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

Racey, 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 Racey surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Racey in America

Racey is the 34427th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Racey surname appeared 658 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Racey.

We can also compare 2010 data for Racey 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 Racey

The surname Racey is of English origin, tracing its roots back to the 14th century. It is believed to have originated from the village of Rasey, located in the county of Lincolnshire. The name is thought to be derived from the Old English word "ræs," meaning a swift or violent movement, possibly indicating that the earliest bearers of the name were known for their speed or agility.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Racey surname can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Lincolnshire from 1349, where a certain John Racey was listed as a taxpayer. This document provides valuable insight into the prevalence of the name during the Middle Ages in that region.

In the late 16th century, the Racey surname appeared in the parish records of Stow Bardolph, a village in Norfolk. One notable entry from 1593 mentions the baptism of Thomas Racey, son of John and Elizabeth Racey, suggesting that the family had established itself in the area by that time.

The Racey name has been carried by several notable individuals throughout history. One such figure was Richard Racey, a wealthy landowner and merchant from Oxfordshire who lived during the 17th century. Records indicate that he was involved in the wool trade and possessed substantial property in the village of Adderbury.

Another individual of note was Captain John Racey, a British naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars of the early 19th century. He was commended for his bravery and leadership during several crucial battles against the French, including the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805.

In the realm of literature, the Racey surname is associated with the English poet and playwright, William Racey (1681-1749). He is best known for his satirical works that criticized the social and political climate of the time, earning him both acclaim and controversy during his lifetime.

Moving into the 19th century, the Racey name gained prominence in the field of engineering with the contributions of Sir Edward Racey (1819-1891). He was a pioneering civil engineer responsible for the design and construction of several notable bridges and railways across England, including the iconic Forth Bridge in Scotland.

Throughout its history, the Racey surname has been subject to various spelling variations, including Racye, Racye, and Raycy, reflecting the evolution of language and regional dialects over time. However, the core meaning and significance of the name have remained rooted in its English origins, symbolizing a legacy of swiftness, agility, and achievement.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Racey

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

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 Racey 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 Racey 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 Racey was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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