History of your Surname
Get access to Ratay family records.Start a free trial

Ratay Family History

Ratay Name Meaning

Americanized or Germanized form of Polish Czech Slovak Slovenian and Sorbian Rataj ‘plowman’. German: habitational name from Ratay or Rattey a village in Mecklenburg or Rataje part of the city of Poznań in Poland. Americanized form of French Ratté (see Ratte ). Compare Rattay .

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: Rada, Raak, Matey, Raba, Raby, Pataky, Paty, Rasey, Lata, Rabey

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Black & white image of a young woman scientist

Where is the Ratay family from?

You can see how Ratay families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Ratay family name was found in the USA, and Scotland between 1841 and 1920. The most Ratay families were found in USA in 1920. In 1920 there were 9 Ratay families living in New Jersey. This was about 17% of all the recorded Ratay's in USA. New Jersey and 1 other state had the highest population of Ratay families in 1920.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Ratay surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Ratay ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Stenographer were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Ratay. 50% of Ratay men worked as a Laborer and 50% of Ratay women worked as a Stenographer. Some less common occupations for Americans named Ratay were Farm Hand and Operator. .

View Census Data for Ratay | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Laborer
    50%
  • Truck Driver
    15%
  • Helper
    8%
  • Farm Hand
    8%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Stenographer
    50%
  • Operator
    50%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Ratay family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 925 census records available for the last name Ratay. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Ratay census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search US census records for Ratay

Passenger Lists

There are 195 immigration records available for the last name Ratay. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the USA, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Ratay immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 420 military records available for the last name Ratay. For the veterans among your Ratay ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Ratay military records

You've only scratched the surface of Ratay family history

Discover More

What is the average Ratay lifespan?

Between 1959 and 2004, in the United States, Ratay life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1959, and highest in 1989. The average life expectancy for Ratay in 1959 was 52, and 83 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Ratay

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Ratay family tree

Explore Your Tree

Browse profiles of historical people with the Ratay last name

Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial