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![Show Contents]() Rait History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
Early Origins of the Rait familyThe surname Rait was first found in Nairnshire, where they were recorded as a family of great antiquity. They took their name from the Castle of Rait near Geddes which was in ruins by the 1400s. 1 Today Rait is a small village in Perth and Kinross. The Wraith variant is a Scottish Gaelic word for "ghost" or "spirit." "The name is of considerable antiquity in Scotland. Among the documents preserved in the Exchequer Office is the Submission and Fealty of Sir Gervays de Rate, given at Elgin, July 27th, 1295. Their principal seat was at Hall Green, in the shire of Kincardine, where the older parts of the castle still show their armorial bearings. The first Rait, according to Nisbett, took refuge in the Mearns during the 14th century, having had to leave his native district of Nairnshire for some capital crime. It is certain that Raits were settled in the Mearns, and held the lands of Owres or Uras at that period; but it was not until the close of the following century that they had any connection with Hall Green. From that time, till the year 1724, they were possessed of it; and from them all the Raits of any note in Angus and the Mearns, whether landholders, ministers, farmers, or merchants, claim to be descended." 2 Early History of the Rait familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Rait research. Another 161 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1280, 1292, 1296, 1297, 1342, 1350, 1355, 1378, 1400, 1478, 1724 and 1990 are included under the topic Early Rait History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Rait Spelling VariationsSpelling variations of this family name include: Rait, Raitt, Raid, Rate, Raith and others. Early Notables of the Rait familyNotable amongst the Clan at this time was - Sir Gervase Rait Constable of Invernairn of Castle Rait. His younger brother Sir Andrew de Rait of Rait (born c.1280) was also a noble of note. He was Constable of Nairn Castle in 1296. He appears on...
- John de Rait [Raith, Rathe, Rate, Rathet] was a 14th-century Scottish cleric. He was Archdeacon of Aberdeen (1342-1350) and then Bishop of Aberdeen (1350-1355.)
- Today, Rait Castle is a ruined hall-house castle situated just south of Nairn near Inverness, Scotland. It is a scheduled ancient monument. American singer Bonnie Raitt is a descendant of the Rait cla...
 Rait migration to the United States | + |
Some of the first settlers of this family name were: Rait Settlers in United States in the 17th Century- James Rait, who arrived in Nevis sometime between 1653 and 1675
Rait Settlers in United States in the 19th Century- Robert Rait, who settled in New York in 1833
- Crichton S. Rait, who settled in New York, NY sometime between 1844 and 1877
- Helen Rait, who arrived in New York in 1872
| Rait migration to Canada | + |
Some of the first settlers of this family name were: Rait Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century- David Rait, who settled in Nova Scotia sometime between 1772 and 1838
| Rait migration to New Zealand | + |
Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include: Rait Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century- Alexander Rait, aged 28, a farm labourer, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Thomas Harrison" in 1842
- Ann Rait, aged 28, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Thomas Harrison" in 1842
- John Rait, aged 6, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Thomas Harrison" in 1842
- Christian Rait, aged 1, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Thomas Harrison" in 1842
- Mr. Alexander Rait, (b. 1814), aged 28, British farm labourer travelling from London aboard the ship "Thomas Harrison" arriving in Nelson, South Island, New Zealand on 28th October 1842 3
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.
Motto: Spero meliora
Motto Translation: I hope for better things.
- Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
- Cleveland, Dutchess of The Battle Abbey Roll with some Account of the Norman Lineages. London: John Murray, Abermarle Street, 1889. Print. Volume 3 of 3
- New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
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Rait migration to the United States 
Rait migration to Canada 
Rait migration to New Zealand 
Belgium
France
Scotland
