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

Runnels, 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 Runnels surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Runnels in America

Runnels is the 6680th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Runnels surname appeared 5,055 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 Runnels.

We can also compare 2010 data for Runnels 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 Runnels

The surname Runnels is of English origin and dates back to the 13th century. It is derived from the Old English word "rinnell" or "rynel," which means a small stream or a rivulet. The name was likely given to someone who lived near a small stream or a brook.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in various medieval records and documents. One of the earliest known references is in the Hundred Rolls of Bedfordshire in 1273, which mentions a Richard de la Runnell. The Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1327 also list a Thomas atte Runell.

During the 14th and 15th centuries, the name appeared in various forms, such as Runnell, Runnill, Rundell, and Rundill. These variations were likely due to regional dialects and the inconsistencies in spelling during that time period.

The name Runnels has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One of the earliest recorded was Sir Thomas Runnells (1515-1592), an English naval commander who served during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. He participated in several notable battles against the Spanish Armada.

In the 17th century, John Runnells (1622-1687) was a prominent landowner and magistrate in the county of Somerset, England. His family held significant influence and wealth in the region.

During the American colonial era, the name was brought to the New World by several immigrants. One of the earliest recorded instances was Robert Runnels (1670-1743), who settled in Virginia in the late 17th century.

In the 19th century, Hiram Runnels (1796-1857) was a prominent American politician who served as the sixth Governor of Mississippi from 1833 to 1835. He also served as a member of the United States House of Representatives.

Another notable figure was Harmon Amanda Runnels (1835-1910), an American teacher and author who wrote several books on education and teaching methods. She was a pioneering figure in the field of education in the late 19th century.

The surname Runnels has a rich history and has been associated with various notable individuals spanning several centuries. Its origins can be traced back to the Old English language, reflecting the geographical features of the areas where the name originated.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Runnels

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

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

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

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