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

Peel, 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 Peel surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Peel in America

Peel is the 5247th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Peel surname appeared 6,647 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 Peel.

We can also compare 2010 data for Peel 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 Peel

The surname Peel originated from the Anglo-Saxon regions of Britain, specifically in areas that were part of the former Kingdom of Northumbria. It likely derives from the Old English word 'peel', which referred to a small area of land or an isolated hill.

The name Peel can be traced back to the 11th century, with records indicating its presence in the Domesday Book of 1086. This comprehensive survey, commissioned by William the Conqueror, documented landowners and tenants throughout England.

In the 13th century, the name appears in various forms, such as Peile, Peyle, and Pele. These variations may have been influenced by local dialects and spelling conventions of the time.

Several notable individuals have borne the surname Peel throughout history. One of the earliest recorded instances is Sir Robert Peel (1599-1668), a notable English landowner and parliamentarian during the English Civil War.

Another prominent figure was Sir Robert Peel (1788-1850), a British statesman who served twice as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. He is credited with establishing the modern police force, known as "Bobbies" or "Peelers" in his honor.

Other notable individuals include John Peel (1939-2004), a highly influential British radio DJ and broadcaster, and Walter Peel (1888-1945), a Canadian politician and Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan.

The surname Peel has also been associated with various place names in England, such as Peel on the Isle of Man, Peel in Lancashire, and Peel Forest in Staffordshire.

It is worth noting that the surname Peel has been documented in various historical records, including parish registers, tax rolls, and court proceedings, providing insights into its evolution and geographical distribution over time.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Peel

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

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

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

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