Explore the Family Name Rainbow
The meaning of Rainbow
1. English (of Norman origin): altered form of the Old French personal name Rainbaut, Raimbaut, Raimbault, Rambaut (ancient Germanic Raginbald, Rainbald, Reinbald, from ragin ‘counsel, decision’ + bald ‘brave’). The form of the name has since been affected by folk etymological association with the vocabulary word rainbow. Compare Raybould and Rambert. 2. Americanized form (translation into English) of German and Jewish (Ashkenazic) Regenbogen.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Rainbow in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the popularity of the surname "Rainbow" slightly decreased from 2000 to 2010. In 2000, it was ranked 37,881 and by 2010, it had dropped in rank to 39,352, marking a 3.88% decrease. However, the count of individuals with this surname showed a slight increase, going from 551 in 2000 to 559 in 2010, an increase of 1.45%. The proportion of people with this surname per 100,000 also saw a slight decline during this period, falling from 0.2 in 2000 to 0.19 in 2010, a decrease of 5%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #37,881 | #39,352 | -3.88% |
| Count | 551 | 559 | 1.45% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.2 | 0.19 | -5% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Rainbow
Concerning ethnic identity, the data from the Decennial U.S. Census shows that most individuals with the surname "Rainbow" identified as White in both 2000 and 2010, though there was a slight decrease from 75.32% to 73.70%. Those identifying as Hispanic saw an increase from 3.45% to 4.29%, while those identifying as Black also increased from 7.44% to 8.05%. The percentage of individuals identifying as American Indian and Alaskan Native remained steady, with only a slight increase from 11.25% to 11.27%. No change was reported for Asian/Pacific Islander and those identifying with two or more races.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 75.32% | 73.7% | -2.15% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 11.25% | 11.27% | 0.18% |
| Black | 7.44% | 8.05% | 8.2% |
| Hispanic | 3.45% | 4.29% | 24.35% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Two or More Races | 0% | 0% | 0% |