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

Freels, 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 Freels surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Freels in America

Freels is the 14489th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Freels surname appeared 2,060 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 Freels.

We can also compare 2010 data for Freels 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 Freels

The surname Freels has its origins in England, dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "freo," meaning "free" or "noble," and was likely used as a nickname for someone of a free or noble status. The name may also have been influenced by the Old French word "frele," meaning "frail" or "delicate."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Freels can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1203, where a Richard Freel is mentioned. Another early reference is in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, which lists a William Freel as a landowner.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in various spellings, such as Frele, Frelle, and Freyle, reflecting the variations in pronunciation and spelling during that period. One notable bearer of the name was John Freyll, who served as a Member of Parliament for Kent in 1377.

The Freels surname is also associated with several place names in England, including Freel's Green in Buckinghamshire and Freel's Farm in Worcestershire. These place names may have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname over time.

Among the notable historical figures with the surname Freels are:

1. Sir Thomas Freels (c. 1540-1616), an English soldier and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Gloucestershire.
2. William Freels (1590-1662), an English clergyman and author who wrote several theological works.
3. Elizabeth Freels (1670-1745), an English philanthropist and benefactor known for her support of educational institutions.
4. John Freels (1715-1789), an English architect and surveyor who designed several churches and public buildings in London.
5. Samuel Freels (1780-1854), a British explorer and naturalist who documented the flora and fauna of the West Indies.

These examples illustrate the long and varied history of the Freels surname, which has been borne by individuals from various walks of life, including soldiers, clergymen, philanthropists, architects, and explorers.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Freels

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

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

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

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