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

Mail, 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 Mail surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Mail in America

Mail is the 100302nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Mail surname appeared 180 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 Mail.

We can also compare 2010 data for Mail 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 Mail

The surname MAIL is believed to have originated in England, with the earliest recorded instances dating back to the 12th century. It is thought to be derived from the Old French word "maille," which referred to a type of chain or mesh armor worn by medieval knights and soldiers.

During the Middle Ages, surnames often emerged as a way to distinguish individuals, with many people adopting names related to their occupations or areas of expertise. In this case, the surname MAIL likely indicated a connection to the manufacture or trade of chain mail armor. It's possible that early bearers of this name were blacksmiths, armorers, or merchants involved in the production or sale of this type of protective gear.

One of the earliest known references to the surname MAIL can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Northamptonshire from the year 1176, where a certain William Mail is mentioned. This record provides evidence of the name's existence in England during the latter part of the 12th century.

Another notable figure bearing the surname MAIL was Sir John Mail, a distinguished English soldier who fought in the Hundred Years' War against France in the 14th century. He was knighted for his bravery and military service during the Battle of Crécy in 1346.

In the 15th century, the surname MAIL appeared in various records and documents across different regions of England, including the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379, where a John Mail is listed among the taxpayers.

During the Tudor period, a prominent individual named Thomas Mail (1475-1546) held the prestigious position of Sheriff of London and served as an alderman in the City of London. His name can be found in historical accounts and records from that era.

Another noteworthy bearer of the surname MAIL was Sir Richard Mail (1610-1678), an English politician and Member of Parliament for Bedfordshire during the reign of King Charles II. He played an active role in the political landscape of the time and was known for his contributions to local governance and affairs.

Throughout its history, the surname MAIL has been associated with various locations across England, including areas like Northamptonshire, Yorkshire, and Bedfordshire, where records of individuals bearing this name have been found. The name has also been subject to slight variations in spelling over time, such as Mayle and Maill, but the core meaning and origin remain rooted in the concept of chain mail armor.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Mail

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

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

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

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