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

Cruel, 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 Cruel surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Cruel in America

Cruel is the 61899th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Cruel surname appeared 324 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 Cruel.

We can also compare 2010 data for Cruel 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 Cruel

The surname Cruel is believed to have originated in France during the Middle Ages. It is likely derived from the Old French word "cruel," which means "cruel" or "severe." This suggests that the name may have been initially given as a descriptive nickname to someone who was perceived as having a harsh or unforgiving personality.

The earliest recorded instances of the Cruel surname can be traced back to the 12th century in the northern regions of France, particularly in the areas around Paris and Normandy. It is possible that the name appeared in some medieval records or manuscripts from that time period, although specific references are difficult to verify.

One of the earliest known bearers of the Cruel name was Philippe Cruel, a French nobleman who lived in the late 13th century. He was a renowned military commander and served under King Philip IV, also known as Philip the Fair.

In the 14th century, the Cruel surname began to spread across Europe, with some bearers settling in neighboring regions such as Belgium and the Netherlands. During this time, variations in spelling also emerged, including Cruelle, Cruell, and Cruele.

Another notable individual with the Cruel surname was Jean Cruel, a French physician and botanist who lived in the late 16th century. He was born in Nantes in 1545 and made significant contributions to the study of medicinal plants and their uses.

In the 17th century, the Cruel surname found its way to the British Isles, with several families settling in England and Scotland. One such individual was William Cruel, a merchant from London who lived from 1612 to 1687. He was known for his involvement in the East India Company and his successful trading ventures.

As the name spread across Europe and beyond, it encountered various linguistic influences, leading to further variations in spelling and pronunciation. For example, in Germany, the surname was sometimes spelled as Krüll or Krülle.

Throughout history, the Cruel surname has been associated with individuals from various walks of life, including scholars, artists, and military figures. One notable example is Marie-Victoire Cruel, a French painter who lived in the late 18th century and was renowned for her portraits and historical scenes.

While the surname Cruel may have originated from a descriptive nickname, it eventually became a hereditary family name, passed down through generations. Its longevity and presence across multiple countries and cultures reflect the diverse and rich histories of surnames and their evolution over time.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Cruel

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

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 Cruel 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 Cruel 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 Cruel was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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