Explore the Family Name Rake
The meaning of Rake
1. English: topographic name from Middle English rake ‘pass, steep track, narrow path up a hill’ (perhaps a transferred use of Old English hraca ‘throat’), for someone who lived at or near such a feature, or a habitational name from any of the minor places deriving their name from this word, such as The Rake (Sussex), Raikes Farm (Surrey), and Raikes (Yorkshire). 2. English: in northern England perhaps sometimes a habitational name from a minor place called with Middle English rake (Old Scandinvian rák) ‘cattle track, pasture ground’, a sense recorded in northwestern England. 3. Dutch: from Middle Dutch rake ‘rake’, applied as a metonymic occupational name for a maker of such implements or as a nickname for a tall thin man.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Rake in the United States?
According to the data derived from the Decennial U.S. Census, the popularity of the surname Rake has seen a substantial increase between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, Rake was ranked 17,884th in terms of prevalence amongst surnames in the United States, but by 2010 it had risen to 16,265th, marking a growth of 9.05 percent. The raw count of individuals bearing the surname also increased during this period, from 1,443 to 1,773, which signifies a 22.87 percent rise. Correspondingly, the proportion per 100,000 people with the Rake surname grew from 0.53 to 0.6, a jump of 13.21 percent.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #17,884 | #16,265 | 9.05% |
| Count | 1,443 | 1,773 | 22.87% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.53 | 0.6 | 13.21% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Rake
The ethnicity associated with the Rake surname, as shown by data from the Decennial U.S. Census, has seen remarkable shifts between 2000 and 2010. A notable increase is observed in those identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander and American Indian and Alaskan Native, with a change of 169.57 percent and 128.57 percent respectively. Rake bearers identifying under two or more races also saw an increase of 110.17 percent. Although the predominant ethnic identity remained White (90.75 percent in 2010), there was a slight decrease of 3.93 percent over the decade. Meanwhile, Hispanic Rake bearers rose by 37.31 percent. Interestingly, the proportion of Black individuals with the Rake surname slightly declined by 5.60 percent.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 94.46% | 90.75% | -3.93% |
| Hispanic | 2.01% | 2.76% | 37.31% |
| Two or More Races | 1.18% | 2.48% | 110.17% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.69% | 1.86% | 169.57% |
| Black | 1.25% | 1.18% | -5.6% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.42% | 0.96% | 128.57% |