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

Relyea, 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 Relyea surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Relyea in America

Relyea is the 16051st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Relyea surname appeared 1,806 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 Relyea.

We can also compare 2010 data for Relyea 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 Relyea

The surname RELYEA has its origins in France and dates back to the late 16th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old French word "relever," which means "to raise up" or "to uplift." The name likely referred to someone who had a reputation for being a strong leader or a person of influence in their community.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the RELYEA surname can be found in the parish records of Saint-Martin-de-Ré, a small island off the west coast of France, in the year 1598. The name appears in various spellings, such as Rellyer, Rellieur, and Rellyé, which reflects the variations in pronunciation and spelling during that period.

In the 17th century, a branch of the RELYEA family migrated to the Dutch Republic, where the name underwent further changes in spelling and pronunciation. Records from the city of Amsterdam show the name spelled as Reljer and Relier during this time.

One notable figure bearing the RELYEA surname was Jacques Relyea (1645-1712), a French Huguenot who fled religious persecution and settled in the Dutch colony of New Netherland (present-day New York) in the late 1600s. He is considered one of the earliest bearers of the name in North America.

Another significant figure was Albert Relyea (1792-1869), an American businessman and politician from New York. He served as a member of the New York State Assembly and was actively involved in the construction of the Erie Canal, a major engineering feat that revolutionized transportation and trade in the region.

In the 19th century, the RELYEA name gained prominence in Canada, particularly in the province of Ontario. One notable individual was William Relyea (1836-1914), a successful farmer and community leader in the town of Tyendinaga, who was recognized for his contributions to local agriculture and civic affairs.

Another prominent Canadian with the RELYEA surname was Harriet Relyea (1856-1943), a pioneering educator and advocate for women's rights. She founded the Women's Institute in Ontario and played a crucial role in promoting education and empowerment for women in rural communities.

Throughout history, the RELYEA surname has also been associated with various occupations and professions, such as merchants, artisans, and military personnel. While the name has undergone various spelling variations over the centuries, its roots can be traced back to the French word "relever," reflecting the qualities of leadership and influence that were once associated with its bearers.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Relyea

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

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

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

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