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Rattray Family History

Rattray Surname Meaning

Scottish (Angus and Perthshire): habitational name from Rattray (Perthshire) and perhaps sometimes Rattray in Crimond (Aberdeenshire). The placename perhaps derives from a British cognate of Gaelic ràth ‘fortress’ + a cognate of Welsh tref ‘settlement’.

However, persistent early -e- in the first syllable suggests otherwise.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: 

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Where is the Rattray family from?

You can see how Rattray families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Rattray family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Rattray families were found in and Scotland in 1841. In 1911 there were 30 Rattray families living in Ontario. This was about 17% of all the recorded Rattray's in Canada. Ontario and 1 other province had the highest population of Rattray families in 1911.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Rattray surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Rattray ancestors do for a living?

In 1921, Farmer and Teacher were the top reported jobs for men and women in the Canada named Rattray. 51% of Rattray men worked as a Farmer and 40% of Rattray women worked as a Teacher. Some less common occupations for Americans named Rattray were Engineer and Stenographer.

View Census Data for Rattray | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1921

  • Farmer
    51%
  • Labourer
    11%
  • Laborer
    11%
  • Engineer
    6%

Top Female Occupations In 1921

  • Teacher
    40%
  • Income
    20%
  • Housekeeper
    20%
  • Stenographer
    20%

What Rattray family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 28,000 census records available for the last name Rattray. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Rattray census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Rattray

Passenger Lists

There are 6,000 immigration records available for the last name Rattray. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in Canada, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Rattray immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 2,000 military records available for the last name Rattray. For the veterans among your Rattray ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Rattray military records

You've only scratched the surface of Rattray family history

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What is the average Rattray lifespan?

Between 1945 and 2004, in the United States, Rattray life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1981, and highest in 1962. The average life expectancy for Rattray in 1945 was 51, and 68 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Rattray

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Rattray ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

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