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

Rainbow, 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 Rainbow surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Rainbow in America

Rainbow is the 39352nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Rainbow surname appeared 559 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 Rainbow.

We can also compare 2010 data for Rainbow 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 Rainbow

The surname RAINBOW is of English origin, emerging in the late 16th century. It is derived from the Old English phrase "rayn-boge," which literally translates to "rain bow," referring to the natural phenomenon of the colored arc appearing in the sky after a rainstorm.

The RAINBOW surname is believed to have originated in the county of Dorset in southwest England, where it was likely first adopted as a descriptive name for someone who lived near a location known for its frequent rainbows. One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname is found in the parish records of Corfe Mullen, Dorset, where a William Rainbow was listed in 1598.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, the RAINBOW surname spread across England, particularly in the southern counties. Notable bearers of the name include Thomas Rainbow (1618-1677), an English clergyman and author who served as the Bishop of Carlisle, and Edward Rainbow (1608-1684), an English churchman and author who served as the Bishop of Carlisle from 1664 to 1684.

As the British Empire expanded, the RAINBOW surname was carried to various parts of the world by English settlers and migrants. In the 19th century, the name appeared in census records and historical documents in countries such as Australia, New Zealand, and Canada. One notable Australian bearer of the surname was John Rainbow (1846-1915), a politician who served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Western Australia.

In the United States, the RAINBOW surname first appeared in the early colonial period, with records showing families of that name settling in Virginia and New England. Notable American bearers of the surname include Gilbert W. Rainbow (1878-1953), a businessman and philanthropist from Ohio, and James Rainbow (1842-1920), a Union soldier during the American Civil War who was awarded the Medal of Honor for his bravery.

Throughout its history, the RAINBOW surname has maintained its connection to the natural phenomenon from which it derives its name, serving as a reminder of the awe-inspiring beauty of the colorful arc spanning the sky after a storm.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Rainbow

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

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

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

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