Rath Family History
Rath Name Meaning
German and Jewish (Ashkenazic): descriptive epithet for a wise person or counselor from Middle High German rāt ‘counsel advice’ German Rat ‘counsel advice’ also ‘stock supply’. German; Swiss German (Räth): from a short form of any of various ancient Germanic compound personal names formed with rād rāt ‘counsel advice’ as the first element. This surname is also found in France (Alsace and Lorraine). German (Rhineland): habitational name from any of various places called Rath which derives from Middle Low German roden raden ‘to clear land for cultivation’. Irish: shortened form of McElrath (Mac Gille Riabhaigh).
Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022