Rash last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Rash

An English nickname for a person with a rash or skin eruption, or for an impetuous individual.

Rash, 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 Rash surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Rash in America

Rash is the 4565th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Rash surname appeared 7,769 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 3 people would have the surname Rash.

We can also compare 2010 data for Rash 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.

2010 2000 Change (%)
Rank 4565 4180 8.81%
Count 7,769 7,860 -1.16%
Proportion per 100k 2.63 2.91 -10.11%

The history of the last name Rash

The surname Rash is believed to have originated in the region of Normandy in northern France, likely during the 11th or 12th century. It is thought to be derived from the Old French word "rasche," meaning rash or impulsive, potentially describing a quick-tempered or impetuous individual.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Rash can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive record of landowners and tenants in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. In this historical document, there is a reference to a Norman landowner named Radulfus Rasse, which is believed to be an early variation of the Rash surname.

During the Middle Ages, the name Rash appeared in various records and manuscripts across Europe, often associated with individuals hailing from the Normandy region of France or those of Norman descent. In the 13th century, a notable figure named Richard Rash was recorded as a prominent citizen in the town of Rouen, Normandy.

The earliest known bearer of the Rash surname in England was Sir John Rash, a knight who fought alongside King Richard I during the Third Crusade in the late 12th century. He was granted lands in Oxfordshire upon his return, and the name Rash became established in that region.

Another notable individual with the Rash surname was William Rash, a wealthy merchant and landowner who lived in Somerset, England, in the 15th century. He was known for his philanthropic efforts and established several charitable institutions in the region.

In the 16th century, the name Rash was associated with a prominent family from the town of Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire. One member of this family, Thomas Rash (1542-1611), was a respected scholar and tutor who taught at the local grammar school attended by William Shakespeare.

During the 17th century, the Rash surname gained prominence in Scotland, with several families bearing the name settled in the Highlands and Lowlands. One notable figure from this period was Robert Rash (1637-1704), a Scottish philosopher and theologian who made significant contributions to the field of moral philosophy.

Throughout history, the Rash surname has been associated with various place names and older spellings, such as Rashe, Rasshe, and Rayshe, reflecting the linguistic evolution and regional variations of the name over time.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Rash

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

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 Rash was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 88.96% 6,911
Non-Hispanic Black Only 6.11% 475
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only 0.95% 74
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.33% 26
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races 1.76% 137
Hispanic Origin 1.88% 146

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 Rash has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 88.96% 90.36% -1.56%
Black 6.11% 5.98% 2.15%
Asian and Pacific Islander 0.95% 0.41% 79.41%
American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.33% 0.47% -35.00%
Two or More Races 1.76% 1.63% 7.67%
Hispanic 1.88% 1.16% 47.37%

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

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

Reference this page

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If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!

"Rash last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on October 9, 2024. http://namecensus.com/last-names/rash-surname-popularity/.

"Rash last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/rash-surname-popularity/. Accessed 9 October, 2024

Rash last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/rash-surname-popularity/.

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