Rakes

Rakes is an English surname that originated as a variant of Rake (also found as a patronymic meaning "son of Rake"). The root name Rake was originally a toponymic surname for a dweller on a narrow pass or hillside, derived from the Old English hrace meaning "throat, gorge". While the meaning focuses on a literal geographical feature, the name also shares roots with the word "rake" in other senses.

Distribution and Variants

The surname Rakes is found primarily in the United States and England. In Ireland, the name may sometimes have been adopted as an Anglicized form of the Gaelic surname Ó Comhraí. A related shorter form is Rake, which also gave rise to plurals like Raikes.

Notable Bearers

Notable individuals with the surname Rakes include American electrical engineer Jesse Rakes, American politician John H. Rakes, and Australian rugby league player Tautau Moga (née Rakes).

• Meaning: dweller on a narrow pass; throat or gorge (via Old English term)
• Origin: English
• Type: surname
• Usage regions: English-speaking countries