Surname Rater - Meaning and Origin

Rater: What does the surname Rater mean?

The last name Rater is of German origin and is derived from the German word, 'Rat' which means 'advice' or 'counsel'. The name may have derived from a profession of providing useful advice or counsel within a religious, judicial or political context. The counsel or advice given by an individual with this surname would most likely have been deemed valuable and accurate by those that they gave advice to.

The surname itself is thought to have first emerged in the Frankfurt region of Germany during the 16th and 17th centuries when many people with the Rater surname first appeared in church records. Since its early beginnings, the Rater name has spread across the world, with the surname now present in many countries, including Germany, America, Canada and Australia.

At a deeper level, the surname Rater could indicate a sense of wisdom and morality. People with this surname could be looked to as wise counselors in their communities and for giving sound and accurate advice. Honesty, respect and loyalty are also traits associated with this surname which could describe the characteristics of many people who carry the last name Rater.

In modern culture, the surname Rater also has strong associations with those that dispense judgment or rank things, providing further evidence of its origin. Those who carry the surname Rater could be seen as skilled evaluators with a sharp eye for detail. This could reflect their ability to offer trust-worthy and impartial advice and in some cases, to judge and rank accurate opinions from false ones.

In summary, the surname Rater is one that is deeply entrenched in tradition and a long history of providing sound advice, judgement and rank in various contexts. Those who carry this surname could be thought of as wise and trustworthy advisors that can rely on giving impartial and accurate counsel.

Rater: Where does the name Rater come from?

The last name Rater is most common today in Germany, Austria, France, Switzerland, and Luxembourg. It is likely derived from a profession involving work with fabrics and supplies. It is thought that it originated in medieval times when officials oversaw the quality of fabrics sold, hence the name “Rater.”

The name is quite rare nowadays in the United States but is known in a few states like Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Massachusetts. Additionally, there are a few scattered families of the same name found in the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Australia.

The reported frequency of the Rater name in the United States began to increase with the immigration of Europeans during the 19th century. Currently, the Rater name is most densely concentrated in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland as it is much more common there than in other countries.

Given that the Rater name is most common in certain parts of Europe, it is not too surprising that it is not seen too often in the United States. However, there is certainly a small and growing population of the Rater name in the United States and other parts of the world.

Variations of the surname Rater

The surname Rater is an occupational surname derived from the Middle English and Old French word 'rateor' meaning 'appraiser'. Its variants and spellings include Raeter, Raitor, Raytor, Reator, and Reader.

Variants with the Austrian spelling of the surname include Raetor, Retor, Ratzdor, and Ratzdorfer. Meanwhile, variants of the surname with the Spanish spelling include Raetor, Ratador, Ratadore, Ratadori, Ratodero, Ratore, Ratorez, and Ratoreo.

Rater is a popular surname in many parts of the United Kingdom, particularly in England and Scotland. The variant surnames Rader and Reeder are also found, particularly in Scotland and England.

In Germany, the variants Rath, Rathe, Rathje, Reh, Reiße, Reiten, Raesendorf, Reither, and Retter are all variations of the surname Rater. In the Netherlands, the variants Rees, Reith, Reuter, and Reijers are used, while Dutch colonial families in New York who held the surname often spelled it as Raders, Reeder, Reater, Reator, and Reiter.

The surname Rater is also found in small numbers in countries such as Romania, Hungary, and Austria. Hungarian variants of the surname include Ratkay, Ratkó, Raiter, Ryter, and Ratek, while the Romanian spelling is usually Rată. The surname Ratay can also be found in Czech and Slovak countries.

Famous people with the name Rater

• Jake Rater: fitness guru, media personality, and entrepreneur from Kitchener, Ontario.
• Karl Rater: bassist from the post punk band The Magigheads.
• Andre Rater: German discus thrower who won the 2012 German Champion title.
• Kurt Rater: retired American football player from Texas.
• Duke Rater: professional basketball player who was drafted by the San Antonio Spurs in 1996.
• Jeff Rater: former Major League Baseball pitcher who played from 1986 to 1991.
• Henry Rater: American theater director who also directed the Broadway shows Scrambled Feet and An Adult Evening of Shel Silverstein.
• Alex Rater: popular street artist based in Los Angeles.
• Chris Rater: Emmy Award-winning television journalist from San Francisco, California.
• Ruth Rater: British actress who has appeared in films such as The Iron Lady and Queen of the Desert.

Other surnames

RatersRatert