Show ContentsRath History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Rath surname derives from the Middle High German word "ra-t," or the Swiss "räth" which mean "counsel," or "advice."

Early Origins of the Rath family

The surname Rath was first found in Austria, where the name became noted for its many branches in the region, each house acquiring a status and influence which was envied by the princes of the region. In their later history the name became a power unto themselves and were elevated to the ranks of nobility as they grew into this most influential family.

Early History of the Rath family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Rath research. Another 80 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1585, 1641, 1806 and 1818 are included under the topic Early Rath History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Rath Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Rath, von Rath, van Rath, Rathl, Rathel, Raths and others.

Early Notables of the Rath family

During this period prominent bearers of the name Rath were

  • Wilhelm von Rath (1585-1641), a German scholar and a military officer from an old noble family of Anhalt

Rath Ranking

In the United States, the name Rath is the 7,652nd most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1


United States Rath migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Rath Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Kaspar Rath, who arrived in America in 1731 2
  • Johannes Hindrig von Rath, who settled in Philadelphia in 1733
  • Hans Georg Rath, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1750 2
  • Bernhard Rath, who landed in America in 1773 2
  • Gotfried Rath, who landed in America in 1773 2
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Rath Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Emil Rath, who landed in New York, NY in 1850 2
  • Adam Rath, who arrived in America in 1855 2
  • August Rath, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1856 2
  • Adolph Rath, Barbara Rath and Anna Rath, who arrived in New York from Bremen in 1871
  • Henry J Rath, who arrived in Minnesota in 1874 2
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Rath Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Frank Rath, who arrived in Alabama in 1913 2

Canada Rath migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Rath Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century
  • Barbara Rath, aged 27, who landed in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1902
  • Christine Rath, aged 24, who landed in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1902
  • Friedrich Rath, aged 26, who landed in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1902
  • Johann Rath, who arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1902
  • Katharina Rath, who landed in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1902
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Rath (post 1700) +

  • Frederick Helsher "Fred" Rath Sr. (b. 1943), American Major League Baseball pitcher who played for the Chicago White Sox during the 1968 and 1969 season
  • Morris Charles "Morrie" Rath (1886-1945), American Major League Baseball baseball player who played from 1909 to 1920, member of the Cincinnati Reds 1919 World Series Champions
  • Gerhard vom Rath (1830-1888), German mineralogist
  • Ernst Eduard vom Rath (1909-1938), German diplomat who was assassinated in Paris in 1938
  • Thomas Rath (b. 1970), retired German football midfielder who played from 1988 to 2001
  • Marcel Rath (b. 1975), German former football striker who played from 1993 to 2007
  • Ari Rath (1925-2017), Austrian-Israeli journalist and writer
  • Rachel Rath (b. 1976), Irish actress
  • Meaghan Rath (b. 1986), Canadian film and television actress
  • Lukas Rath (b. 1992), Austrian association football player
  • ... (Another 2 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Bismarck
  • Gustav Rath (1922-1941), German Matrose who served aboard the German Battleship Bismarck during World War II when it was sunk heading to France; he died in the sinking 3


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  3. Bismarck & Tirpitz Class - Crew List Bismarck. (Retrieved 2018, February 06). Retrieved from https://www.bismarck-class.dk/bismarck/crew/bismarck_crew.html#crew_details


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