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

Real, 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 Real surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Real in America

Real is the 5045th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Real surname appeared 6,959 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Real.

We can also compare 2010 data for Real 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 Real

The surname REAL is of Spanish origin, derived from the Spanish word "real," meaning "royal" or "regal." It is believed to have originated in the late medieval period, around the 15th or 16th century, when surnames became more widespread in Europe.

The name REAL is likely associated with individuals who held positions of authority or served in the royal courts, or who may have been considered noble or distinguished in some way. It is possible that the name was initially used as a descriptive nickname for someone with a regal bearing or who worked in a royal capacity.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname REAL can be found in the archives of the Kingdom of Aragon, where a certain Juan REAL is mentioned in a document dated 1492. This coincides with the reign of Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella I of Castile, the monarchs who sponsored Christopher Columbus's voyage to the Americas.

In the 16th century, the name REAL appears in various records from the Spanish colonial territories in the Americas, particularly in Mexico and Peru. Notable individuals from this period include Pedro REAL (c. 1550-1610), a Spanish conquistador and explorer who participated in the conquest of Chile, and Fray Alonso REAL (c. 1560-1630), a Franciscan missionary who was one of the first evangelizers in New Mexico.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, the surname REAL can be found in various parts of Spain, as well as in Spanish colonial settlements in the Americas and the Philippines. One prominent figure from this era was José Antonio REAL (1673-1738), a Spanish military engineer who designed several fortifications in Cuba and Florida.

In the 19th century, the name REAL gained recognition through individuals like Pedro REAL (1807-1876), a Spanish politician and journalist who served as Minister of the Interior during the reign of Queen Isabella II, and Félix REAL (1851-1913), a Spanish painter and illustrator known for his Orientalist works.

Another notable bearer of the surname REAL was Manuel REAL (1886-1936), a Spanish anarchist and revolutionary who played a significant role in the Spanish Civil War. He was executed by Nationalist forces in 1936.

These are just a few examples of the historical figures who carried the surname REAL, which has its roots in the Spanish language and culture, reflecting a connection to royalty, nobility, and positions of authority.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Real

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

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

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

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