Origin of the surname Rait

Recorded as Rait, Raith, Raitt, Rate, Rathe and possibly others, this is a medieval Scottish surname. It derives from the ancient Gaelic word "rath" meaning a small fortress, and hence a man who lived at such a place. As there were many such small forts around Scotland, the surname itself is not from any one localitry, nor were the original nameholders in anyway related. It is said that as Rait it is from Nairn in the far north, as well as Perth in the south of the country, whilst the Raiths are from Fife and Ayreshire.

The Rate's trace their ancestry from Sir Gervase de Rathe, given as being the constable of Invernairn in 1292, and who in 1296 as Gervase de Rate rendered homage to John Balliol and the Intereggnum government of Scotland. This group ruled the country for ten years before being ousted by Robert, the Bruce, in 1306. There must have been some "association" between Sir Gervase de Rathe and King Edward 1st of England, because his lands were stripped from him by the English (?) and given to his brother Andrew. Other early interesting nameholders were John Rait, bishop of Aberdeen in 1355, and Alexander Raith, a burgess of Ayr in 1488.

The surname Rait. Genealogy, origin, history, meaning, and significance

The history of the surname rait is, like that of most surnames, a complex and fascinating journey to ancient times with the aim of unraveling the origin of rait. Research into the possible origins of rait leads us to learn more about those who bear this surname.

The surname Rait around the world

It is common for surnames like rait to become known in places far removed from their country or region of origin. Discover which ones. There is a considerable probability that rait has crossed the borders of its place of origin to establish itself, to a greater or lesser extent, in other parts of the world. With all the information we have today, it can be said that the countries where rait is most abundant are the following.

History of Rait

The historical journey of the surname rait can be traced back to those who were the first bearers of rait. The deeds, the way of life, the places they lived, the family relationships they had, the jobs they held by those who were the first to be named rait are found in every look back in the history of this lineage.

You can visit us regularly to get more information about the origin of the surname rait, as we frequently accept significant contributions from other individuals interested in heraldry and the history of surnames. It is common for genealogy and surname enthusiasts to provide us with information of special value, so the data we offer about the origins of rait could be modified.

Notable Figures Named Rait

Unfortunately, it's highly probable that not all raits who performed notable deeds have been included in historical chronicles and records. We assume that there have been significant contributions to humanity made by individuals with the surname rait, even though not all have been documented to our present day.

The surname Rait and its bibliographic sources

It goes without saying that consulting bibliographic and documentary sources is essential when accessing information about the origins of the surname rait. The bibliography collects information related to the surname rait, which allows us to learn more about its meaning.

SOURCES

These sources are essential for initiating the understanding of rait, and at the same time, of surnames in general.

Origin of Rait