Rayfield first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Rayfield has been for the last 29 years (from 1974 to 2002) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Rayfield

A masculine name meaning "radiant or shining field".

Popularity of Rayfield by gender

Based on the last 29 years of data, Rayfield is exclusively a male name.

For the most recent data in 2002, there were 5 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Rayfield.

Year Male Count Female Count
2002 5 0
2000 5 0
1995 6 0
1994 5 0
1992 8 0
1990 9 0
1989 9 0
1988 13 0
1987 7 0
1986 6 0
1985 7 0
1984 7 0
1983 12 0
1982 10 0
1981 13 0
1980 12 0
1979 18 0
1978 16 0
1977 6 0
1976 12 0
1975 6 0
1974 17 0

The history of the first name Rayfield

The name Rayfield is an English given name that emerged during the Middle Ages, around the 13th century. It is derived from the Old English words "raed" meaning "counsel" or "advice" and "feld" meaning "field" or "open land." The name was likely given to individuals who lived in a field or open area and were known for their wisdom and counsel.

One of the earliest recorded bearers of the name Rayfield was Sir Rayfield de Wilton, a knight who served under King Edward III during the Hundred Years' War in the 14th century. He was noted for his bravery and strategic counsel on the battlefield.

In the 15th century, a prominent figure named Rayfield Chaucer, believed to be a distant relative of the famous poet Geoffrey Chaucer, was a wealthy merchant and landowner in London. His name appears in several historical records and documents from that era.

During the English Renaissance, a playwright and poet named Rayfield Marlowe lived in the 16th century. While not as renowned as his contemporary William Shakespeare, Marlowe's works, such as "The Tragical History of Dr. Faustus," were influential in the development of English drama.

In the 17th century, Rayfield Cromwell, a distant cousin of Oliver Cromwell, was a prominent Puritan minister and author. He wrote several theological treatises and sermons that were widely read during the English Civil War period.

Moving into the 18th century, Rayfield Newton was a noted mathematician and astronomer who made significant contributions to the field of celestial mechanics. He worked alongside Sir Isaac Newton and his name is mentioned in various scientific journals and papers from that time.

Throughout its history, the name Rayfield has been borne by individuals from various walks of life, including scholars, military leaders, artists, and religious figures. While not as common as some other English names, it has endured as a unique and distinctive name with a rich historical background.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Rayfield was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Rayfield, please contact us.

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!

"Rayfield first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on September 16, 2024. http://namecensus.com/first-names/rayfield-meaning-and-history/.

"Rayfield first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/rayfield-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 16 September, 2024

Rayfield first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/rayfield-meaning-and-history/.

Search for a name

Search for a first or last name to learn more about its origin, meaning, and more.

Simple as that.