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

Rattle, 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 Rattle surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Rattle in America

Rattle is the 138304th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Rattle surname appeared 121 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 Rattle.

We can also compare 2010 data for Rattle 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 Rattle

The surname Rattle is believed to have originated in England, with its roots dating back to the Middle Ages. It is thought to be a descriptive name derived from the Old English word "hratol," which means to rattle or make a rattling sound. This suggests that the name may have been initially given to someone whose occupation or personal characteristic was associated with rattling or making noise.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Rattle can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire, a census-like document from 1273, which mentions a "Willelmus Ratel." This early spelling variation, "Ratel," further supports the connection to the Old English word "hratol."

During the 14th century, the surname appeared in various records and manuscripts across different regions of England. In the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex from 1327, a "Johannes Ratel" is listed, while the Poll Tax Returns of Yorkshire in 1379 mention a "Thomas Ratyll."

The Rattle name has also been linked to certain place names in England. For instance, there is a village called Rattle in Staffordshire, which may have contributed to the surname's development in that area.

One notable individual who bore the Rattle surname was John Rattle (c. 1655-1742), an English clergyman and author who served as the Rector of Bushley in Worcestershire. Another prominent figure was Samuel Rattle (1675-1737), a British architect and surveyor who worked on several significant projects in London during the early 18th century.

In the 19th century, William Rattle (1816-1899) gained recognition as a British architect and surveyor, responsible for designing several notable buildings in London and the surrounding areas. Additionally, John Rattle (1820-1893) was a successful engineer and inventor who made contributions to the development of steam engines and locomotives.

Another noteworthy individual was Thomas Rattle (1841-1912), a British artist and illustrator known for his paintings and illustrations depicting rural life in England during the Victorian era.

The Rattle surname continues to be found throughout various parts of England, as well as in other English-speaking countries where descendants of English settlers have migrated over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Rattle

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

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

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

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