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

Raggs, 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 Raggs surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Raggs in America

Raggs is the 56588th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Raggs surname appeared 361 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 Raggs.

We can also compare 2010 data for Raggs 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 Raggs

The surname Raggs is of English origin, emerging in the late 12th century. It is derived from the Old English word "rag," which referred to a rough, tattered cloth or garment. Individuals with this surname were likely associated with the production or trade of rags during medieval times.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Raggs can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1195, where a certain William Raggs is mentioned as a taxpayer. The surname also appears in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, listing a John Raggs among the landowners in the region.

In the 14th century, the name Raggs was prevalent in various parts of England, including the counties of Somerset, Wiltshire, and Dorset. It is believed that the name may have originated from the village of Raggs, located in Somerset, which was mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086.

One notable figure with the surname Raggs was Sir Thomas Raggs, a member of the English gentry who lived in the late 15th century. He served as a Member of Parliament for Wiltshire in 1472 and was known for his involvement in local affairs.

Another individual of historical significance was Robert Raggs, a merchant and philanthropist born in Bristol in 1634. He made significant contributions to the city's development and was instrumental in establishing several charitable institutions, including the Raggs Almshouses for the poor.

In the 18th century, the Raggs family had a strong presence in the village of Wootton Bassett, Wiltshire. John Raggs (1712-1789) was a prominent landowner and farmer in the area, and his son, William Raggs (1745-1823), continued the family's agricultural legacy.

During the 19th century, the spelling variation "Ragg" became more common, and several individuals with this surname gained recognition. One such person was John Ragg (1825-1898), a British writer and journalist who authored several books on historical and literary topics.

Another noteworthy figure was Sir Laman Ragg (1856-1940), a British architect and surveyor. He was responsible for designing several notable buildings in London, including the Royal College of Music and the Chelsea Court Place.

While the surname Raggs has its roots in medieval England, it has since spread to other parts of the world through emigration and various historical events. The name continues to be associated with its humble origins, reflecting the lives of those who once worked with rags and tattered cloth.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Raggs

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

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

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

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