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

Rax, 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 Rax surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Rax in America

Rax is the 97671st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Rax surname appeared 186 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 Rax.

We can also compare 2010 data for Rax 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 Rax

The surname Rax originates from the German language, with its roots traceable back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old German word "rache," which means "revenge" or "vengeance." This linguistic connection suggests that the name may have been initially associated with individuals involved in seeking retribution or enforcing justice.

The earliest recorded instances of the Rax surname can be found in various historical documents from the medieval period in regions that are now part of modern-day Germany. One notable example is the mention of a certain Heinricus Rax in a legal document dated 1287 from the town of Augsburg.

During the 16th century, the Rax name appeared in the records of the Protestant Reformation, with a Lutheran theologian named Johann Rax (1505-1565) playing a significant role in the religious upheaval of that era. He was known for his writings and sermons advocating for the principles of the Reformation.

In the realm of literature, the Rax surname gained prominence in the 18th century with the German poet and dramatist Christian Rax (1725-1798). His works, which included plays and lyrical compositions, were highly regarded during his lifetime and contributed to the cultural landscape of the era.

Another notable figure bearing the Rax name was Wilhelm Rax (1819-1892), a German architect and urban planner. He was responsible for the design and development of several prominent buildings and urban spaces in cities such as Berlin and Leipzig, leaving a lasting impact on the architectural heritage of those regions.

The Rax surname also found its way into the annals of exploration and adventure. Heinrich Rax (1865-1923) was a German explorer and mountaineer who gained fame for his expeditions to the Himalayas and other remote mountain ranges. His achievements in scaling previously unclimbed peaks earned him recognition as one of the pioneering figures in the field of mountaineering.

While the origins of the Rax surname can be traced back to Germany, over the centuries, it has spread to various parts of the world due to migration and settlement patterns. However, the historical roots and linguistic connections to the Old German word "rache" remain an integral part of the name's legacy.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Rax

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

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

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

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