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

Darnold, 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 Darnold surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Darnold in America

Darnold is the 48628th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Darnold surname appeared 434 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 Darnold.

We can also compare 2010 data for Darnold 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 Darnold

The surname Darnold is of Anglo-Saxon origin, emerging in the regions of England and Scotland during the medieval era. Its roots can be traced back to the Old English words "deor" meaning "deer" and "hold" meaning "valley" or "hollow." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to individuals residing in a deer-infested valley or a secluded woodland area inhabited by deer.

One of the earliest known recordings of the name appears in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. This document mentions a landowner named Radulfus de Darnholde, whose estate was located in the county of Shropshire. The spelling variation "Darnholde" provides insight into the name's evolution over time.

During the 13th century, records show the presence of a family bearing the name Darnold in the village of Darnall, located near Sheffield in South Yorkshire. The village's name, originally spelled "Darnhale," is believed to have influenced the surname's spelling and pronunciation. This connection to a specific location highlights the common practice of adopting surnames based on place names during the Middle Ages.

Notable individuals with the surname Darnold include Sir John Darnold (1540-1612), an English landowner and Member of Parliament who played a significant role in the establishment of the Virginia Company, which helped colonize parts of North America. Another prominent figure was William Darnold (1677-1745), a Scottish merchant and philanthropist who founded the Darnold Charity School in Edinburgh, providing education to underprivileged children.

In the 19th century, Elizabeth Darnold (1818-1892) gained recognition as a pioneering female architect and interior designer. Her innovative designs and contributions to the field were remarkable for a woman during that era. Additionally, James Darnold (1855-1932), a British explorer and naturalist, is remembered for his expeditions to the Amazon rainforest, where he discovered several new plant and animal species.

One of the more recent notable individuals with the surname was Sir Edward Darnold (1911-1998), a highly decorated British military officer who served in World War II and later became a respected author and historian, publishing several acclaimed works on military strategy and tactics.

While the surname Darnold may have evolved over centuries, its roots remain deeply embedded in the historical landscapes of England and Scotland, reflecting a connection to the natural world and the diverse experiences of those who bore this name throughout the ages.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Darnold

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

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

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

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