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

Rafter, 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 Rafter surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Rafter in America

Rafter is the 16984th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Rafter surname appeared 1,673 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Rafter.

We can also compare 2010 data for Rafter 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 Rafter

The surname Rafter is of English origin, deriving from the Old English word "ræftr," which referred to the horizontal beams used in the construction of a roof. The name likely originated as an occupational surname, given to skilled carpenters or builders specializing in the making and installation of rafters.

During the medieval period, the surname Rafter was most prevalent in the counties of Lancashire and Yorkshire, where many skilled craftsmen and builders were employed in the construction of churches, castles, and other significant structures. The earliest recorded instance of the name dates back to the 13th century, with a reference to a Thomas le Raftere in the Lancashire Pipe Rolls of 1246.

One notable historical figure bearing the name Rafter was Sir John Rafter, a prominent architect and master builder in the late 15th century. He is credited with the design and construction of several notable buildings, including the iconic Southwark Cathedral in London, which was completed in 1489.

In the 16th century, the name Rafter appeared in various records, including the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire in 1523, which listed several individuals with the surname, such as Robert Rafter of Doncaster and William Rafter of York.

Another notable figure was Sir Thomas Rafter (1602-1669), a successful merchant and landowner from Lancashire. He played a significant role in the development of the town of Lytham during the 17th century and was a prominent supporter of the Royalist cause during the English Civil War.

The surname Rafter also has connections to place names in England, such as Rafter's Green in Hertfordshire and Rafter's Moor in Yorkshire. These place names likely derived from individuals with the surname who lived or owned land in those areas.

Other notable individuals with the surname Rafter include John Rafter (1755-1832), a respected shipbuilder from Whitby, Yorkshire, and George Rafter (1819-1892), a renowned architect who designed several churches and public buildings in London during the Victorian era.

Rafter continues to be a relatively uncommon surname, particularly in the United States and other parts of the world, but it retains its historical connections to the skilled craftsmanship of carpentry and construction in England.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Rafter

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

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

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

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