Rarity

Rarity
This very unusual surname recorded as Raraty and Rarity and possibly others, is aptly spelt. It is 'rare', and its origins have proved to be elusive. Our researches appear to show that it was first recorded in London, England, in the year 1804, at the height of the famous Napoleonic Wars of 1795 to 1815, however this is many centuries too late for it to be an original spelling, or so one would think. Hereditary surnames were created in England and Scotland mainly in the 13th century. These were the first countries in the world to adopt such a means of identification, although they were shortly followed by Germany, France and Ireland. In our opinion this surname may well be a variant form of some Irish surname, since it was about this date in the early 19th century that Irish immgration to both England and America really started in earnest. If this is correct, then it would be a question of which name. A possibility is Raverty or even Garrity, but we are plucking at straws. What is certain is that even as late as 1805 less than twenty percent of the population of England could both spell and write their names, and in Ireland it was even lower. Examples of the early surname recordings include David Raraty who married Hannah Stroud at St Mary Magdalene, Bermondsey, on June 14th 1805, whilst a year later another David, the son of Thomas Rarity, David was christened at St Marys Rotherhithe, on May 5th 1805

Surnames reference. 2013.

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  • Rarity — Rar i*ty (r[a^]r [i^]*t[y^]; 277), n.; pl. {Rarities} (r[a^]r [i^]*t[i^]z). [L. raritas: cf. F. raret[ e]. See {Rare}.] 1. The quality or state of being rare; rareness; thinness; as, the rarity (contrasted with the density) of gases. [1913… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Rarity — can refer to:* something that is rare or scarcePeople, including: *John Rarity, English physicist …   Wikipedia

  • rarity — index exception (exclusion), improbability, irregularity, phenomenon (unusual occurrence), specialty (distinctive mark …   Law dictionary

  • rarity — 1550s, fewness, from M.Fr. rarité (16c.) or directly from L. raritas thinness, fewness, from rarus (see RARE (Cf. rare) (adj.1)). Meaning thinness is from 1640s; noun sense of a rare thing or event: is from 1590s …   Etymology dictionary

  • rarity — ► NOUN (pl. rarities) 1) the state or quality of being rare. 2) a rare thing …   English terms dictionary

  • rarity — [rer′ə tē] n. [L raritas] 1. the quality or condition of being rare; specif., a) uncommonness; scarcity b) excellence c) lack of density; thinness 2. pl. rarities something remarkable or valuable because rare …   English World dictionary

  • rarity — [[t]re͟ərɪti[/t]] rarities 1) N COUNT: usu sing, oft N in/among n If someone or something is a rarity, they are interesting or valuable because they are so unusual. [JOURNALISM] Motorized wheelchairs are a rarity here... He was a rarity among… …   English dictionary

  • Rarity — (Roget s Thesaurus) < N PARAG:Rarity >N GRP: N 1 Sgm: N 1 rarity rarity tenuity Sgm: N 1 absence of solidity absence of solidity &c. 321 Sgm: N 1 subtility subtility Sgm: N 1 subtilty subtilty subtlety Sgm: N 1 sponginess …   English dictionary for students

  • rarity — UK [ˈreərətɪ] / US [ˈrerətɪ] noun Word forms rarity : singular rarity plural rarities 1) [singular] something that does not happen often Visits by presidential candidates are a rarity here. 2) [countable] someone or something that is admired or… …   English dictionary

  • rarity — /rair i tee/, n., pl. rarities. 1. something rare, unusual, or uncommon: Snowstorms are a rarity in the South. 2. something esteemed or interesting in being rare, uncommon, or curious: That folio is a rarity that will bring a good price. 3. the… …   Universalium

  • rarity — rar|i|ty [ˈreərıti US ˈrer ] n plural rarities 1.) be a rarity to not happen or exist very often ▪ Visitors were a rarity in the village. 2.) something that is valuable or interesting because it is rare ▪ Some of these plants are national… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

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