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

Rape, 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 Rape surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Rape in America

Rape is the 22012th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Rape surname appeared 1,178 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 Rape.

We can also compare 2010 data for Rape 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 Rape

The surname RAPE has its origins in England and dates back to the medieval period. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word 'rap', which referred to a rope or cord. This suggests that the name may have initially been an occupational surname for someone who worked with ropes, such as a rope-maker or sailor.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name RAPE can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of land ownership and taxation in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The entry mentions a landowner named Radulfus Rape in Gloucestershire.

In the 13th century, there are records of a family named Rape residing in the village of Rape, which was located near the town of Andover in Hampshire. It is possible that the family took their surname from this place name, or that the place name itself was derived from their surname.

One notable individual with the surname RAPE was Sir John Rape, who lived in the 14th century and served as a member of the English parliament representing Somerset. Another individual of note was Thomas Rape, a merchant and alderman from London who lived in the late 15th century.

During the 16th century, the name RAPE appears in various spellings, including Rapp, Roppe, and Roper, which may have been influenced by the similar-sounding occupation of rope-maker. One example is John Roper, who was a prominent English lawyer and Member of Parliament during the reign of Henry VIII.

In the 17th century, the RAPE surname can be found in various parts of England, with records showing individuals bearing this name in counties such as Gloucestershire, Somerset, and Hampshire. One individual of note was William Rape, a wealthy landowner and justice of the peace in Gloucestershire who was born in 1620.

Throughout the centuries, the RAPE surname has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including farmers, merchants, and professionals. While the name may have originated from a humble occupation, it has become a part of the rich tapestry of English surnames.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Rape

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

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

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

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