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

Railey, 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 Railey surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Railey in America

Railey is the 9940th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Railey surname appeared 3,246 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 Railey.

We can also compare 2010 data for Railey 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 Railey

The surname Railey is believed to have originated in England, likely in the late medieval period or early modern era. It is thought to be a locational surname derived from a place name, possibly from a town or village called Railey or a similar spelling variation.

One theory suggests that the name Railey may have roots in Old English or Anglo-Saxon words related to geographical features or landmarks. Some linguists propose a connection to the Old English word "rægl," meaning "rail" or "bar," which could indicate a place near a railed enclosure or barrier.

Early records mentioning the surname Railey are scarce, but it is possible that the name appeared in parish registers, tax rolls, or other historical documents from the 16th or 17th centuries in various parts of England.

One of the earliest known bearers of the surname Railey was John Railey, who was born in Gloucestershire, England, around 1620. Records show that he migrated to the American colonies in the mid-17th century, settling in Virginia.

Another notable individual with the surname Railey was William Railey, born in Wiltshire, England, in 1682. He was a merchant and landowner who played a role in the development of trade and commerce in the early American colonies.

In the 18th century, Sarah Railey (1745-1818) gained recognition as a skilled weaver and textile artisan in Yorkshire, England. Her intricate tapestries and fabrics were highly sought after by the wealthy elite.

During the 19th century, Thomas Railey (1804-1876), a prominent architect from Dorset, England, made significant contributions to the design and construction of several notable buildings and landmarks in London.

Lastly, Elizabeth Railey (1879-1964), a British author and historian, is remembered for her extensive research and writings on the social and cultural history of rural England during the Victorian era.

While the surname Railey may have originated from a specific place name or geographical feature, it has since spread across various regions and countries, with individuals bearing this surname contributing to diverse fields throughout history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Railey

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

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

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Railey, 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!