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

Heal, 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 Heal surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Heal in America

Heal is the 14827th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Heal surname appeared 1,999 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 Heal.

We can also compare 2010 data for Heal 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 Heal

The surname HEAL originated in England during the Anglo-Saxon period. It is an occupational name derived from the Old English word "hælan," which means "to heal" or "to cure." The name was given to individuals who worked as healers, physicians, or herbalists.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname HEAL can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive record of landowners in England during the reign of William the Conqueror. The name appeared in various spellings, such as Hale, Hayle, and Heale.

During the Middle Ages, the surname HEAL was particularly prevalent in the counties of Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, and Somerset. These areas were known for their rich traditions in herbal medicine and healing practices, which may have influenced the prevalence of the name in those regions.

One notable person with the surname HEAL was John Heal (c. 1520-1610), an English physician and astrologer who served as the personal doctor to Queen Elizabeth I. He was renowned for his expertise in astrological medicine and published several works on the subject.

Another prominent figure was Robert Heal (1630-1702), an English Baptist minister and author who was known for his religious writings and sermons. He played a significant role in the development of the Baptist movement in England during the 17th century.

In the 18th century, William Heal (1735-1819) was a renowned English architect who designed several notable buildings, including the Royal Pavilion in Brighton and the Duke of Richmond's residence in Whitehall.

Moving forward, the surname HEAL continued to be associated with the medical profession. Dr. Henry Heal (1826-1896) was a pioneering British physician who made significant contributions to the study of tropical diseases and their treatment.

One of the most famous individuals with the surname HEAL was Sir Robert Samuel Heal (1860-1945), a British businessman and philanthropist who founded the retail chain Heal's Furniture Stores. He was also actively involved in various charitable organizations and was knighted for his contributions to social welfare.

While the surname HEAL has its origins in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly through migration and immigration. However, its connection to the medical and healing professions remains a significant part of its historical legacy.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Heal

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

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

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

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