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

Rayer Family History

Rayer Name Meaning

German: variant of Reier ‘heron’. French: occupational name for a barber from Old French raier (from rere ‘to shave’). English (Worcestershire): from the Norman personal name Raher probably from an ancient Germanic name composed of rād ‘counsel’ + hari ‘army’. Americanized form of Slovenian Rajar or Rajer: probably a nickname derived from rajati ‘to dance in a ring’. Compare Ryer .

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


Similar surnames: Sayer, Royer, Rader, Rayner, Raker, Rager, Raber, Rater, Hayer

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 Rayer family from?

You can see how Rayer families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Rayer family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Rayer families were found in USA in 1920. In 1840 there was 1 Rayer family living in Indiana. This was 100% of all the recorded Rayer's in USA. Indiana had the highest population of Rayer families in 1840.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Rayer surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Rayer ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Housekeeper were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Rayer. 20% of Rayer men worked as a Laborer and 10% of Rayer women worked as a Housekeeper. Some less common occupations for Americans named Rayer were Salesman and Clerk. .

View Census Data for Rayer | 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
    20%
  • Farmer
    19%
  • Truck Driver
    6%
  • Salesman
    5%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Housekeeper
    10%
  • Waitress
    10%
  • Housewife
    10%
  • Clerk
    10%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Rayer family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 9,000 census records available for the last name Rayer. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Rayer census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search US census records for Rayer

Passenger Lists

There are 1,000 immigration records available for the last name Rayer. 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 Rayer immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 736 military records available for the last name Rayer. For the veterans among your Rayer ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Rayer military records

You've only scratched the surface of Rayer family history

Discover More

What is the average Rayer lifespan?

Between 1954 and 2004, in the United States, Rayer life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1954, and highest in 2004. The average life expectancy for Rayer in 1954 was 44, and 96 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Rayer

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Rayer family tree

Explore Your Tree

Browse profiles of historical people with the Rayer last name

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