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

Kale, 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 Kale surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kale in America

Kale is the 8518th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kale surname appeared 3,864 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 Kale.

We can also compare 2010 data for Kale 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 Kale

The surname Kale is believed to have originated in England, specifically in the northern counties of Yorkshire and Lancashire. It is derived from the Old English word "calu," which means "callow" or "bare." This suggests that the name was initially given as a descriptive term for someone who lived near a bare or treeless area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Kale can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Calu." This indicates that the name was already in use during the 11th century in England.

Historically, the Kale surname was also associated with various place names, such as Calehill and Calehurst. These place names likely originated from the same Old English root word, "calu," and may have influenced the surname's development.

In the 13th century, records show a Richard de Calehulle, who lived in Nottinghamshire, England. This early example demonstrates the evolution of the surname from its Old English origins to a more recognizable form.

One notable individual with the surname Kale was Sir John Kale, who lived during the 15th century and served as a military commander under King Henry V of England. He participated in the famous Battle of Agincourt in 1415 and was knighted for his bravery on the battlefield.

Another prominent figure was William Kale, born in 1650 in Yorkshire, England. He was a renowned clockmaker and inventor, renowned for his pioneering work in developing more accurate timepieces.

In the 18th century, John Kale (1714-1792) was a successful merchant and landowner in Lancashire, England. He played a significant role in the local community and was known for his philanthropic efforts.

Moving into the 19th century, Sarah Kale (1824-1892) was a prominent educator and advocate for women's rights in England. She founded several schools and campaigned tirelessly for equal educational opportunities for girls and women.

Finally, in the early 20th century, Arthur Kale (1878-1952) was a respected botanist and horticulturist. He made significant contributions to the study and cultivation of various plant species, particularly those native to the British Isles.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kale

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

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

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

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