,706, down from #3,653 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Bradford and Scarborough. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Fenland, Cornwall and Copeland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Rawling is 1,448 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 23.9%.

1881 census count

1,089

Ranked #3,653

Modern count

829

2016, ranked #6,706

Peak year

1911

1,448 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Rawling had 1,089 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,653 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 829 in 2016, ranked #6,706.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,448 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Rawling surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Rawling surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Rawling 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 914 #3,020
1861 historical 936 #2,959
1881 historical 1,089 #3,653
1891 historical 1,288 #3,359
1901 historical 1,271 #3,904
1911 historical 1,448 #3,333
1997 modern 957 #5,682
1998 modern 970 #5,819
1999 modern 968 #5,861
2000 modern 967 #5,848
2001 modern 938 #5,872
2002 modern 961 #5,864
2003 modern 907 #6,048
2004 modern 894 #6,123
2005 modern 870 #6,186
2006 modern 870 #6,209
2007 modern 863 #6,302
2008 modern 862 #6,349
2009 modern 882 #6,367
2010 modern 904 #6,361
2011 modern 885 #6,403
2012 modern 861 #6,459
2013 modern 868 #6,531
2014 modern 851 #6,649
2015 modern 844 #6,655
2016 modern 829 #6,706

Geography

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Where Rawlings are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Bradford, Scarborough, Sculcoates and Leeds. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Fenland, Cornwall and Copeland. 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 3
2 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Scarborough Yorkshire, North Riding
4 Sculcoates Yorkshire, East Riding
5 Leeds Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Fenland 003 Fenland
2 Cornwall 048 Cornwall
3 Cornwall 019 Cornwall
4 Cornwall 038 Cornwall
5 Copeland 004 Copeland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Rawling

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Rawling

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Rawling is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Rawling 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

Rawling falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Rawling

The surname Rawling originates from England and dates back to the medieval period, specifically the 12th century. It is derived from the Old English words "rā" meaning roe deer and "ling" meaning a small field or meadow, suggesting that the name may have originally referred to someone who lived near a deer meadow or a place where roe deer gathered.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Rawling can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Northamptonshire from 1195, where a person named Robert Rawling is mentioned. The name also appears in the Calendarium Genealogicum, a collection of historical records from the 13th century, which lists several individuals with variations of the name such as Raueling, Rawelinge, and Raulyng.

In the 14th century, the Rawling surname was associated with several place names in England, including Rawlingwell in Northumberland and Rawlingbury in Oxfordshire. These place names likely derived from the Old English words "rā" and "ling," further reinforcing the connection between the surname and its etymological roots.

Noteworthy individuals with the surname Rawling throughout history include Sir John Rawling (c. 1520-1592), an English merchant and philanthropist known for founding the Rawling Hospital in Suffolk. Another notable figure was William Rawling (1655-1728), a prominent English Quaker who played a significant role in the early settlement of Pennsylvania.

Other historical figures bearing the Rawling surname include Thomas Rawling (1685-1748), an English mathematician and astronomer who contributed to the development of the Nautical Almanac, and James Rawling (1762-1843), a British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars.

In the 19th century, the surname Rawling gained recognition through the accomplishments of individuals such as John Rawling (1807-1882), a British architect who designed several notable buildings in London, and Richard Rawling (1823-1897), an English politician and businessman who served as a Member of Parliament.

These examples demonstrate the rich history and notable individuals associated with the surname Rawling, tracing its origins back to medieval England and highlighting its connections to place names and occupations related to the natural world.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Rawling families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Rawling 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. Yorkshire leads with 461 Rawlings recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.37x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 461 4.37x
Cornwall 99 8.21x
Lancashire 71 0.56x
Essex 57 2.71x
Durham 56 1.77x
Norfolk 54 3.30x
Middlesex 50 0.47x
Devon 37 1.67x
Northumberland 31 1.96x
Cumberland 20 2.18x
Lincolnshire 20 1.17x
Suffolk 17 1.31x
Caernarfonshire 15 3.48x
Kent 14 0.39x
Surrey 10 0.19x
Cambridgeshire 8 1.19x
Gloucestershire 8 0.38x
Somerset 8 0.47x
Leicestershire 7 0.59x
Warwickshire 7 0.26x
Berkshire 6 0.75x
Bedfordshire 4 0.73x
Buckinghamshire 4 0.62x
Glamorgan 4 0.22x
Northamptonshire 3 0.30x
Sussex 3 0.17x
Wiltshire 3 0.32x
Hertfordshire 2 0.27x
Kirkcudbrightshire 2 1.30x
Royal Navy 2 1.58x
Staffordshire 2 0.06x
Derbyshire 1 0.06x
Dumfriesshire 1 0.43x
Flintshire 1 0.35x
Hampshire 1 0.05x
Kincardineshire 1 0.77x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.07x
Oxfordshire 1 0.15x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Manningham in Yorkshire leads with 33 Rawlings recorded in 1881 and an index of 25.38x.

