Explore the Family Name Rigel
The meaning of Rigel
German: variant of Riegel and, in North America, (also) an altered form of this.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Rigel in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the surname Rigel experienced a slight decrease in popularity from 2000 to 2010. In 2000, Rigel was ranked as the 35,666th most popular surname while the ranking fell slightly to 36,630 in 2010, marking a 2.7% decline. However, the count of individuals carrying the Rigel name saw a slight increase, from 596 in 2000 to 610 in 2010, a growth of 2.35%. The proportion per 100k of the U.S. population also decreased from 0.22 to 0.21 during this decade.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #35,666 | #36,630 | -2.7% |
| Count | 596 | 610 | 2.35% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.22 | 0.21 | -4.55% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Rigel
In terms of ethnic identity, the data from the Decennial U.S. Census shows shifts among those with the surname Rigel between 2000 and 2010. While the majority identified as White (91.48% in 2010, down from 94.46% in 2000), there were notable increases in other ethnic identities. Those identifying as Hispanic more than doubled from 1.34% to 2.79%, and Black identification increased by 62.91% to 2.46%. There was also a rise in those identifying as two or more races, from 1.68% to 2.62%. No changes were seen in the Asian/Pacific Islander and American Indian and Alaskan Native categories.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 94.46% | 91.48% | -3.15% |
| Hispanic | 1.34% | 2.79% | 108.21% |
| Two or More Races | 1.68% | 2.62% | 55.95% |
| Black | 1.51% | 2.46% | 62.91% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |