RACKHAM
Rackham
Rackham is a distinctive British surname with origins that can be traced back to Old English. The name is primarily of locational origin, deriving from various places across England that were named Rackham, such as Rackham in West Sussex, or Rackham in East Sussex.
The etymology of the name can be further explored through the Old English roots "hraca," which means "cormorant," and "hamm," which signifies a "water meadow" or "enclosure." This suggests that the name may have originally denoted a place frequented by cormorants.
The earliest recorded instance of the surname can be found in the Oxfordshire Curia Rolls in 1204, where a Reginald de Rackham is mentioned. Over the centuries, the Rackham surname spread beyond its original locations, and individuals bearing this surname have played various roles in British history.
Notably, the Rackham name gained particular prominence due to the esteemed British illustrator and artist, Arthur Rackham (1867–1939). Renowned for his detailed and imaginative illustrations of fairy tales and literary works, Arthur Rackham's legacy has heightened the recognition and associations tied to the Rackham surname.
Today, individuals with the surname Rackham can be found across the United Kingdom and in various parts of the world. The name continues to be a unique identifier of British heritage and a link to historical and cultural contributions associated with the Rackham lineage.
There are approximately 1,911 people named Rackham in the UK. That makes it roughly the 4,370th most common surname in Britain. Around 29 in a million people in Britain are named Rackham.
Surname type: Location or geographical feature
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English
Typical given names associated with the surname
Male
- Andrew
- Christopher
- David
- James
- John
- Mark
- Michael
- Paul
- Peter
- Thomas
Female
- Amanda
- Caroline
- Deborah
- Elizabeth
- Gillian
- Jane
- Janet
- Jean
- Karen
- Kathleen
- Lynne
- Mary
- Pamela
- Susan