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

Riel, 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 Riel surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Riel in America

Riel is the 14139th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Riel surname appeared 2,125 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 Riel.

We can also compare 2010 data for Riel 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 Riel

The surname RIEL originated in France, dating back to the medieval era. It is believed to have derived from the Old French word "riel," meaning a small stream or brook. This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who resided near a small watercourse.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the RIEL name can be found in the 13th century in the region of Normandy, France. The name appeared in various archival records and documents from that period, sometimes spelled as "Riel," "Riell," or "Rielle."

During the Middle Ages, many surnames emerged from geographical locations or descriptive characteristics. The RIEL surname likely originated as a locational name, referring to a specific place or area where a small stream or brook was present. It is possible that the name was initially used to identify individuals who lived near such a watercourse.

In the 14th century, there are records of a RIEL family residing in the village of Beaumont-en-Auge, also located in Normandy. This village's name is derived from the Old French words "beau" (beautiful) and "mont" (hill), suggesting a connection between the RIEL surname and a picturesque location.

One notable figure with the RIEL surname was Louis Riel (1844-1885), a Canadian politician and leader of the Métis people. He played a significant role in the Red River Rebellion and the North-West Rebellion, seeking to protect the rights and lands of the Métis community in western Canada.

Another historical figure bearing the RIEL name was Antoine Riel (1601-1677), a French Catholic priest and theologian who served as a professor at the Sorbonne University in Paris. He was known for his scholarly works on theology and philosophy.

In the 16th century, there are records of a RIEL family residing in the village of Auge, located in the Normandy region of France. The village's name is derived from the Gaulish word "algia," meaning a marshy area or wetland, further reinforcing the connection between the RIEL surname and water-related geographical features.

Étienne Riel (1756-1832) was a French military officer who served during the French Revolutionary Wars and the Napoleonic Wars. He participated in several notable battles and campaigns, earning recognition for his bravery and leadership.

Jean-Baptiste Riel (1721-1804) was a French-Canadian farmer and landowner who played a role in the early settlement and development of the Rivière-des-Prairies region, located near Montreal, Canada. He established a successful agricultural enterprise and contributed to the growth of the local community.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Riel

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

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

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

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