This interesting surname is of early medieval English origin, and has three distinct possible sources, each with its own history and derivation. Firstly, it may be a diminutive of the male given name "Ragg", itself a shortened form of any of the various Anglo-Saxon personal names, such as "Raimund (Raymond), Rainer (Rayner)", and "Regenweald (Reginald)", having as an initial element either the Germanic "ragin", counsel, or the Olde English "regen", power. Early recordings of the surname from this source are found exclusively in Yorkshire, and include: Peter Ragge (1273), and Johannes Ragge, noted in the 1379 Poll Tax Returns of that county. The second possibility is that it is a variant of the medieval surname Ragged, itself a nickname for one of unkempt appearance, deriving from the pre 7th century Old Norse "roggvathr". Richard le Raggide was noted in the Hundred Rolls of Derbyshire in 1273, although he is hardly likely to have actually been ragged, as these lists refer to prominent landowners. Finally in the famous register known as "Patronymica Britannica", it is said that Reigate in the county of Surrey was locally pronounced "raggatt or raggett", and consequently, the name may be locational from this place. Early examples of recordings include that on November 13th 1539, of Harry Ragatt who was christened at Yapton in Sussex, and on September 4th 1590, the marriage of Issabell Raggett to Raphe Trotter took place at Thrisk, Yorkshire. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Thomas le Ragged. This was dated 1273, in the "Hundred Rolls of Yorkshire", during the reign of King Edward 1st, known as "The Hammer of the Scots", 1272 - 1307. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

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