Rains
An English toponymic surname referring to someone who lived near a boundary or strip of land.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 13,642 Americans carry the last name Rains. That puts it at #3,055 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 3.98 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 25,125 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Rains surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
14K
1 in 25,125
Census rank
#3,055
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
4.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
12K
uncommon in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 11,737 bearers of the surname Rains in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 3.98 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 3055th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Rains, the largest self-reported group is White at 91.0%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.0%) and Black (2.2%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Rains
The surname Rains is of English origin, derived from the Old English word "regn" meaning "rain" or "rainy". This surname first emerged in the early medieval period, around the 11th or 12th century, and was likely a descriptive name given to someone who lived in a particularly rainy area or was associated with rain in some way.
The earliest recorded instances of the name Rains can be traced back to the 13th century in various English records and chronicles. One notable example is found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1230, which mentions a person named William Rains. The Hundred Rolls of 1273 also contains references to individuals with the surname Rains, such as John le Rains and Robert Rains.
In the 14th century, the name appears in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire, where a Thomas Rains is listed. The Lay Subsidy Rolls of 1334 for Warwickshire also record a Richard Rains. These early records suggest that the Rains surname was well-established in various parts of England by this time.
One of the earliest known instances of the name Rains in a place name context can be found in the village of Rainhill in Merseyside, formerly known as Rainshill or Raynhill in the 13th century. This place name likely derived from the Old English words "regn" and "hyll", meaning "rainy hill".
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname Rains. One example is Thomas Rains (c. 1590-1670), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Northamptonshire during the English Civil War. Another prominent figure was John Rains (1670-1744), a British naval officer who served as a captain in the Royal Navy and was involved in several battles against the French and Spanish fleets.
Other individuals with the surname Rains include Sir Gabriel Rains (1803-1881), a British military engineer and inventor who made significant contributions to the development of coastal defense systems and fortifications. James Rains (1833-1895) was an American Confederate officer during the American Civil War, serving as a brigadier general in the Army of Northern Virginia.
In more recent times, Clarence Rains (1888-1967) was an American actor who appeared in numerous films and television shows, including his notable role as Senator Fredric Munson in the classic movie "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" (1939).
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Rains
Among Census respondents with the surname Rains, the largest self-reported group is White at 91.0%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.0%) and Black (2.2%).
The bar chart below shows how Rains bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Rains surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White91.0%
- Hispanic or Latino3.0%
- Black or African American2.2%
- Two or more races1.8%
- American Indian and Alaska Native1.3%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.7%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Rains surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #3,055 | #3,055 | 0.0% |
| Count | 11,737 | 11,737 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 3.98 | 3.98 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Rains bearers went from 11,737 to 11,737 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #3,055 to #3,055.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Rains
FAQ
Rains surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Rains?
The surname Rains holds position #3,055 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 13,642 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 3.98 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Rains surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Rains, the largest self-reported group is White at 91.0%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.0%) and Black (2.2%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.