Place Total Index
Manningham 33 25.38x
Leeds 25 4.19x
Scarborough 22 22.94x
Headingley Cum Burley 21 30.91x
Bootle Cum Linacre 20 19.92x
Sculcoates 20 11.95x
Armley 19 40.81x
Ridgwell 19 791.67x
Tendring 18 582.52x
Keighley 17 15.11x
Bingley 14 20.83x
Llandudno 14 91.21x
Lofthouse Cum Carlton 14 108.86x
Otley 14 54.62x
St Gluvias 14 207.41x
Stoke Damerel 14 9.02x
Bradford 13 5.09x
Seaham 12 103.90x
Tynemouth 12 14.14x
Great Ryburgh 11 434.78x
Mawgan In Pyder 11 426.36x
Warrington 11 7.34x
Barton Le Street 10 1639.34x
East Dereham 10 48.33x
Fleet 9 185.57x
Holy Trinity 9 3.54x
Horton In Bradford 9 5.46x
Monkwearmouth 9 29.67x
Mylor 9 111.39x
Ryton 9 80.79x
Whixoe 9 2093.02x
York St Maurice 9 45.27x
Beswick 8 888.89x
Boston 8 15.48x
Brackenthwaite 8 1904.76x
Camborne 8 16.10x
Monkton Moor 8 879.12x
Plymouth St Andrew 8 4.68x
St Enoder 8 195.12x
Weeton 8 677.97x
Aston 7 0.95x
Beeston 7 65.54x
Leicester St Margaret 7 2.43x
Morley 7 12.76x
North Bierley 7 12.28x
Norton In Malton 7 54.73x
Bath St James 6 33.54x
Bedlington 6 11.34x
Cloughton 6 301.51x
Eccleshill 6 23.36x
Great Dunham 6 416.67x
Kirkby Moorside 6 89.29x
Langton 6 631.58x
Middlesbrough 6 4.36x
Normanton 6 18.92x
Paul 6 27.38x
Pegswood 6 168.54x
Rothwell 6 28.14x
Selby 6 27.20x
St Luke London 6 3.51x
Stockton On Tees 6 3.93x
Swinton Broughton In 6 361.45x
Tamerton Foliott 6 140.52x
Upwell 6 121.46x
Welburn In Malton 6 292.68x
York St Sampson 6 265.49x
Aspatria 5 56.69x
Bramhope 5 746.27x
Cawton 5 2083.33x
Clifton 5 4.73x
Everton 5 1.24x
Hetton Le Hole 5 12.45x
Keswick 5 42.66x
Liverpool 5 0.65x
Mile End Old Town 5 2.97x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 5 5.28x
Newington 5 17.20x
Normanby In Helmsley 5 769.23x
Tottenham 5 2.95x
Wortley In Bramley 5 5.98x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 68
Elizabeth 43
Sarah 43
Jane 28
Emma 26
Annie 23
Ann 21
Hannah 18
Alice 13
Ellen 13
Eliza 11
Margaret 11
Catherine 9
Emily 9
Florence 9
Maria 9
Ada 8
Edith 7
Harriet 7
Martha 7
Caroline 6
Clara 6
Rachel 6
Rebecca 6
Susannah 6
Charlotte 5
Kate 5
Louisa 5
Elizth. 4
Harriett 4
Dorothy 3
Eliz. 3
Fanny 3
Frances 3
Grace 3
Amelia 2
Amy 2
Elizth.Jane 2
Esther 2
Eva 2
Jessie 2
Laura 2
Lizzie 2
Lydia 2
Mabel 2
Matilda 2
Susan 2
Bessie 1
Elener 1
William 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 71
William 65
George 38
Thomas 37
James 26
Joseph 26
Charles 19
Robert 15
Arthur 12
Edward 12
Henry 12
Walter 12
Samuel 11
Alfred 10
Albert 8
Francis 7
Jonathan 7
Frank 6
Herbert 6
Richard 6
Wm. 6
Abraham 5
David 5
Ernest 5
Isaac 5
Leonard 5
Christopher 4
Joshua 4
Benjamin 3
Daniel 3
Geo. 3
Ralph 3
Tom 3
Anthony 2
Chas. 2
Edmund 2
Edwin 2
Frederick 2
Harry 2
Jas. 2
Jno. 2
Joe 2
Mark 2
Reuben 2
Simpson 2
Sylvester 2
Ezra 1
Frances 1
Fras. 1
Wm.Hy. 1

FAQ

Rawling surname: questions and answers

How common was the Rawling surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,089 people were recorded with the Rawling surname. That placed it at #3,653 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Rawling surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 829 in 2016. That gives Rawling a modern rank of #6,706.

What does the Rawling surname mean?

An English occupational surname referring to someone who spun or worked with raw wool.

What does the Rawling map show?

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