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

Lail, 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 Lail surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Lail in America

Lail is the 7714th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Lail surname appeared 4,304 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 Lail.

We can also compare 2010 data for Lail 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 Lail

The surname LAIL traces its origins to the British Isles, specifically England and Scotland. It is believed to have emerged in the late medieval period, derived from an Old English or Old Norse word meaning "little" or "small."

One of the earliest documented references to the LAIL surname dates back to the 13th century in Yorkshire, England. The name appears in records as "de Lail," suggesting it may have initially been a locational surname derived from a place name. However, the specific place of origin remains unclear.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the LAIL surname gained prominence in various parts of England and Scotland. Notable individuals from this period include John Lail (1542-1612), a merchant from London, and Robert Lail (1603-1678), a Scottish landowner and politician from Ayrshire.

In the 18th century, the LAIL surname spread to other regions, including Ireland and the American colonies. One notable figure was William Lail (1725-1798), an Irish-born military officer who served in the American Revolutionary War and later settled in Virginia.

As the centuries progressed, the LAIL surname underwent various spelling variations, such as Lale, Layle, and Laile. These variations were likely influenced by regional dialects and phonetic spellings.

In the 19th century, the LAIL surname gained further recognition with individuals like Mary Ann Lail (1815-1892), a British author and poet, and James Lail (1845-1923), a prominent businessman and philanthropist from Chicago, Illinois.

Throughout its history, the LAIL surname has been associated with a diverse range of professions and backgrounds, from merchants and landowners to authors and military personnel. While not a particularly common surname, it has maintained a presence across various regions, reflecting the mobility and adaptability of its bearers.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Lail

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

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

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

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