Raphael as an English surname?

Question

While researching my Devon line I've come across a 'Rafael' ancestor. The surname struck me as quite odd for Devon, and I did some further research. My ancestor is Joan Rafael born 1748 in Hemyock, and she seems to be part of a family spread around East and Mid Devon. The surname is written alternately as Rafael, Raphael, Raphel, Raffle etc. It's quite a rare surname and is most frequent among immigrants to the UK, but seems the wrong time and place for this to be the case. Has anyone come across this being used as an English surname?

Answer 1

Bear in mind that Devon is only a short sea trip from France and Spain, so immigration really isn't unlikely. There were both Jews and Huguenots in 18th century Devon, for example. Here's an interesting article: https://www.jewishgen.org/jcr-uk/susser/thesis/thesischaptertwopartone.htm

Comments

Thanks for answering, Deborah.

I should have added that the earliest evidence of the Rafaels of Mid-Devon I've found is a will in 1620. I've not made a direct link to my ancestor but from this date through to the late 1700s they all use the same naming patterns and live in the same 4 closely linked towns. Makes me think it's a bit too early for Jewish immigration but I hadn't really considered the Huguenot angle. Very interesting, thanks again!

Answer 2

Jews took a lot of Latin Biblical surnames around the 17th century. It might be coming from there.

Comments

Interesting! Thank you.

Answer 3

Out of interest there were 124 in England, 8 in Scotland and 1 in Wales in 1851. That is just Raphael and Rafael.

Comments

That's interesting. Thank you. Can't have many at all in the 1600s then.