Find out how popular the last name Arel is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Arel.

Arel, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Arel surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Arel in America

Arel is the 22216th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Arel surname appeared 1,161 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Arel.

We can also compare 2010 data for Arel to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Arel

The surname Arel has its roots in the Spanish language, originating from the region of Aragon in northeastern Spain. It is believed to have emerged during the medieval period, around the 11th or 12th century.

One possible origin of the name Arel is from the Spanish word "arelar," which means "to plow or cultivate land." This suggests that the name may have been initially associated with individuals who worked as farmers, cultivators, or landowners in the Aragon region.

Another theory traces the name back to the Latin word "arellarius," which referred to someone who made or worked with small plates or dishes. This connection could indicate that early bearers of the surname were involved in pottery or ceramics production.

Historical records from the Aragon region, such as the "Fueros de Aragon" (Laws of Aragon), dating back to the 13th century, mention individuals with the surname Arel or similar spellings like Ariel or Arrel. These early records provide evidence of the name's usage and presence in the area during that time period.

One notable figure bearing the Arel surname was Pedro Arel, a prominent landowner and influential figure in the town of Huesca, Aragon, during the 14th century. His name appears in various municipal records and property deeds from that era.

In the 15th century, Juan Arel, a skilled potter from the city of Teruel, Aragon, gained recognition for his intricate and beautiful ceramic works. His creations were highly sought after by nobility and wealthy patrons throughout the region.

Another individual of note was Rodrigo Arel, a soldier who fought in the Spanish conquests of the Americas during the 16th century. He participated in expeditions led by Hernán Cortés and is mentioned in historical accounts of the conquest of Mexico.

During the 17th century, the Arel surname found its way to the New World, with Miguel Arel, a Spanish colonist who settled in the region now known as New Mexico. He established a successful hacienda and played a role in the early development of the area.

In the 18th century, María Arel, a skilled weaver and textile artist from the town of Albarracín, Aragon, gained renown for her intricate and vibrant tapestries, which adorned many noble homes and churches in the region.

While the surname Arel has its origins in the Spanish region of Aragon, it has since spread and can be found in various parts of the world, with descendants of those early bearers carrying on the name and its historical legacy.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Arel

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Arel.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Arel was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Arel has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Arel was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Arel, please contact us.

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