Find out how popular the last name Rabe is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Rabe.

Rabe, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Rabe surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Rabe in America

Rabe is the 7450th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Rabe surname appeared 4,472 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Rabe.

We can also compare 2010 data for Rabe to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Rabe

The surname Rabe is of German origin, derived from the German word "Rabe," which means "raven" or "crow." The name likely originated as a nickname for someone with dark hair or a swarthy complexion, resembling the plumage of a raven.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be traced back to the 13th century in various regions of Germany. In the town of Goslar, Lower Saxony, a record from 1297 mentions a person named Henricus Rabe. Additionally, a document from 1331 in the city of Kolberg (now Kolobrzeg, Poland) references a certain Nicolaus Rabe.

During the Middle Ages, the name appeared in various spellings, such as Raben, Rabe, and Rabin, reflecting regional variations in pronunciation and spelling conventions. Some historical records suggest that the name may have been associated with certain occupations, such as falconry or hunting, where ravens or crows played a role.

In the 16th century, the name gained prominence with the scholar and humanist Johann Rabe (1497-1548), a renowned professor of philosophy and theology at the University of Marburg. Another notable figure was the German poet and dramatist Paul Rabe (1580-1636), known for his plays and religious works.

The 17th century saw the rise of the Rabe family in the city of Lübeck, where they were prominent merchants and ship owners. One member, Joachim Rabe (1630-1693), served as a mayor of Lübeck and played a significant role in the city's affairs.

In the 18th century, the name was associated with the German philosopher and mathematician Johann Jakob Rabe (1714-1793), who made contributions to calculus and was a member of the Prussian Academy of Sciences.

Moving into the 19th century, Johann Gottfried Rabe (1831-1907) was a renowned German explorer and naturalist, known for his expeditions to West Africa and his contributions to the study of flora and fauna in the region.

The surname Rabe has been carried by many notable individuals throughout history, spanning various fields, including academia, literature, politics, and exploration. While the name's origins can be traced back to medieval Germany, it has since spread to other parts of the world, reflecting the migration patterns and cultural exchanges that have shaped human societies over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Rabe

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Rabe.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Rabe was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Rabe has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

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

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

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