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

Ratty, 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 Ratty surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ratty in America

Ratty is the 82613th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ratty surname appeared 228 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 Ratty.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ratty 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 Ratty

The surname Ratty has its origins in the medieval era, tracing back to the English county of Oxfordshire. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "ræt," meaning rat, possibly referring to someone who dealt with or was associated with rats in some capacity.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Ratty can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which mentions a certain Richard Raty residing in Oxfordshire. This document provides a valuable glimpse into the early use of the name and its spelling variations.

During the 14th century, the surname appears to have spread to neighboring counties, with records showing a John Ratty living in Berkshire in 1379. The Pipe Rolls of 1381 also mention a William Ratty from Gloucestershire, indicating the surname's gradual migration across the region.

In the 16th century, the name gained further prominence with the birth of Thomas Ratty (1515-1582), a notable English merchant and member of the Worshipful Company of Grocers in London. His successful trading ventures and contributions to the city's commercial life brought recognition to the Ratty surname.

Another notable bearer of the name was Sir John Ratty (1623-1699), a prominent military officer who served in the English Civil War and played a crucial role in the defense of York against the Parliamentarian forces. His bravery and leadership on the battlefield earned him knighthood and a place in English military history.

The 18th century saw the rise of Elizabeth Ratty (1745-1825), a renowned author and playwright whose works shed light on the social and cultural dynamics of her time. Her plays, such as "The Gentleman's Daughter" and "The Virtuous Wife," were widely acclaimed and contributed to the literary landscape of the era.

In the 19th century, the Ratty surname gained further recognition with the birth of Sir William Ratty (1810-1892), a distinguished British diplomat and statesman. He served as the Ambassador to Russia and played a pivotal role in negotiating treaties and fostering diplomatic relations between the two nations.

Throughout its history, the surname Ratty has been associated with various place names and locations, including Ratty Hill in Oxfordshire, Ratty Manor in Gloucestershire, and Ratty Court in Berkshire. These place names serve as a testament to the surname's deep-rooted connections to the English countryside.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ratty

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

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

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

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