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

Kearl, 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 Kearl surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kearl in America

Kearl is the 44730th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kearl surname appeared 480 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Kearl.

We can also compare 2010 data for Kearl 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 Kearl

The surname Kearl has its origins in Scotland, dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have been derived from the Old English word "ceorl," which meant a free man of humble birth or a peasant. Over time, the spelling evolved from Ceorl to Kearl.

In the early days, the Kearl surname was prominently found in the Scottish Lowlands, particularly in the regions of Ayrshire and Lanarkshire. The first recorded instance of the name appears in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which was a document that recorded the names of Scottish nobles and landowners who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England.

One of the earliest known bearers of the Kearl surname was Robert Kearl, who was mentioned in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland in 1392. Another notable figure was John Kearl, a merchant from Edinburgh who was granted a royal charter by King James IV in 1502.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Kearl family spread across various parts of Scotland, with some members settling in the Highlands. In 1632, a record from the Privy Council of Scotland mentions a William Kearl, who was charged with participating in a riot in Perth.

In the 18th century, the Kearl name was associated with several notable individuals, including Alexander Kearl (1701-1773), a Scottish philosopher and educator, and James Kearl (1727-1799), a renowned architect who designed several churches and public buildings in Edinburgh.

As the Industrial Revolution took hold in the 19th century, many Kearls migrated from Scotland to other parts of the United Kingdom and beyond, seeking new opportunities. One such individual was Robert Kearl (1819-1892), a Scottish-born civil engineer who played a significant role in the construction of railroads in Canada.

Throughout history, variations of the Kearl surname have included Kerl, Kerle, Kerlie, and Kearlie, with some of these spellings reflecting regional dialects or personal preferences. Despite its humble beginnings, the Kearl name has been carried by individuals who have made significant contributions in various fields, solidifying its place in the annals of Scottish history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kearl

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

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

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

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