RATTRAY
The Rattray surname originates from Gaelic and Scottish linguistic traditions and is closely linked to the geography of Perthshire.
The name is believed to derive from the elements rath meaning “fort” and raidh meaning “fern” or “smooth”, reflecting a fort situated near a fern‑covered or smooth tract of land. This locational designation later became a hereditary surname for those who lived in or near the hamlet of Rattray, a former feudal barony in the historic county of Perthshire.
Early documentary evidence dates back to the late twelfth century. The first recorded spelling appears as Alan de Ratheriff in a charter witnessed during the reign of King Alexander the Eleventh (1165‑1214). Subsequent records from the mid‑thirteenth century show individuals such as Thomas de Rettre (1253) in a dispute with the Abbot of Arbroath over property boundaries, and Adam de Rethereth (1256) who witnessed a charter by Cristina de Valoniis. Variants that have appeared in historical sources include Rattrie, Ratray, Rattery, and Rattry.
The coat of arms associated with the Rattray family of Perth and Craighall is blazoned as a blue field bearing three gold cross crosslets fitchee. The crest is a gold star crowned with a flaming heart proper, and the motto is rendered in Latin as Super sidera votum, which translates as “My wishes are above the stars”.
Distribution of the surname today remains strongest in Scotland, particularly within Perthshire, but the name has a noticeable presence in Australia, the United States, Canada, and New Zealand. In Australia the name is most common in the capital Canberra and along the eastern seaboard, while in Scotland it remains a notable forename in addition to a surname. The spread to overseas countries was largely due to emigration during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.
Genealogical research indicates that the Rattrays may have historical links to the ancient Pictish kingdom of Fortriu and, according to tradition, to a branch of the Macbeths who once held the lands of Rattray. The various spellings that evolved over time, such as Ratree, Rattree, Redrath, Rathey, and Ratteray, reflect local dialectal influences and orthographic changes in different regions.
The surname Rattray exemplifies how a place name can become an enduring family identifier, carrying with it references to geography, feudal structure, heraldry, and cultural heritage across centuries and continents.
Typical given names associated with the Rattray surname
Male
- Alexander
- Andrew
- Craig
- David
- Ian
- James
- John
- Peter
- Robert
- Thomas
- William
Female
- Ann
- Catherine
- Elizabeth
- Fiona
- Helen
- Jane
- Jean
- Karen
- Lisa
- Margaret
- Marilyn
- Mary
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Rattray in...
Braille
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Morse
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Semaphore
There are approximately 2,363 people named Rattray in the UK. That makes it roughly the 3,665th most common surname in Britain. Around 36 in a million people in Britain are named Rattray.
Origin: Celtic
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: Scotland
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: Gaelic
Famous people named Rattray
- Robert Sutherland Rattray - Anthropologist (1881 to 1938)
- John Rattray - Skateboarder
- John Rattray - Surgeon and golfer (1707 to 1771)
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.