RAFFLES
Raffles
Raffles is a British surname with notable historical significance. The name is believed to have originated from the Old Norse personal name "Hrólfr," meaning 'wolf'. The name Raffles gained prominence with the renowned British colonial administrator and founder of Singapore, Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles (1781–1826).
Sir Stamford Raffles played a key role in the founding of the modern city of Singapore and is credited with establishing Singapore as a crucial British trading post in the East Indies. His contributions to British colonial history have immortalised the surname Raffles.
Over time, the surname Raffles has been carried by various individuals across different spheres of society, continuing to represent a name of British heritage and historical significance. Today, individuals bearing the surname Raffles may be descendants of the notable figures associated with its history or may have adopted the name for personal or familial reasons.
There are approximately 84 people named Raffles in the UK. That makes it one of Britain's least common surnames. Only around one in a million people in Britain are named Raffles.