Staal
A surname originally referring to those from a place name with the word "staal" meaning steel.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 651 Americans carry the last name Staal. That puts it at #39,607 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.19 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 526,504 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Staal surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
651
1 in 526,504
Census rank
#39,607
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.2
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
555
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 555 bearers of the surname Staal in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.19 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 39607th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Staal, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.3%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.1%) and Two or More Races (2.7%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Staal
The surname Staal is believed to have originated in the Netherlands during the Middle Ages. It is likely derived from the Dutch word "staal," meaning steel or a type of strong metal alloy. This suggests that the name may have been initially associated with metalworkers, blacksmiths, or those involved in the steel industry.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Staal can be found in the Dutch province of Gelderland in the late 13th century. A document from 1287 mentions a man named Henricus van Stael, which is thought to be an early spelling variation of the surname.
In the 14th century, the name Staal began appearing in various Dutch records and manuscripts, primarily in the regions of North Holland and South Holland. For example, a man named Jan Stael is mentioned in a legal document from the city of Leiden in 1342.
During the 16th and 17th centuries, the surname Staal became more widespread across the Netherlands and other parts of Europe. Several notable individuals bearing this name emerged during this period, including:
1. Joachim Staal (1619-1668), a Dutch Golden Age painter known for his still-life paintings.
2. Marguerite de Staal (1684-1750), a French author and memoirist who served as a lady-in-waiting at the court of Louis XIV.
3. Carel Staal (1710-1781), a Dutch architect and civil engineer who designed several notable buildings in The Hague.
As the Dutch colonized various parts of the world, the surname Staal also spread to other regions. In the 17th century, a man named Pieter Staal was among the early Dutch settlers in what is now South Africa.
Moving into the 18th and 19th centuries, the name Staal continued to appear in historical records across Europe and beyond. Some notable individuals from this time include:
1. Georg Staal (1768-1833), a German musician and composer known for his work in the Romantic era.
2. Marguerite Staal (1776-1837), a French painter and engraver known for her portraits and landscapes.
3. Johannes Staal (1821-1897), a Dutch politician who served as the Prime Minister of the Netherlands from 1866 to 1868.
While the surname Staal has its roots in the Netherlands, it has since spread to other parts of the world, including North America and Australia, due to migration and immigration patterns.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Staal
Among Census respondents with the surname Staal, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.3%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.1%) and Two or More Races (2.7%).
The bar chart below shows how Staal bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Staal surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White92.3%
- Hispanic or Latino3.1%
- Two or more races2.7%
- Asian and Pacific Islander1.8%
- Unknown or suppressed0.2%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Staal surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #38,833 | #39,607 | -2.0% |
| Count | 535 | 555 | 3.7% |
| Per 100K | 0.20 | 0.19 | -5.0% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Staal bearers went from 535 to 555 (+3.7% change). The surname moved down 774 positions in the national ranking, going from #38,833 to #39,607.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Staal
FAQ
Staal surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Staal?
The surname Staal holds position #39,607 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 651 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.19 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Staal surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Staal, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.3%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.1%) and Two or More Races (2.7%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.