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

Rathburn, 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 Rathburn surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Rathburn in America

Rathburn is the 13477th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Rathburn surname appeared 2,256 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Rathburn.

We can also compare 2010 data for Rathburn 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 Rathburn

The surname Rathburn is of English origin, derived from a place name referring to a location where the stream or burn ran near a meadow or rath. It is believed to have emerged in the medieval period, around the 13th or 14th century.

The name is thought to have originated in the county of Yorkshire, where various spellings such as Rathburn, Rathburne, and Radburne were found in early records. One of the earliest known occurrences of the name is in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Returns of 1379, where a John de Rathburne is listed.

In the Domesday Book of 1086, a settlement called Rateburne is mentioned, which is likely the place from which the name Rathburn derived. This entry suggests the name's existence even before the 13th century. The spelling variations reflect the evolution of the name over time.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name was William Rathburn, who was born in Yorkshire around 1450. He served as a yeoman farmer and is recorded in the Yorkshire Chancery Rolls of 1467.

Another prominent figure was John Rathburn, born in 1521 in Lincolnshire. He was a successful merchant and landowner, and his name appears in various property records from the mid-16th century.

In the 17th century, a notable bearer of the name was Robert Rathburn, born in 1632 in Nottinghamshire. He was a prominent Puritan minister and author, known for his sermons and religious writings.

During the 18th century, the name spread to other parts of England, as evidenced by the birth of Richard Rathburn in 1746 in Gloucestershire. He was a renowned clockmaker and his work is still highly regarded by antique collectors.

Another notable figure was Elizabeth Rathburn, born in 1789 in Lancashire. She was a pioneering educator and established one of the first schools for girls in the region, making significant contributions to women's education.

While the name Rathburn is not among the most common surnames, it has a rich history rooted in the English countryside and has been borne by individuals from various walks of life over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Rathburn

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

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

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

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