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

Signal, 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 Signal surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Signal in America

Signal is the 99845th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Signal surname appeared 181 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Signal.

We can also compare 2010 data for Signal 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 Signal

The surname SIGNAL is believed to have originated in France during the 12th century. It is derived from the Old French word "signal," which referred to a distinguishing mark or sign. This word traces its roots back to the Latin word "signale," meaning sign or token.

The earliest known records of the SIGNAL surname can be found in historical documents from the Normandy region of France. It is believed that the name was initially used to identify individuals who lived near a specific landmark or made their living by creating signs or markings.

In the 13th century, the name SIGNAL appeared in the Hundred Rolls of Normandy, which were census records compiled during the reign of King Edward I of England. These records mention a certain "Raoul Signal" from the village of St. Aubin-sur-Scie.

During the 14th century, the SIGNAL surname spread across France and into other parts of Europe. One notable bearer of the name was Jean Signal, a French merchant and landowner who lived in the city of Rouen between 1375 and 1442.

In the 16th century, the SIGNAL surname found its way to England, likely due to the Norman conquest and the subsequent migration of French families. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name in England is that of William Signal, who was born in Middlesex in 1542.

Another prominent individual with the SIGNAL surname was Pierre Signal, a French military engineer who lived from 1592 to 1671. He is credited with designing several fortifications and defensive structures during the reign of King Louis XIII.

As the SIGNAL surname continued to spread throughout Europe, it also found its way to other parts of the world through emigration and exploration. In the 18th century, a man named Jacques Signal was among the early French settlers in the Canadian province of Quebec.

Throughout history, the SIGNAL surname has been associated with various occupations, including merchants, artisans, and military personnel. While not a particularly common name, it has left its mark on the historical records of several countries, serving as a reminder of the diverse origins and meanings behind many modern surnames.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Signal

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

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

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

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