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

Dial, 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 Dial surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Dial in America

Dial is the 3287th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Dial surname appeared 10,997 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 4 people would have the surname Dial.

We can also compare 2010 data for Dial 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 Dial

The surname Dial has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval era. It is derived from the Old English word "dæl," which means "valley" or "dell." The name likely originated as a topographic surname, given to individuals who lived in or near a valley or dell.

In early records, the name appeared with various spellings, such as Dele, Delle, and Delle, reflecting the variations in pronunciation and spelling conventions of the time. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is listed as "Dela."

The Dial surname is particularly associated with the county of Derbyshire, where it has a long-standing presence. One notable example is John Dial, born in 1622 in Derbyshire, who served as a soldier in the English Civil War.

As the surname spread across England, it took on different variations and spellings. In some areas, it was written as "Dyall" or "Dyell," possibly influenced by the word "dial," which refers to the face of a clock or sundial.

In the 16th century, a family of Dials established themselves in the city of Coventry, where they were prominent merchants and landowners. William Dial, born in 1545, was a successful wool trader and served as mayor of Coventry in 1589.

Another notable figure bearing the Dial surname was Sir Thomas Dial, born in 1660 in Somerset. He was a renowned architect and designed several notable buildings, including the Church of St. Mary-le-Bow in London.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, the Dial name also gained prominence in the American colonies. One of the earliest recorded instances is that of Jonathan Dial, who was born in 1675 in Virginia and later settled in North Carolina.

In the literary world, the surname is associated with novelist and playwright Reginald Dial, born in 1892 in Liverpool. His works, such as "The Constant Nymph" and "The Green Hat," were critically acclaimed and adapted for the stage and screen.

The Dial surname has a rich history, with its origins rooted in the English countryside and its bearers leaving their mark across various fields, from military service and architecture to literature and trade.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Dial

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

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

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

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