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

Kyle, 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 Kyle surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kyle in America

Kyle is the 1924th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kyle surname appeared 18,721 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 6 people would have the surname Kyle.

We can also compare 2010 data for Kyle 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 Kyle

The surname Kyle originates from the Gaelic language and is believed to have its roots in Scotland, where it first appeared in the 12th century. It is derived from the Gaelic word "coill," which means "wood" or "forest," suggesting that the name may have been given to someone who lived near or worked in a wooded area.

In the early records of Scotland, the name was often spelled as "Kyll" or "Kylle," reflecting the pronunciation of the time. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a historical document that lists Scottish landowners who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England.

The Kyle surname is also associated with several place names in Scotland, such as Kyle of Lochalsh and Kyle of Tongue, which further reinforces its Scottish origins. The name Kyle of Lochalsh, for example, is derived from the Gaelic "Cill Iogha," meaning "the church of Iona."

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname Kyle. One of the earliest known was John Kyle (c. 1520-1588), a Scottish theologian and reformer who played a significant role in the Scottish Reformation. Another notable figure was Thomas Kyle (1769-1853), a Scottish-American Presbyterian minister and educator who founded the Uniontown Academy in Pennsylvania.

In the 19th century, James Kyle (1808-1859) was a Scottish-American politician who served as a United States Representative from Pennsylvania. Later, in the 20th century, David Brandon Kyle (1919-2009) was an American World War II veteran and author, known for his book "The Immortal Eighth Air Force."

More recently, Jeremiah Kyle (born 1978) is an American actor and producer, best known for his roles in films such as "American Pie" and "Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde."

Throughout its history, the Kyle surname has maintained its Scottish roots and has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including theologians, politicians, authors, and actors. While the name may have evolved in spelling over time, its connection to the ancient Gaelic language and Scottish heritage remains evident.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kyle

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

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

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

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