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

Rai Family History

Rai Name Meaning

Indian:: (northeastern states): from a personal name based on Hindi rai Sanskrit rājā ‘king’. (Karnataka): name found in the Bunt community of coastal Karnataka of unexplained etymology.

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


Similar surnames: Rao, Raj, Pai, Ram, Ravi, Ray, Cai, Kai, Rau, Radi

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 Rai family from?

You can see how Rai families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Rai family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1841 and 1920. The most Rai families were found in Canada in 1911. In 1880 there were 6 Rai families living in Iowa. This was about 40% of all the recorded Rai's in USA. Iowa had the highest population of Rai families in 1880.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Rai surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Rai ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Fireman was the top reported job for people in the USA named Rai. 50% of Rai men worked as a Fireman. .

View Census Data for Rai | 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

  • Fireman
    50%
  • Laborer
    50%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Rai family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 3,000 census records available for the last name Rai. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Rai census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search US census records for Rai

Passenger Lists

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

Draft Cards

There are 8,000 military records available for the last name Rai. For the veterans among your Rai ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Rai military records

You've only scratched the surface of Rai family history

Discover More

What is the average Rai lifespan?

Between 1957 and 2004, in the United States, Rai life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1969, and highest in 1993. The average life expectancy for Rai in 1957 was 55, and 48 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Rai

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Rai family tree

Explore Your Tree

Browse profiles of historical people with the Rai last name

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