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

Rainis, 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 Rainis surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Rainis in America

Rainis is the 147253rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Rainis surname appeared 112 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 Rainis.

We can also compare 2010 data for Rainis 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 Rainis

The surname RAINIS originated in Latvia, a country located in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It emerged during the late 19th century, derived from the Latvian word "rains," which means "peaceful" or "tranquil." This surname holds a strong connection to the cultural and literary heritage of Latvia.

One of the most notable figures associated with the name RAINIS is Jānis Pliekšāns, better known by his pen name Rainis (1865-1929). He was a prominent Latvian poet, playwright, and social activist who played a significant role in the Latvian National Awakening movement. Rainis' literary works, such as the epic poem "Purgatory" and the play "Fire and Night," celebrated Latvian identity and cultural values.

Another individual of historical significance with the surname RAINIS is Ludvigs Rainis (1891-1941), a Latvian lawyer and politician. He was a member of the Latvian Saeima (parliament) and actively participated in the country's struggle for independence from the Russian Empire in the early 20th century.

Tracing back to the late 19th century, the surname RAINIS can be found in various historical records and documents related to the Latvian cultural renaissance. For instance, the name appears in literary journals and publications that were instrumental in promoting Latvian literature and language during that period.

In the early 20th century, a small village in the Vidzeme region of Latvia was renamed Rainiskalns, meaning "Rainis Hill," to honor the renowned poet Rainis. This place name serves as a testament to the enduring legacy and significance of the RAINIS surname in Latvian history and culture.

Additionally, there are records of individuals named RAINIS who made notable contributions in various fields, such as Janis Rainis (1901-1970), a Latvian architect who designed several significant buildings in Riga, the capital city of Latvia, and Karlis Rainis (1920-1995), a Latvian painter and art educator known for his landscape paintings and artistic advocacy.

While the surname RAINIS may have originated from a specific region of Latvia, its impact and significance have transcended geographical boundaries, becoming an integral part of the country's cultural identity and literary heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Rainis

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

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

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

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