2000
#144,908
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 105
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Rachall
A variant spelling of the English surname Rochelle, of French locational origin.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 118 Americans carry the last name Rachall. That puts it at #154,182 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.03 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,904,698 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Rachall surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
118
1 in 2,904,698
Census rank
#154,182
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
103
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 103 bearers of the surname Rachall in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.03 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 154182nd position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Rachall, the largest self-reported group is White at 66.0%. The next largest groups are Black (11.7%) and Hispanic (10.7%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Rachall
The surname RACHALL has its origins in England, with records dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "reohha," meaning "clearing" or "glade," and was likely used as a descriptive name for someone who lived near a clearing or open area in a forest.
The earliest known reference to the name appears in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where one Roger de la Rachehulle is mentioned as a landowner in Oxfordshire. This spelling variation, "Rachehulle," provides insight into the name's evolution over time, with the "-hulle" suffix indicating a geographical location or settlement.
By the 14th century, the name had evolved into various spellings, including Rachall, Rachell, and Ratchell. These variations were often used interchangeably, reflecting the fluidity of spelling conventions during this period.
One notable figure bearing this surname was John Rachall, a wealthy merchant and landowner who lived in the city of Bristol in the late 15th century. Records show that he owned several properties and held influential positions within the city's guilds.
In the 16th century, the name appears in various parish records across England, particularly in counties such as Gloucestershire, Worcestershire, and Warwickshire. One example is William Rachall, who was born in Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, in 1543.
The RACHALL surname is also associated with several place names, such as Rachall Farm in Worcestershire, which was mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086 under the spelling "Rachelau."
Another notable individual was Edward Rachall, a renowned clockmaker who lived in London during the late 17th century. His intricate timepieces were highly sought after by the aristocracy and are now considered valuable antiques.
In the 18th century, the name gained prominence in the legal profession, with Thomas Rachall serving as a respected barrister and judge in the Court of King's Bench from 1752 to 1774.
During the 19th century, the RACHALL surname continued to be documented across various regions of England, with families residing in both urban and rural areas. One notable figure from this period was Elizabeth Rachall, a philanthropist and social reformer who established several charitable organizations in the city of Manchester.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Rachall
Among Census respondents with the surname Rachall, the largest self-reported group is White at 66.0%. The next largest groups are Black (11.7%) and Hispanic (10.7%).
The bar chart below shows how Rachall bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Rachall surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White66.0% · 68
- Black or African American11.7% · 12
- Hispanic or Latino10.7% · 11
- Two or more races10.7% · 11
- Asian and Pacific Islander1.0% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Rachall
Rachall appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#160,975
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 100
-5 bearers (-4.8%)
Per 100,000 0.03
Rank movement Down 16,067 places
2020
#154,182
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 103
+3 bearers (+3.0%)
Per 100,000 0.03
Rank movement Up 6,793 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #144,908 | 105 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #160,975 | 100 | 0.03 | -5 bearers (-4.8%) | Down 16,067 places |
| 2020 | #154,182 | 103 | 0.03 | +3 bearers (+3.0%) | Up 6,793 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Rachall surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #160,975 | #154,182 | 4.2% |
| Count | 100 | 103 | 3.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.03 | 0.03 | 14.9% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Rachall bearers went from 100 to 103 (+3.0% change). The surname moved up 6,793 positions in the national ranking, going from #160,975 to #154,182.
FAQ
Rachall surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Rachall?
Name Census estimates that about 118 living Americans carry the surname Rachall. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,904,698 residents.
How common is Rachall?
Rachall ranks #154,182 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.03 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 103 people with the surname Rachall. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (118), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.03 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.03 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Rachall.
Has Rachall become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Rachall went from 100 recorded bearers to 103. That is an increase of 3 (+3.0%). In the national ranking it rose from #160,975 to #154,182.
What does the Census say about the background of Rachall?
Among Census respondents with the surname Rachall, the largest self-reported group is White at 66.0%. The next largest groups are Black (11.7%) and Hispanic (10.7%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Rachall in the 2020 Census, accounting for 66.0% (68 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Rachall appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (66.0%), Black (11.7%), Hispanic (10.7%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Rachall (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Rachall mean?
A variant spelling of the English surname Rochelle, of French locational origin. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Rachall (0.03 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people have the last name Rachall?
You can see how many people have the last name Rachall on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — same data roots, lighter UI.