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

Rael, 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 Rael surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Rael in America

Rael is the 9093rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Rael surname appeared 3,592 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Rael.

We can also compare 2010 data for Rael 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 Rael

The surname RAEL is believed to have originated in the Middle Ages, likely in the region of modern-day France. It is thought to be a variant or derivative of the French word "réel," meaning "real" or "genuine." This name may have been initially given as a descriptive surname to someone who was perceived as honest, truthful, or sincere.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name RAEL can be found in the medieval records of the Normandy region of France, dating back to the 13th century. In these records, the name appears with various spellings, such as "Rahel," "Rael," and "Rael."

During the 14th and 15th centuries, the name RAEL began to appear in other regions of France, including Paris and the surrounding areas. This suggests that individuals bearing this name may have migrated or travelled to different parts of the country.

In the 16th century, a notable figure with the surname RAEL was Jacques Rael, a French philosopher and theologian who lived from 1516 to 1582. He was known for his writings on religious and philosophical topics and was a prominent figure in the intellectual circles of his time.

Another historical figure with the surname RAEL was Marie-Anne Rael, a French author and playwright who lived from 1687 to 1749. She gained recognition for her plays and literary works, which explored themes of love, society, and the human condition.

Moving into the 18th century, the RAEL surname can be found in various records and documents from different regions of France. For example, Jean-Baptiste Rael, born in 1721, was a successful merchant and businessman in the city of Lyon, known for his trading ventures and entrepreneurial endeavors.

In the 19th century, a notable figure with the RAEL surname was Victor Rael, a French artist and painter who lived from 1815 to 1890. He was renowned for his landscapes and portraits, and his works were exhibited in several prominent galleries and exhibitions of the time.

It's worth noting that the surname RAEL has also been found in other European countries, such as Belgium and Switzerland, likely due to migration patterns and the spread of French-speaking populations. However, the origins of the name can be traced back to its French roots and the medieval period.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Rael

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

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

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

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