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

Terrell, 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 Terrell surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Terrell in America

Terrell is the 983rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Terrell surname appeared 35,408 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 12 people would have the surname Terrell.

We can also compare 2010 data for Terrell 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 Terrell

The surname Terrell has its origins in Normandy, France, and can be traced back to the 11th century. It is derived from the Old French word "terrelle," which means "a small piece of land" or "territory." This suggests that the name may have been associated with someone who owned or worked on a small plot of land.

The name first appeared in historical records in the famous Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landowners in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name was initially spelled as "Terrel" or "Terrell" in this document.

As the surname spread across Europe, it took on various spellings, including Terrell, Terrill, Tyrrell, and Turrell. These variations likely arose due to regional dialects and the inconsistencies in record-keeping during the Middle Ages.

One of the earliest recorded bearers of the name was Sir Walter Terrell, a Norman knight who fought alongside William the Conqueror during the Norman Conquest of England in 1066. He was granted lands in Suffolk, England, for his service.

In the 13th century, the Terrell family established themselves in the county of Buckinghamshire, England, where they held the manor of Terrell's Manor. This manor was likely named after the family, further solidifying their connection to the land.

Another notable figure was Sir Roger Terrell, who lived in the 14th century and served as a member of the English Parliament. He played a significant role in the Hundred Years' War between England and France.

During the 16th century, the Terrell family gained prominence in Ireland, particularly in County Cork. One of the most famous members of this branch was Sir William Terrell, who served as the Mayor of Cork in 1586.

In the United States, the Terrell surname can be traced back to the early colonial period. One of the earliest recorded individuals was Captain William Terrell, who arrived in Virginia from England in the mid-17th century and became a prominent landowner and military leader.

Other notable individuals with the Terrell surname include Joseph Terrell, an American soldier and politician who served as the 23rd Governor of Georgia in the early 19th century, and Mary Church Terrell, an influential African American activist and educator who played a crucial role in the civil rights movement in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Terrell

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

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

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

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