This page needs Javascript enabled in order to work properly. Click here for instructions on how to enable it in your browser.
Surname Header Image
Get access to Rabe family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Rabe Family History

Rabe Surname Meaning

German: from Middle High German rab(e) rapp(e) ‘raven’ hence a nickname for someone with black hair or some other supposed resemblance to the bird.

In some cases, the surname may have been a topographic or habitational name referring to a house distinguished by the sign of a raven.

German: from a short form of an ancient Germanic personal name containing the element hraban ‘raven’.

English and Scottish: variant of Rabb.

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


Similar surnames: 

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Rabe family from?

You can see how Rabe families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Rabe family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Rabe families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 13 Rabe families living in Lancashire. This was about 42% of all the recorded Rabe's in United Kingdom. Lancashire had the highest population of Rabe families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Rabe surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
Mapbox
© Mapbox © OpenStreetMap Improve this map

What did your Rabe ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Unpaid Domestic Duties was the top reported job for people in the United Kingdom named Rabe. 100% of Rabe women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties.

View Census Data for Rabe | 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 Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    100%

What Rabe family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 21,000 census records available for the last name Rabe. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Rabe census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Rabe

Passenger Lists

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

View all Rabe immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 7,000 military records available for the last name Rabe. For the veterans among your Rabe ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Rabe military records

You've only scratched the surface of Rabe family history

Discover More

What is the average Rabe lifespan?

Between 1955 and 2004, in the United States, Rabe life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1955, and highest in 2003. The average life expectancy for Rabe in 1955 was 54, and 80 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Rabe

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Rabe 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.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Rabe family tree

Explore Your Tree
Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial