This is apparently an English locational surname, and one which has proved difficult to research with certainty. There is no such place as 'Rapsey' recorded in any of the known published gazetters of the British Isles for the last two hundred years. This suggests that if the place existed, it does no longer, and may not done since medieval times. It is also possible that the 'modern' spelling is a transposed version of something else such as Wrapsey or more likely Wrabsey, but again no such place is to be found. Some five thousand British surnames are estimated to derive from now 'lost' places, but often these are relatively easy to pin point, but not this one. The spelling of the name would suggest that the origination is in the pre 7th century Olde English personal name 'Wrabb' of unknown meaning, plus 'eg' meaning an island to give Wrabb's island. Whether this was an island surrounded by water, or simlpy an area of land which was raised above other land, again is a matter for conjecture. Before the 14th century many areas of Britain particularly in East Anglia, were 'wetlands', flooded in winter and providing grazing in summer. These fen regions consisted of many small islands, and it is possible that Rapsey was in this region. Examples of the surname recording include: John Rapsey, a witness at St Pauls church, Deptford, Kent, on November 22nd 1797, and Rhonda Rapsey, who married William Bush at St James church, Westminster, on December 3rd 1839.

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