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

Harrel, 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 Harrel surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Harrel in America

Harrel is the 15970th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Harrel surname appeared 1,818 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 Harrel.

We can also compare 2010 data for Harrel 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 Harrel

The surname Harrel has its origins in England, tracing back to the early medieval period around the 11th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "hara" meaning hare and "hyll" meaning hill, suggesting it may have originally referred to someone who lived near a hill frequented by hares.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Harehill." This document, commissioned by William the Conqueror, served as a comprehensive survey of land ownership and taxation in England following the Norman conquest.

Over time, the name underwent various spelling variations, including Harrell, Harrold, and Harral, before settling on the more common spelling of Harrel. These changes were often influenced by regional dialects and the scribes responsible for recording the name.

In the 13th century, records show a William de Harehill holding lands in Staffordshire, indicating the surname's association with a specific location. Similarly, in the 14th century, a John Harehull is mentioned in the rolls of Oxfordshire, demonstrating the name's spread across different regions of England.

One notable individual bearing the Harrel surname was Sir John Harrel, a prominent English landowner and member of Parliament who lived during the late 15th century. He played a significant role in the Wars of the Roses, supporting the House of Lancaster.

Another historically significant figure was Robert Harrel, born in 1587, who was a prominent Puritan minister and theologian. He served as the rector of Hunsdon in Hertfordshire and was known for his influential sermons and writings on religious matters.

In the realm of literature, the surname is associated with the poet and playwright William Harrel, who lived from 1647 to 1720. He is best known for his satirical works and contributions to the Restoration comedy genre.

The Harrel name also appears in military records, with Captain Thomas Harrel (1665-1737) serving in the British Army during the Nine Years' War and the War of the Spanish Succession. He distinguished himself in battles against the French and was recognized for his bravery and leadership.

Lastly, the 18th century saw the rise of John Harrel (1728-1788), a successful businessman and industrialist who played a pivotal role in the development of the textile industry in the English Midlands. His innovations in textile manufacturing contributed significantly to the region's economic growth.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Harrel

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

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

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

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