Steele
An English occupational surname referring to someone who worked with steel or was hard and enduring like steel.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 102,518 Americans carry the last name Steele. That puts it at #355 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 29.91 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 3,343 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Steele 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
103K
1 in 3,343
Census rank
#355
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
29.9
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
88K
common in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 88,230 bearers of the surname Steele in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 29.91 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 355th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Steele, the largest self-reported group is White at 78.3%. The next largest groups are Black (15.6%) and Hispanic (2.4%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Steele
The surname STEELE is of English origin and can be traced back to the early medieval period. It is derived from the Old English word 'stele', meaning 'a haft' or 'a handle'. This was likely an occupational name given to someone who made or worked with handles, hafts, or other related tools.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is listed as 'Stele'. This suggests that the name was already well-established in England by the late 11th century.
In the 12th century, the name appears in various forms such as 'Stel', 'Stele', and 'Stell', reflecting the variations in spelling common during that era. Some of these early spellings may also be connected to place names like Stele in Staffordshire or Stelling in Kent.
Notable individuals with the surname STEELE include Sir Richard Steele (1672-1729), an Irish writer and playwright who co-founded The Spectator magazine. Another famous bearer of the name was Thomas Steele (1788-1848), an American politician and lawyer who served as a U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania.
In the 13th century, the surname STEELE can be found in various records, including the Curia Regis Rolls of 1208, which mention a Richard Stel. The Hundred Rolls of 1273 also list several individuals with the name, such as Walter le Stel and Adam le Stel.
During the 16th and 17th centuries, the spelling of the name became more standardized as 'Steele'. Notable figures from this period include Sir Richard Steele (1617-1692), an English lawyer and politician who served as Lord Chancellor of Ireland.
Other prominent individuals with the surname STEELE include Sir John Steele (1758-1853), a British naval officer and explorer who served in the Royal Navy, and Sir Thomas Steele (1788-1848), a British soldier and colonial administrator who served as the Governor of the Bahamas.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Steele
Among Census respondents with the surname Steele, the largest self-reported group is White at 78.3%. The next largest groups are Black (15.6%) and Hispanic (2.4%).
The bar chart below shows how Steele 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 Steele surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White78.3%
- Black or African American15.6%
- Hispanic or Latino2.4%
- Two or more races2.0%
- American Indian and Alaska Native1.1%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.5%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Steele 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 | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #355 | #355 | 0.0% |
| Count | 88,230 | 88,230 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 29.91 | 29.91 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Steele bearers went from 88,230 to 88,230 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #355 to #355.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Steele
FAQ
Steele surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Steele?
The surname Steele holds position #355 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 102,518 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 29.91 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Steele surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Steele, the largest self-reported group is White at 78.3%. The next largest groups are Black (15.6%) and Hispanic (2.4%). 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.