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

Raleigh, 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 Raleigh surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Raleigh in America

Raleigh is the 8317th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Raleigh surname appeared 3,984 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 Raleigh.

We can also compare 2010 data for Raleigh 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 Raleigh

The surname Raleigh originated in England, derived from the place name Raleigh, a parish in the county of Devon. The name is thought to come from the Old English words "ra" meaning a meadow or clearing, and "leah" meaning a woodland or grove, suggesting that the name referred to a clearing in a wooded area.

In the Domesday Book of 1086, the first comprehensive survey of land ownership in England, the place name is recorded as "Ralegam". This early spelling variation highlights the evolution of the name over time.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Raleigh was Sir Walter Raleigh (c. 1554-1618), an English explorer, writer, and courtier. He was born in Devon and is renowned for his efforts in establishing the first English settlement in North America, on Roanoke Island, and for introducing tobacco and potatoes to England.

Another notable figure with the surname Raleigh was Sir Carew Raleigh (1550-1625), a younger son of Walter Raleigh and an English colonist who served as Governor of Jersey. He played a role in the early colonization efforts of Virginia and was involved in the establishment of Jamestown.

In the 16th century, the surname Raleigh was also associated with the Raleigh family, a prominent English gentry family with roots in Devon. One member of this family was Sir John Raleigh (c. 1537-1618), an English landowner and Member of Parliament.

The surname Raleigh has also been linked to several place names in England, such as Raleigh (Devon), Raleigh (Somerset), and Raleigh (Kent), further emphasizing the name's connection to specific geographic locations.

Another individual of historical significance with the surname Raleigh was Thomas Raleigh (1667-1711), an English clergyman and writer who served as the Dean of Wells Cathedral and authored several religious works.

While the surname Raleigh is not among the most common in modern times, its long history and association with notable figures in English history make it a significant part of the country's onomastic heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Raleigh

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

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

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

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