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

Rayn, 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 Rayn surname is from the 2000 census data.

Popularity of Rayn in America

Rayn is the 150436th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Rayn surname appeared 100 times in the 2000 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Rayn.

The history of the last name Rayn

The surname Rayn is believed to have originated in the British Isles, particularly in England during the medieval period. The time frame can be traced back to as early as the 12th century. The name is derived from the Old French word "reine," meaning queen, which was introduced to England following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The spelling variants such as Rain, Rainne, and Raine suggest a common medieval practice of phonetic spelling, reflecting regional accents and literacy levels.

Historical references to the surname Rayn appear in medieval manuscripts and records. One such mention is in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex, dated 1296, where a John Rayn is documented. Another early record is found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, highlighting a William Rayn in Cambridgeshire. These entries indicate that the name was localized in various regions of England, possibly denoting individuals connected to a lord's household or in service to a reigning queen.

The earliest recorded example of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where a Radulfus Rayn is noted as holding land in Norfolk. This documentation underscores the name's deep roots in English history. The name Rayn was also used in place names such as Reynoldston in Wales, suggesting a significant presence and possible land ownership associated with bearers of this surname.

Famous individuals with the surname Rayn include Geoffrey Rayn, a knight who fought during the Hundred Years' War in the 14th century. Another notable figure is Thomas Rayn, born in 1458 and known for his contributions to early English jurisprudence. In literature, Edward Rayn, born in 1601, gained recognition for his poetry during the English Renaissance. Moving into the 18th century, Susanna Rayn, born in 1732, was acknowledged for her philanthropic efforts in London. Lastly, in the 19th century, Charles Rayn, born in 1829, became a prominent industrialist during the Victorian era, significantly contributing to the textile industry in Manchester.

The surname Rayn, with its variants and documented historical references, highlights a rich tapestry of medieval life, land, and service, evolving through centuries to mark its place in the annals of history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Rayn

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

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 2000 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Rayn 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.

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

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

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