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

Rahal, 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 Rahal surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Rahal in America

Rahal is the 36426th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Rahal surname appeared 614 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 Rahal.

We can also compare 2010 data for Rahal 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 Rahal

The surname RAHAL is believed to have originated in the North African region of Algeria, with traces of its roots dating back to the early 16th century. It is thought to be derived from the Arabic word "rahal," meaning "traveler" or "nomad," a nod to the nomadic lifestyle of the region's indigenous Berber tribes.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the RAHAL surname can be found in the archives of the Ottoman Empire, which ruled over parts of North Africa during the 16th and 17th centuries. Historical records from this period suggest that the name was concentrated in the coastal regions of modern-day Algeria, particularly in cities like Algiers and Oran.

Throughout the centuries, the RAHAL surname has been linked to several notable figures. In the early 19th century, Ahmed RAHAL (1790-1872) was a prominent Algerian scholar and poet, renowned for his contributions to Arabic literature. His works, which often explored themes of identity and cultural heritage, have been widely studied and celebrated in the Arab world.

The name RAHAL also made its way to other parts of the world through migration and diaspora. In the late 19th century, a merchant by the name of Salim RAHAL (1855-1932) settled in Marseille, France, where he established a successful trading business. His descendants continue to carry the RAHAL name in France to this day.

Another notable figure bearing the RAHAL surname was Fatima RAHAL (1923-2011), an Algerian activist and feminist who played a pivotal role in the country's struggle for independence from France. She was a vocal advocate for women's rights and worked tirelessly to promote education and social justice in her homeland.

In the world of sports, the RAHAL name gained prominence with the rise of Bobby RAHAL (born 1953), an American race car driver of Lebanese descent. He won the Indianapolis 500 in 1986 and later went on to establish a successful racing team, cementing his legacy in the world of motorsports.

While the RAHAL surname has its roots in North Africa, it has since spread across the globe, carried by generations of travelers, merchants, and migrants. Its history reflects the rich cultural tapestry of the region, as well as the resilience and adaptability of those who have borne this name throughout the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Rahal

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!