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

Duel, 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 Duel surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Duel in America

Duel is the 61585th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Duel surname appeared 326 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 Duel.

We can also compare 2010 data for Duel 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 Duel

The surname "DUEL" is of French origin, tracing its roots back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old French word "duel," which referred to a pre-arranged combat or fight between two people. This term ultimately stems from the Latin word "duellum," meaning "war" or "battle."

In medieval times, the practice of dueling was commonplace among the nobility and gentry as a means of settling disputes or defending one's honor. The surname "DUEL" likely emerged as a descriptive name for individuals who engaged in or presided over such duels, or perhaps for those who lived near a location where duels were held.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname "DUEL" can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of land and property ownership in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appears in various spellings, such as "Duelle" and "Duele," indicating its French origins.

In the 12th century, a notable figure bearing the surname "DUEL" was Sir Robert Duel, a knight who fought alongside Richard the Lionheart during the Third Crusade (1189-1192). Records indicate that Sir Robert Duel was born in Normandy, France, around 1160 and died in 1220 after returning from the Holy Land.

Another prominent individual with the surname "DUEL" was Jean Duel, a French poet and playwright who lived in the 16th century. Born in Paris in 1525, Jean Duel is best known for his satirical works that criticized the aristocracy and the Catholic Church. He died in 1592.

In England, the name "DUEL" can be traced back to the 14th century, with records showing a John Duel residing in Oxfordshire in 1379. The surname also appears in various place names, such as Duel's Hill in Somerset, which likely derived its name from an individual or family with the surname "DUEL" residing in the area.

During the Renaissance period, a notable figure bearing the surname "DUEL" was Étienne Duel, a French scholar and humanist who lived from 1498 to 1572. Étienne Duel was renowned for his translations of ancient Greek texts and his efforts to promote classical learning in France.

In the 18th century, a famous bearer of the surname "DUEL" was Émilie Duel, a French author and salonnière who hosted literary gatherings in Paris. Born in 1740, Émilie Duel was known for her witty conversations and her advocacy for women's education. She died in 1823.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Duel

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

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

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

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