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

Darnell, 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 Darnell surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Darnell in America

Darnell is the 2016th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Darnell surname appeared 17,915 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 6 people would have the surname Darnell.

We can also compare 2010 data for Darnell 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 Darnell

The surname Darnell is of English origin, derived from the Old French word "darne," which means a sheltered or hidden place. It is believed to have originated in the 12th century as a topographic name, given to someone who lived near a secluded or sheltered area.

In its earliest recorded form, the name appeared as "de Darnhale" in the Pipe Rolls of Staffordshire in 1199. This suggests that the name may have been associated with a specific place name, possibly referring to a small valley or dell.

The name Darnell can also be traced back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is recorded as "Darnhale" in Shropshire. This entry provides evidence of the name's existence in England during the Norman conquest.

One of the earliest known bearers of the Darnell surname was Walter Darnell, who was recorded in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire in 1202. Another early instance is found in the Assize Rolls of Staffordshire in 1279, which mention a Richard de Darnhale.

Over the centuries, the surname has undergone various spelling variations, including Darnall, Dernell, Dernel, and Darnill. These variations likely arose from regional dialects and the inconsistent spelling practices of the time.

Notable individuals with the surname Darnell include Sir Thomas Darnell (1508-1586), an English politician and landowner who served as Sheriff of Lincolnshire. Another prominent figure was Ralph Darnell (1641-1711), an English mathematician and astrologer who wrote extensively on astronomy and astrology.

In the literary world, Henry Darnell (1776-1844) was an English poet and playwright, known for his work "The Hermit of Warkworth." Meanwhile, Ralph Darnell (1816-1885) was a British diplomat and politician who served as the Governor of the Straits Settlements from 1869 to 1877.

It is worth mentioning that the surname Darnell has also been associated with several place names in England, such as Darnall in Yorkshire and Darnal in Derbyshire, further reinforcing its topographic origins.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Darnell

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

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

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

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