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

Degale, 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 Degale surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Degale in America

Degale is the 120901st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Degale surname appeared 143 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 Degale.

The history of the last name Degale

The surname DEGALE is of French origin, derived from the Old French word "galer," meaning "to amuse" or "to make merry." It is believed to have first emerged in the late 12th century in the northern regions of France.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in medieval documents from the regions of Normandy and Picardy. One notable example is a reference to a "Robert de Gale" in the tax records of the village of Rouen in 1195.

The name DEGALE is thought to have initially been an occupational surname, given to jesters, minstrels, or entertainers who provided amusement and merriment during celebrations or festivals. As the name spread throughout France, various spellings emerged, including DeGale, De Gale, and Degalle.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in the Hundred Rolls of Bedfordshire, a census-like record of landowners in England during the reign of King Edward I. This suggests that individuals bearing the surname DEGALE had already migrated to England by that time.

One of the earliest recorded bearers of the name was Jean DeGale, a French troubadour and poet who lived in the late 12th century and is known for his satirical works critiquing the nobility and clergy of his time.

Another notable figure was Sir William DeGale, an English knight who fought alongside King Edward III during the Hundred Years' War in the 14th century. He was awarded lands in Normandy for his service and is believed to have been the progenitor of many DeGale families in England.

In the 16th century, the name appeared in the records of the Spanish Inquisition, suggesting that some individuals bearing the surname had migrated to Spain during that period, possibly due to religious persecution or economic opportunities.

One of the most famous bearers of the name was the French philosopher and mathematician René Descartes, whose original surname was written as "Des Cartes" or "Descartes," which is thought to be a variant of DEGALE.

Throughout the centuries, the name has spread across various parts of Europe and beyond, with individuals bearing the surname DEGALE making significant contributions in fields such as literature, art, science, and politics.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Degale

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

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 Degale 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.

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

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

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