Rattay
A toponymic surname derived from a place name in the Czech Republic.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 343 Americans carry the last name Rattay. That puts it at #69,392 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.10 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 999,284 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Rattay 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
343
1 in 999,284
Census rank
#69,392
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
283
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 283 bearers of the surname Rattay in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.10 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 69392nd position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Rattay, the largest self-reported group is White at 91.2%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (4.2%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (2.1%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Rattay
The surname Rattay is of Czech origin, originating from the region of Bohemia in the present-day Czech Republic. It is believed to have emerged sometime around the 13th or 14th century.
One of the earliest recorded references to the name Rattay can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus et Epistolaris Regni Bohemiae, a collection of historical documents from the Kingdom of Bohemia, dating back to the 13th century. The name is thought to be derived from the Czech word "rataj," which means "farmer" or "ploughman," suggesting that the original bearers of this surname were likely involved in agricultural pursuits.
The name Rattay is also closely associated with the town of Rataje nad Sázavou, located in the Central Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. This town's name, which shares a similar root with the surname, further reinforces the connection between the name and its agricultural origins.
One of the earliest known individuals with the surname Rattay was Jan Rattay, a prominent Czech philosopher and theologian who lived in the 15th century (c. 1400-1454). He played a significant role in the Hussite movement, a pre-Protestant Christian movement that challenged the authority of the Roman Catholic Church in Bohemia.
Another notable figure bearing the surname Rattay was Václav Rattay (1679-1750), a Czech painter and engraver who was active during the Baroque period. His works can be found in various churches and monasteries throughout the Czech Republic.
In the 19th century, František Rattay (1805-1883) was a Czech writer and journalist who made significant contributions to the development of Czech literature and journalism. He played an important role in the Czech National Revival movement, which aimed to revive and promote the Czech language and culture.
One of the most prominent figures with the surname Rattay in more recent history was Jaroslav Rattay (1905-1990), a Czech film director and screenwriter. He is best known for his work in the 1930s and 1940s, including the films "Cesta do hlubin študákovy duše" (1939) and "Panna" (1940).
Finally, it is worth mentioning Radim Rattay (born 1991), a Czech professional ice hockey player who currently plays for the Dynamo Pardubice team in the Czech Extraliga league.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Rattay
Among Census respondents with the surname Rattay, the largest self-reported group is White at 91.2%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (4.2%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (2.1%).
The bar chart below shows how Rattay 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 Rattay surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White91.2%
- Hispanic or Latino4.2%
- Asian and Pacific Islander2.1%
- Two or more races1.8%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Rattay 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 | #69,392 | #69,392 | 0.0% |
| Count | 283 | 283 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.10 | 0.10 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Rattay bearers went from 283 to 283 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #69,392 to #69,392.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Rattay
FAQ
Rattay surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Rattay?
The surname Rattay holds position #69,392 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 343 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.10 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Rattay surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Rattay, the largest self-reported group is White at 91.2%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (4.2%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (2.1%). 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.