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Rafael Family History

Rafael Surname Meaning

Spanish Catalan Portuguese and Galician: from the personal name Rafael (see Raphael). Jewish: variant of Raphael.

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


Similar surnames: 

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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Rafael family from?

You can see how Rafael families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Rafael family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1841 and 1920. The most Rafael families were found in USA in 1920. In 1891 there were 2 Rafael families living in London. This was about 67% of all the recorded Rafael's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Rafael families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Rafael 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 Rafael ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Bookkeeper were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Rafael. 32% of Rafael men worked as a Laborer and 50% of Rafael women worked as a Bookkeeper. Some less common occupations for Americans named Rafael were Farmer and New Worker.

View Census Data for Rafael | 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.

United States shown, England data unavailable

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Laborer
    32%
  • Cowboy
    9%
  • Salesman
    9%
  • Farmer
    9%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Bookkeeper
    50%
  • New Worker
    50%

What Rafael family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 4,000 census records available for the last name Rafael. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Rafael census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Rafael

Passenger Lists

There are 3,000 immigration records available for the last name Rafael. 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 Rafael immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 1,000 military records available for the last name Rafael. For the veterans among your Rafael ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Rafael military records

You've only scratched the surface of Rafael family history

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What is the average Rafael lifespan?

Between 1958 and 2004, in the United States, Rafael life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1992, and highest in 1977. The average life expectancy for Rafael in 1958 was 67, and 68 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Rafael

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Rafael 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 Rafael family tree

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