Rahall
A surname of uncertain origin, possibly derived from an Arabic word or place name.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 206 Americans carry the last name Rahall. That puts it at #97,210 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.06 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 1,663,856 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Rahall surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, 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
206
1 in 1,663,856
Census rank
#97,210
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
187
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 187 bearers of the surname Rahall in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.06 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 97210th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Rahall, the largest self-reported group is White at 97.3%.
Origin
Meaning and origin of Rahall
The surname Rahall is believed to have originated in the Middle East, specifically in the region of modern-day Syria and Lebanon. It is thought to be derived from an Arabic word or phrase, though its precise origin and meaning are uncertain. The earliest recorded instances of the name date back to the 12th century, when it appeared in various manuscripts and records from the region.
One of the earliest known bearers of the name was a prominent scholar and poet, Ahmed ibn Rahall, who lived in Damascus during the late 12th century. His works and writings are among the earliest documented references to the Rahall surname. Another early figure was Khalil Rahall, a merchant and trader from Aleppo who traveled extensively throughout the Middle East in the 13th century.
As the centuries passed, the Rahall name spread beyond its geographic origins, carried by merchants, travelers, and settlers to various parts of the world. In the 16th century, there are records of a Rahall family residing in the city of Venice, Italy, likely descendants of traders or merchants from the Levant region.
One notable figure from this period was Ibrahim Rahall, a Venetian merchant and diplomat who played a role in facilitating trade and diplomatic relations between the Republic of Venice and the Ottoman Empire in the late 16th century.
The Rahall surname also made its way to the British Isles, likely through immigration from the Middle East or Southern Europe. In the 17th century, there are records of a John Rahall, a merchant and landowner in the English county of Essex. His descendants continued to use the Rahall surname for several generations.
Another significant figure was Sir William Rahall, a British military officer who served in the East India Company and played a role in the conquest of various territories in India during the late 18th century. He was born in 1745 and died in 1819.
As the centuries progressed, the Rahall surname continued to spread and appear in various parts of the world, carried by individuals and families through migration, trade, and exploration. While its precise origins and meaning remain somewhat shrouded in mystery, the Rahall surname has a rich and diverse history that spans continents and cultures.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Rahall
Among Census respondents with the surname Rahall, the largest self-reported group is White at 97.3%.
The bar chart below shows how Rahall bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 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.
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 Rahall surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White97.3%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Rahall surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #97,210 | #97,210 | 0.0% |
| Count | 187 | 187 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.06 | 0.06 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Rahall bearers went from 187 to 187 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #97,210 to #97,210.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Rahall
FAQ
Rahall surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Rahall?
The surname Rahall holds position #97,210 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 206 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.06 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Rahall surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Rahall, the largest self-reported group is White at 97.3%. These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.