Explore the Family Name Hail
The meaning of Hail
1. English and Scottish: nickname from Middle English, Older Scots heil, hail ‘healthy’ or ‘health’ (Old Norse heill ‘healthy’). This surname may well have become confused with the much more frequent Hale or, especially in Gloucestershire, with Hailes. Alternatively, in some cases the name may derive from the Old English personal name Hægel, from hægel ‘hail(stones)’, which may have survived into Middle English. 2. South German: variant of Heil.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Hail in the United States?
The surname Hail has seen a significant rise in popularity over the decade based on data from the Decennial U.S. Census. In 2000, it ranked 10,323 in popularity with 2,860 individuals bearing the name, representing a proportion of 1.06 per 100,000 people. However, by 2010, the rank had drastically increased to 364 with a count of 86,240. This represents an impressive change of 96.47% in rank and a staggering 2915.38% increase in the number of individuals. The proportion per 100,000 people also saw a substantial boost, going up by 2658.49%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #10,323 | #364 | 96.47% |
| Count | 2,860 | 86,240 | 2915.38% |
| Proportion per 100k | 1.06 | 29.24 | 2658.49% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Hail
In terms of ethnicity, the Decennial U.S. Census data reveals interesting shifts for individuals carrying the Hail surname. In 2000, the majority identified as White (79.83%), followed by Black (14.34%). However, by 2010, while White remained the most common ethnic identity (73.14%), there was a noticeable increase in those identifying as Black (21.60%), marking a 50.63% change. There was also a slight growth in those reporting two or more races (from 1.68% to 2.09%) and Hispanic ethnicity (from 1.78% to 2.27%). Conversely, there was a decline in those identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander (from 0.59% to 0.37%) and American Indian and Alaskan Native (from 1.78% to 0.53%).
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 79.83% | 73.14% | -8.38% |
| Black | 14.34% | 21.6% | 50.63% |
| Hispanic | 1.78% | 2.27% | 27.53% |
| Two or More Races | 1.68% | 2.09% | 24.4% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 1.78% | 0.53% | -70.22% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.59% | 0.37% | -37.29% |