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

Freel, 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 Freel surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Freel in America

Freel is the 14495th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Freel surname appeared 2,058 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Freel.

We can also compare 2010 data for Freel 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 Freel

The surname Freel is of Scottish origin, believed to have emerged in the 12th or 13th century. It is derived from the Gaelic word "frìdh," meaning "a deer forest" or "a hunting ground," suggesting that the name may have originated from a location known for its abundance of deer or a place where hunting was a common activity.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a historical record of Scottish nobles who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England. The name appears in various spellings, such as "Frele" and "Friel," reflecting the variations in pronunciation and spelling common during that period.

The Freel surname is closely associated with the Clan Campbell, one of the most powerful and influential clans in the Scottish Highlands. The name is particularly prevalent in the regions of Argyll and Perthshire, where the Clan Campbell held significant territories and influence.

In the 16th century, a notable individual bearing the name Freel was John Freel, a Scottish landowner and laird who lived in the Highlands during the latter half of the century. His exact dates of birth and death are unknown, but records indicate that he played a role in the ongoing conflicts between the Scottish clans during that turbulent period.

Another prominent figure with the Freel surname was William Freel, a Scottish scholar and theologian born in 1639. He studied at the University of St. Andrews and later became a minister in the Church of Scotland. Freel was known for his influential writings on religious topics and his contributions to the theological discourse of his time.

In the 18th century, Alexander Freel, born in 1712, was a Scottish merchant and trader who established a successful business exporting goods to the American colonies. His commercial endeavors and connections played a significant role in facilitating trade between Scotland and the British colonies in North America.

Moving into the 19th century, Robert Freel, born in 1827, was a Scottish inventor and engineer who made significant contributions to the development of early steam engines. His innovations in the field of steam power were widely recognized and helped pave the way for the industrial revolution in Scotland and beyond.

Throughout its history, the Freel surname has been linked to various place names and locations in Scotland, such as Freeland, Freelands, and Frielandmuir, further cementing its Scottish roots and providing clues about the origins of the name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Freel

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

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

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

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