RAFTER
In the 1881 Census
Top Locations
See the bottom of the page for an explanation of the numeric columns.
Counties
Census Districts
Demographics
Numbers in brackets are the total recorded in the census. Note that for less common surnames, some of these may well be typos or transcription errors. See below for some more information on occupational titles.
Top male names
- John (17)
- Thomas (12)
- James (8)
- Patrick (6)
- William (6)
- Michael (4)
- Henry (4)
- Daniel (4)
- Francis (3)
- Joseph (3)
- Martin (2)
- Charles (2)
- Chs. (2)
- Timothy (2)
- Alfred (2)
- Edward (2)
- Richard (2)
- Barny (1)
- Patsey (1)
- P.Alexandria (1)
- Peter (1)
- Micheal (1)
- Michal (1)
- Sylvester (1)
- Mathew (1)
- Colin (1)
- Denis (1)
- Dominick (1)
- Edmund (1)
- Edwin (1)
- Evan (1)
- George (1)
- Jame (1)
- Claude (1)
- Lucius (1)
- Adolphus (1)
Top female names
- Mary (15)
- Catherine (8)
- Elizabeth (7)
- Margaret (5)
- Sarah (4)
- Maria (4)
- Ellen (4)
- Annie (3)
- Ann (3)
- Emily (3)
- Alice (3)
- Jane (2)
- Martha (2)
- Agnes (2)
- Charlotte (2)
- Anne (2)
- Silvia (1)
- Margt.M. (1)
- Susannah (1)
- Margt. (1)
- Maggie (1)
- M. (1)
- Lavinia (1)
- Bridget (1)
- Caroline (1)
- Cathre. (1)
- Clara (1)
- Emma (1)
- Halkett (1)
- Isabel (1)
- Johanna (1)
- Kate (1)
- Winifred (1)
Top occupations
- Scholar (29)
- School (4)
- Worsted Spinner (4)
- Silk Embroideress (3)
- Farm Labourer (3)
- Housekeeper (2)
- Dressmaker (2)
- Cotton Rover (2)
- Labr In Iron Works (2)
- Hawker (2)
- Labourer (Colliery) (2)
- Lab (2)
- None (2)
- Charwoman (2)
- Laundress (2)
- General Labourer (1)
- Gen Lab (1)
- Labourer Excavator (1)
- General Servant (Domestic) (1)
- General Servt (1)
- General Servant (1)
- Ironer (Washing) (1)
- Labourer (1)
- Greengrocer (1)
- Hanger On At Colliery (1)
- Joiner (1)
- Horse Keeper (1)
- House Wife (1)
- Genl Labr (1)
- Cotton Weaver (1)
- French Polisher (1)
- Foreman Of Street Cleaners (Road Lab) (1)
- Coal Miner (1)
- Coal Merchant (1)
- Clerk India Rubber Cop (1)
- Clerk At A College (1)
- Carter (Ag Lab) (1)
- Artist (3/7) (1)
- Art((ist)) Master ((A)) (1)
- Apprentice Home Trade (Manufacturer) (1)
- Collier (1)
- Worsted Weaver Unemployed (1)
- Farm Servant (Indoor) (1)
- Farm Labr (Ag) (1)
- Farm Labr (1)
- Farm Labourer Wife (1)
- Errand Boy (1)
- Driver At Bleachworks (Cotton) (1)
- Dress Maker (1)
- Cotton Porter (1)
Explanation of numeric columns in the county and district tables
The Total column shows the total number of people in that county or town with this surname. For example, there were 55 people with the surname Rafter in the county of Yorkshire in 1881.
The Frequency column shows the percentage of people in this county or town with this surname. For example, 0% of the people in Yorkshire were called Rafter.
The Index column shows how more or less common a surname is in a particular location compared to the population as a whole. If the index is higher than 1, then you more likely to find a person with this name here than you would in the country as a whole. And if it's less than 1, you are less likely to find someone with this surname here. For example, the Rafter surname has an index of 2.93 in Yorkshire, meaning that you are 2.93 times as likely to find a Rafter here than you would in the population as a whole.
The Total value is an absolute figure which takes no account of the size of the county or town, so it tends to be biased towards larger towns and counties. The Frequency and Index values are relative to the local population, so they give a better idea of where a surname is most concentrated.
A note on occupational titles
Occupational titles are presented exactly as recorded on the census and later transcribed, with no attempt made to unify names that are the same. So, for example, 'Ag Lab' and 'Agricultural Labourer' will apear as separate entries, and so will any misspellings of them.
'Scholar' was the census term for any child in education. Given that families tended to be large, this means that school children, or scholars, are almost always the largest recorded occupational group for any surname. A better idea of what the family breadwinners did for a living will be found in the other job titles.