History of your Surname
Get access to Rae family records.Start a free trial

Rae Family History

Rae Name Meaning

Scottish: shortened form of McRae .

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


Similar surnames: Ray, Rao, Ra, Rase, Ras, Rad, Rau, Roe, Oran, Raes

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Black & white image of a young woman scientist

Where is the Rae family from?

You can see how Rae families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Rae family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Rae families were found in and Scotland in 1841. In 1891 there were 305 Rae families living in London. This was about 21% of all the recorded Rae's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Rae families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Rae surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Rae ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Rae. 6% of Rae men worked as a General Labourer and 69% of Rae women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Rae were Incapacitated and Housewife. .

View Census Data for Rae | 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 1939

  • General Labourer
    6%
  • Builders Labourer
    5%
  • Police Constable
    5%
  • Incapacitated
    4%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    69%
  • Private Means
    5%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    3%
  • Housewife
    2%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Rae family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 188,000 census records available for the last name Rae. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Rae census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Rae

Passenger Lists

There are 42,000 immigration records available for the last name Rae. 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 Rae immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 21,000 military records available for the last name Rae. For the veterans among your Rae ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Rae military records

You've only scratched the surface of Rae family history

Discover More

What is the average Rae lifespan?

Between 1944 and 2004, in the United States, Rae life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1955, and highest in 1962. The average life expectancy for Rae in 1944 was 56, and 75 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Rae

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Rae family tree

Explore Your Tree

Browse profiles of historical people with the Rae last name

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