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

Draine, 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 Draine surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Draine in America

Draine is the 30701st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Draine surname appeared 759 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 Draine.

We can also compare 2010 data for Draine 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 Draine

The surname Draine has its origins in the Yorkshire county of England, dating back to the early Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old English word "draen," meaning a drain or watercourse, suggesting that the surname may have been initially given to someone who resided near a small stream or drainage ditch.

Historical records indicate that the name first appeared in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The entry for Yorkshire lists a landowner named Radulfus de Draen, believed to be one of the earliest recorded instances of the name.

During the 13th century, variations of the spelling emerged, including Drayene, Drayne, and Drayn. These variations likely arose due to regional dialects and the inconsistencies in written language during that era. One notable individual from this period was Sir William Drayene, a knight who fought alongside King Edward I in the Scottish Wars of Independence in the late 13th century.

By the 15th century, the spelling had largely settled on the modern form of Draine. Records from this time show the name being widespread across Yorkshire, particularly in the East Riding region. One prominent figure was John Draine, a wealthy merchant and landowner who lived in Beverley, Yorkshire, in the mid-15th century.

In the 16th century, the name made its way to other parts of England, with families bearing the surname Draine settling in counties such as Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire. During this period, a notable individual was Richard Draine, a Puritan clergyman who was a vocal critic of the English Reformation and faced persecution for his beliefs.

The 17th century saw the name spread further afield, with Draine families migrating to the American colonies. One such individual was Thomas Draine, who arrived in Virginia in 1635 and became a prosperous tobacco farmer. Another notable figure from this era was William Draine, a Quaker preacher born in Lincolnshire in 1670, who faced persecution for his religious beliefs.

As the centuries progressed, the Draine name continued to be found in various parts of the English-speaking world, with bearers of the surname making their mark in various fields. Among the notable individuals from more recent history were Henry Draine, a British explorer and naturalist who traveled extensively in Africa in the late 19th century, and Dorothy Draine, an American author and playwright who was active in the early 20th century.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Draine

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

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

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

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