Explore the Family Name Rathbun
The meaning of Rathbun
English: nickname for someone quick on his feet, from Middle English rath (Old English hræth) ‘eager, swift’ + bon (Old English bān) ‘bone’, specifically here the leg bone. In some instances the name was recorded with bayn (Old Norse beinn) ‘bone, leg’ in place of native English ban(e). This form of the surname is now rare in Britain.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Rathbun in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the surname Rathbun witnessed a drop in its popularity between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, it ranked 4,997th but fell to 5,381st in 2010, a decrease of 7.68 percent. However, the actual count of people with the Rathbun name slightly increased from 6,438 in 2000 to 6,467 in 2010, an uptick of 0.45 percent. The proportion per 100,000 people decreased by 8.37 percent over the decade, indicating that while the absolute number of people named Rathbun grew, it didn't keep pace with overall population growth.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #4,997 | #5,381 | -7.68% |
| Count | 6,438 | 6,467 | 0.45% |
| Proportion per 100k | 2.39 | 2.19 | -8.37% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Rathbun
In terms of ethnic identity, the Rathbun surname was predominantly associated with individuals identifying as White in both 2000 and 2010, according to the Decennial U.S. Census. Though there was a slight decline of 1.40 percent over this period. The representation of other ethnic identities also showed interesting changes. There was a noticeable increase in individuals identifying as Black and those reporting two or more races, with the latter seeing a growth rate of 63.33 percent. Meanwhile, Asian/Pacific Islander representation decreased by 6.67 percent. Hispanic representation experienced an increase of 27.74 percent, while the American Indian and Alaskan Native category saw a rise of 41.18 percent, albeit from a low base.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 96.09% | 94.74% | -1.4% |
| Two or More Races | 1.2% | 1.96% | 63.33% |
| Hispanic | 1.37% | 1.75% | 27.74% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.9% | 0.84% | -6.67% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.34% | 0.48% | 41.18% |
| Black | 0.11% | 0.23% | 109.09% |
Rathbun 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 Rathbun is British & Irish, which comprises 47.4% of all ancestry found in people with the surname. The next two most common ancestries are French & German (33.1%) and Scandinavian (5.2%). Additional ancestries include Eastern European, Italian, Spanish & Portuguese, Indigenous American, and Chinese.
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| ANCESTRY BREAKDOWN | COMPOSITION |
|---|---|
| British & Irish | 47.4% |
| French & German | 33.1% |
| Scandinavian | 5.2% |
| Other | 14.2% |
Possible origins of the surname Rathbun
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 Rathbun have recent ancestry locations in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Ireland.
| RECENT ANCESTRY Location | Percentage |
|---|---|
| West Midlands, United Kingdom | 93.10% |
| Greater London, United Kingdom | 93.10% |
| Greater Manchester, United Kingdom | 93.10% |
| Merseyside, United Kingdom | 93.10% |
| Tyne And Wear, United Kingdom | 92.50% |
What Rathbun 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 Rathbun is I-L233, which is predominantly found among people with European ancestry. Haplogroup I-L233 is descended from haplogroup I-M170. Other common haplogroups include R-P312 and R-P311, which are predominantly found among people with European and European ancestry. Other surnames with similar common haplogroups are: Caron, Tallent, Pearsall, Huntley, Flake, Mead, Barney, Gilpin, Gilman, Criswell.
The most common maternal haplogroups of people with Rathbun surname are: H1, T2b, H. These most commonly trace back to individuals of European ancestry.
Paternal Haplogroup Origins I-M170Your 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 Rathbun 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.
"Rathbun" Surname 56.4%
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.
"Rathbun" Surname 36.4%
23andMe Users 27.9%
Habits
Sugary Drink
Drinks one or more sugary drinks per day.
"Rathbun" Surname 20.0%
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.
"Rathbun" Surname 20.4%
23andMe Users 16.4%
Are health conditions linked to the last name Rathbun?
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 Rathbun are shown below. Important Note: not everyone with a disease allele will develop these health condition