Rawnsley

Rawnsley is an English surname of Anglo-Saxon origin, primarily found in the region of Cumbria in North West England. The name is believed to be locational, derived from the Old English words "raun" meaning raven, and "leah" meaning clearing or meadow. Therefore, Rawnsley can be interpreted as "the clearing where ravens gather".

Historically, the Rawnsley family is associated with the Lake District in Cumbria, where they likely lived and worked as farmers or landowners. One notable figure bearing the Rawnsley surname is Canon Hardwicke Rawnsley (1851-1920), a clergyman, poet, and one of the co-founders of the National Trust, a prominent conservation organisation in the United Kingdom.

Over the centuries, the Rawnsley surname has spread to other parts of the British Isles and beyond, often due to migration and trade. Today, individuals with the surname Rawnsley can be found in various professions and walks of life, maintaining a connection to their ancestral roots in Cumbria.

The Rawnsley name carries with it a sense of heritage and history, reflecting the unique cultural landscape of the Lake District and the contributions of its inhabitants to British society.

There are approximately 996 people named Rawnsley in the UK. That makes it roughly the 7,402nd most common surname in Britain. Around 15 in a million people in Britain are named Rawnsley.

Typical given names associated with the surname

Male

  • Andrew
  • Carl
  • Christopher
  • David
  • Ian
  • John
  • Joseph
  • Mark
  • Michael
  • Paul
  • Peter
  • Stephen
  • Stewart

Female

  • Angela
  • Anne
  • Dorothy
  • Elaine
  • Helen
  • Janet
  • Margaret
  • Mary
  • Sarah
  • Susan

Similar and related surnames

Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.

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