Explore the Family Name Eagle
The meaning of Eagle
1. English: nickname from Middle English egle ‘eagle’ (Old French aigle, from Latin aquila). 2. English (of Norman origin): habitational name from Laigle in Orne, France, the name of which ostensibly means ‘the eagle’, although it is possible that the recorded forms result from the operation of early folk etymology on some unknown original. Matilda de Aquila is recorded in 1129 as the widow of Robert Mowbray, Earl of Northumberland. 3. Americanized form (translation into English) of various European surnames meaning ‘eagle’, for example German and Jewish Adler, Polish and Jewish Orzeł (see Orzel), Slovenian Orel. 4. Native American: translation into English (and shortening) of a personal name based on a word, such as Lakota Sioux waŋbli, meaning ‘eagle’. The great cultural significance of the eagle to Native Americans is reflected in their traditional personal names, many of which were adopted as surnames (translated into English), e.g. Eagle Man (see Eagleman 1), Red Eagle (see Redeagle), and White Eagle (see Whiteeagle).
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Eagle in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the surname "Eagle" saw a slight decrease in popularity between 2000 and 2010. Despite its count increasing from 7,949 to 8,325 (a 4.73% increase), its rank fell by 3.35%, moving from 4,123rd place to 4,261st place. The proportion of individuals with this surname per 100,000 people also decreased by 4.41%, indicating that while the raw number of people bearing it grew, its overall prevalence in the population diminished.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #4,123 | #4,261 | -3.35% |
| Count | 7,949 | 8,325 | 4.73% |
| Proportion per 100k | 2.95 | 2.82 | -4.41% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Eagle
Considering ethnicity, the Decennial U.S. Census data shows some shifts within the bearers of the "Eagle" surname from 2000 to 2010. While the majority identified as White in both census years (81.04% in 2000 and 79.26% in 2010), there was a small decrease in this proportion over time. In contrast, those who identified as Hispanic or as belonging to two or more races increased, with Hispanics rising from 1.79% to 2.71%, and those identifying with two or more races growing from 2.47% to 3.15%. The proportion of folks identifying as Black also increased slightly, from 4.28% to 4.66%. There were minor changes among those identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander and American Indian and Alaskan Native, with a slight decrease for both groups.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 81.04% | 79.26% | -2.2% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 9.75% | 9.55% | -2.05% |
| Black | 4.28% | 4.66% | 8.88% |
| Two or More Races | 2.47% | 3.15% | 27.53% |
| Hispanic | 1.79% | 2.71% | 51.4% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.68% | 0.67% | -1.47% |
Eagle ancestry composition
23andMe computes an ancestry breakdown for each customer. People may have ancestry from just one population or they may have ancestry from several populations. The most commonly-observed ancestry found in people with the surname Eagle is British & Irish, which comprises 44.8% of all ancestry found in people with the surname. The next two most common ancestries are French & German (25.8%) and Ashkenazi Jewish (7.9%). Additional ancestries include Eastern European, Scandinavian, Italian, Spanish & Portuguese, and Indigenous American.
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| ANCESTRY BREAKDOWN | COMPOSITION |
|---|---|
| British & Irish | 44.8% |
| French & German | 25.8% |
| Ashkenazi Jewish | 7.9% |
| Other | 21.5% |
Possible origins of the surname Eagle
Your DNA provides clues about where your recent ancestors may have lived. Having many distant relatives in the same location suggests that you may all share common ancestry there. Locations with many distant relatives can also be places where people have migrated recently, such as large cities. If a large number of individuals who share your surname have distant relatives in a specific area, it could indicate a connection between your surname and that location, stemming from either recent ancestral ties or migration.
Based on 23andMe data, people with last name Eagle have recent ancestry locations all within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
| RECENT ANCESTRY Location | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Greater London, United Kingdom | 78.20% |
| Merseyside, United Kingdom | 77.70% |
| Glasgow City, United Kingdom | 77.70% |
| West Midlands, United Kingdom | 77.70% |
| Tyne And Wear, United Kingdom | 77.20% |
What Eagle haplogroups can tell you
Haplogroups are genetic population groups that share a common ancestor on either your paternal or maternal line. These paternal and maternal haplogroups shed light on your genetic ancestry and help tell the story of your family.
The top paternal haplogroup of people with the surname Eagle is I-CTS6433, which is predominantly found among people with European ancestry. Haplogroup I-CTS6433 is descended from haplogroup I-M170. Other common haplogroups include I-Z58 and R-U152, which are predominantly found among people with European and European ancestry. Other surnames with similar common haplogroups are: Boss, Switzer, Collier, Edmonds, Stephenson, Somers, Arthur, Stevenson, Jarvis, Butt.
The most common maternal haplogroups of people with Eagle surname are: H1, J1c, H. These most commonly trace back to individuals of European ancestry.
Paternal Haplogroup Origins I-M170Your maternal lineage may be linked to Marie Antoinette
Because it is so dominant in the general European population, haplogroup H also appears quite frequently in the continent's royal houses. Marie Antoinette, an Austrian Hapsburg who married into the French royal family, inherited the haplogroup from her maternal ancestors. So did Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, whose recorded genealogy traces his female line to Bavaria. Scientists also discovered that famed 16th century astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus traced his maternal lineages to haplogroup H.
What do people with the surname Eagle have in common?
Spoiler alert: it's complicated. People with the same last name are usually no more genetically similar than a randomly sampled group of people from the same population. That said, people with the same surname are more likely to have similar ancestries than randomly sampled individuals. The reason is the tendency of people with similar cultural or geographical backgrounds to preferentially mate with one another. That's why people who share a surname may be more likely to share traits and tendencies in common than people within the general population. Check out the percentages below to see the prevalences of tastes, habits, and traits of people with your surname compared with prevalences among 23andMe users.
Preferences
Chocolate Ice Cream
Prefers chocolate flavored ice cream over other flavors.
"Eagle" Surname 45.9%
23andMe Users 41.3%
Traits
Misophonia
When sounds made by others, like the sound of chewing or yawning, provoke strong emotional reactions in an individual.
"Eagle" Surname 37.3%
23andMe Users 27.9%
Habits
Sugary Drink
Drinks one or more sugary drinks per day.
"Eagle" Surname 24.1%
23andMe Users 21.1%
Wellness
Migraine
A severe headache characterized by intense pain, sensitivity to light and sound, and often accompanied by nausea and vomiting.
"Eagle" Surname 24.4%
23andMe Users 16.4%
Are health conditions linked to the last name Eagle?
The short answer is that, if there is an association between surname and health, it's usually more about your ancestry than your name. Individuals with a given surname are no more genetically similar than the general population but often have similar ancestries. The populations of people associated with those shared ancestries often have sets of genetic variations, also known as alleles, in common. Some of those alleles are associated with a greater likelihood of developing certain diseases.
Disease variant frequency by ancestry
Disease allele frequencies in populations associated with the surname Eagle are shown below. Important Note: not everyone with a disease allele will develop these health condition