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

Norelus, 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 Norelus surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Norelus in America

Norelus is the 101247th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Norelus surname appeared 178 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 Norelus.

The history of the last name Norelus

The surname NORELUS is believed to have originated in France during the Middle Ages. It is thought to be derived from the Old French word "norele," which means "little nurse." This suggests that the name may have been given to someone who worked as a nurse or caretaker for children.

Early records show variations of the spelling, such as "Norellus" and "Norelleau," appearing in medieval French documents from the 13th and 14th centuries. One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Jean Norellus, a farmer who lived in the village of Châteauneuf-sur-Loire in the 1320s.

The name seems to have been particularly prevalent in the regions of Normandy and Brittany, where it was often associated with rural families and small villages. In the 15th century, there are records of a Jehan Norelus who was a merchant in the town of Rouen.

One notable historical figure with this surname was Pierre Norelus, a French soldier who fought in the Hundred Years' War against the English in the early 15th century. He was known for his bravery on the battlefield and was knighted by King Charles VII in 1436.

In the 16th century, the name appears to have spread to other parts of Europe, including the Low Countries (modern-day Belgium and the Netherlands). A Dutch painter named Dirk Norelus was active in the city of Antwerp between 1560 and 1590.

Another prominent bearer of the name was Marie Norelus, a French noblewoman who lived in the late 17th century. She was known for her philanthropic work and founded a convent in the town of Versailles in 1689.

As the name spread throughout Europe over the centuries, it underwent various spelling variations, such as "Norellus," "Norelleau," "Norellier," and "Norellier." However, the modern spelling of "NORELUS" seems to have become the most common form by the 19th century.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Norelus

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

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 Norelus 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.

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

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

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