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

Nail, 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 Nail surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Nail in America

Nail is the 4936th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Nail surname appeared 7,133 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Nail.

We can also compare 2010 data for Nail 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 Nail

The surname NAIL has its origins in the Middle English word "nayl" or "nail," which was derived from the Old English "nægel" meaning a spike or metal fastener. The name likely originated as an occupational surname, referring to a maker or seller of nails in medieval times. This occupation would have been an important one, as nails were essential for construction, carpentry, and other trades.

The surname NAIL is of English origin and can be traced back to the 13th century. It is believed to have first appeared in records from the county of Yorkshire, where many early bearers of the name were concentrated. One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname dates back to 1273, when a William Nayl was mentioned in the Hundred Rolls of Huntingdonshire.

Historical records show that the NAIL surname was also present in other parts of England, such as Norfolk and Suffolk. In the 14th century, a Richard Nayl was mentioned in the Subsidy Rolls of Suffolk in 1327. The name also appeared in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1379, with a reference to a John Nayll.

The NAIL surname has evolved over time, with various spellings appearing in historical documents, such as Nayle, Naill, and Naylle. These variations reflect the differences in pronunciation and spelling conventions of the time.

One notable historical figure with the surname NAIL was Sir Robert Nail (1652-1730), an English lawyer and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for several constituencies, including Thetford and Gatton. Another prominent individual was William Nail (1659-1724), an English clergyman and academic who served as the Provost of King's College, Cambridge.

In the United States, one of the earliest recorded individuals with the NAIL surname was Thomas Nail, who arrived in Virginia in 1636. Another early bearer of the name was John Nail, who settled in Maryland in 1667.

Other notable individuals with the NAIL surname include:

1. Thomas Nail (1799-1873), an English cricketer who played for Sussex County Cricket Club.
2. John Nail (1790-1856), an American politician who served as a United States Representative from Missouri.
3. Isaac Nail (1730-1808), an American surveyor and soldier who fought in the American Revolutionary War.
4. William Nail (1861-1924), an English cricketer who played for Gloucestershire County Cricket Club.
5. George Nail (1858-1934), an American businessman and banker who founded the Nail State Bank in West Virginia.

While the NAIL surname has its roots in an occupational origin, it has since become a well-established family name found across various regions and countries, with a rich history spanning several centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Nail

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

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

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

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