Explore the Family Name Rabe
The meaning of Rabe
1. 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. 2. German: from a short form of an ancient Germanic personal name containing the element hraban ‘raven’. 3. English and Scottish: variant of Rabb. Some characteristic forenames: German Otto, Johann, Kurt, Armin, Arno, Fritz, Gunter, Heinz, Ignatz, Ingeborg, Klaus, Lutz.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Rabe in the United States?
The surname Rabe, based on data from the Decennial U.S. Census, was ranked 7,139th in popularity in 2000 and decreased slightly to the 7,450th position by 2010, representing a change of -4.36%. The number of individuals with the Rabe surname increased by 3.64% during this period from 4,315 in 2000 to 4,472 in 2010. However, the proportion of individuals with the Rabe surname per 100k population decreased by 5.0%, moving from 1.6 in 2000 to 1.52 in 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #7,139 | #7,450 | -4.36% |
| Count | 4,315 | 4,472 | 3.64% |
| Proportion per 100k | 1.6 | 1.52 | -5% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Rabe
Looking at the ethnic identity of those with the Rabe surname, according to the Decennial U.S. Census data, the majority identified as White, although this percentage decreased from 92.19% in 2000 to 89.11% in 2010. There were increases in all other reported ethnicities. The Asian/Pacific Islander representation grew by 27.49%, Hispanic ethnicity increased by 31.78%, those identifying as Black rose by 68.18%, and individuals reporting as American Indian and Alaskan Native increased by 42.86%. The category showing the most significant growth was that of individuals identifying with two or more races, which almost doubled from 1.04% in 2000 to 1.97% in 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 92.19% | 89.11% | -3.34% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 3.82% | 4.87% | 27.49% |
| Hispanic | 2.36% | 3.11% | 31.78% |
| Two or More Races | 1.04% | 1.97% | 89.42% |
| Black | 0.44% | 0.74% | 68.18% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.14% | 0.2% | 42.86% |
Rabe ancestry composition
23andMe computes an ancestry breakdown for each customer. People may have ancestry from just one population or they may have ancestry from several populations. The most commonly-observed ancestry found in people with the surname Rabe is French & German, which comprises 36.1% of all ancestry found in people with the surname. The next two most common ancestries are British & Irish (34.4%) and Scandinavian (7.6%). Additional ancestries include Eastern European, Filipino & Austronesian, Chinese, Ashkenazi Jewish, and Spanish & Portuguese.
Ready to learn more about your ancestry? Get the most comprehensive ancestry breakdown on the market by taking our DNA test. Shop 23andMe
| ANCESTRY BREAKDOWN | COMPOSITION |
|---|---|
| French & German | 36.1% |
| British & Irish | 34.4% |
| Scandinavian | 7.6% |
| Other | 21.9% |
Possible origins of the surname Rabe
Your DNA provides clues about where your recent ancestors may have lived. Having many distant relatives in the same location suggests that you may all share common ancestry there. Locations with many distant relatives can also be places where people have migrated recently, such as large cities. If a large number of individuals who share your surname have distant relatives in a specific area, it could indicate a connection between your surname and that location, stemming from either recent ancestral ties or migration.
Based on 23andMe data, people with last name Rabe have recent ancestry locations in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Ireland.
| RECENT ANCESTRY Location | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Merseyside, United Kingdom | 72.90% |
| Glasgow City, United Kingdom | 72.90% |
| Greater London, United Kingdom | 72.90% |
| West Midlands, United Kingdom | 72.90% |
| Greater Manchester, United Kingdom | 72.90% |
What Rabe haplogroups can tell you
Haplogroups are genetic population groups that share a common ancestor on either your paternal or maternal line. These paternal and maternal haplogroups shed light on your genetic ancestry and help tell the story of your family.
The top paternal haplogroup of people with the surname Rabe is R-L21, which is predominantly found among people with European ancestry. Haplogroup R-L21 is descended from haplogroup R-M343. Other common haplogroups include R-CTS10893 and I-DF29, which are predominantly found among people with European and European ancestry. Other surnames with similar common haplogroups are: Thiele, Milton, Clarke, Mathison, Gregor, Smith, Thomson, Witte, Lindeman, Mack.
The most common maternal haplogroups of people with Rabe surname are: M, H1, H. These most commonly trace back to individuals of European ancestry.
Paternal Haplogroup Origins R-M343Your maternal lineage may be linked to Marie Antoinette
Because it is so dominant in the general European population, haplogroup H also appears quite frequently in the continent's royal houses. Marie Antoinette, an Austrian Hapsburg who married into the French royal family, inherited the haplogroup from her maternal ancestors. So did Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, whose recorded genealogy traces his female line to Bavaria. Scientists also discovered that famed 16th century astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus traced his maternal lineages to haplogroup H.
What do people with the surname Rabe have in common?
Spoiler alert: it's complicated. People with the same last name are usually no more genetically similar than a randomly sampled group of people from the same population. That said, people with the same surname are more likely to have similar ancestries than randomly sampled individuals. The reason is the tendency of people with similar cultural or geographical backgrounds to preferentially mate with one another. That's why people who share a surname may be more likely to share traits and tendencies in common than people within the general population. Check out the percentages below to see the prevalences of tastes, habits, and traits of people with your surname compared with prevalences among 23andMe users.
Preferences
Chocolate Ice Cream
Prefers chocolate flavored ice cream over other flavors.
"Rabe" Surname 39.4%
23andMe Users 41.3%
Traits
Misophonia
When sounds made by others, like the sound of chewing or yawning, provoke strong emotional reactions in an individual.
"Rabe" Surname 25.0%
23andMe Users 27.9%
Habits
Sugary Drink
Drinks one or more sugary drinks per day.
"Rabe" Surname 16.3%
23andMe Users 21.1%
Wellness
Migraine
A severe headache characterized by intense pain, sensitivity to light and sound, and often accompanied by nausea and vomiting.
"Rabe" Surname 15.0%
23andMe Users 16.4%
Are health conditions linked to the last name Rabe?
The short answer is that, if there is an association between surname and health, it's usually more about your ancestry than your name. Individuals with a given surname are no more genetically similar than the general population but often have similar ancestries. The populations of people associated with those shared ancestries often have sets of genetic variations, also known as alleles, in common. Some of those alleles are associated with a greater likelihood of developing certain diseases.
Disease variant frequency by ancestry
Disease allele frequencies in populations associated with the surname Rabe are shown below. Important Note: not everyone with a disease allele will develop these health condition