Explore the Family Name Theal

The meaning of Theal

English: topographic name from Middle English thele ‘plank or board’, referring to a footbridge or path formed with planks or boards (Old English thel). The surname may also be from a place called with this word, such as Theale Farm in Slinfold (Sussex), Theale (in Berkshire and Somerset), or Stanstead Saint Margarets (Hertfordshire). The latter was recorded alternatively throughout the medieval period as Thele.

Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.

How common is the last name Theal in the United States?

According to the data from the Decennial U.S. Census, the popularity of the surname Theal has seen a decline from 2000 to 2010. In 2000, Theal ranked 104,257 in popularity and was held by 159 individuals. By 2010, its rank had fallen to 116,201, with only 150 people bearing the surname. This represents a decrease of 11.46% in rank and 5.66% in count over the decade. Additionally, the proportion of individuals with this surname per 100,000 people dropped by 16.67%, indicating a lessening prevalence of the name within the general population.

	2000	2010	Change
Rank	#104,257	#116,201	-11.46%
Count	159	150	-5.66%
Proportion per 100k	0.06	0.05	-16.67%

Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Theal

When examining the ethnic identity associated with the surname Theal in the Decennial U.S. Census, it's clear that most bearers identify as White. In 2000, 94.97% identified as such, which slightly increased to 95.33% in 2010. The percentage identifying as Hispanic fell from 3.77% in 2000 to none in 2010. There were no recorded instances of individuals with the surname Theal identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander, Black, or American Indian and Alaskan Native in either census year.

	2000	2010	Change
White	94.97%	95.33%	0.38%
Asian/Pacific Islander	0%	0%	0%
Two or More Races	0%	0%	0%
Hispanic	3.77%	0%	0%
Black	0%	0%	0%
American Indian and Alaskan Native	0%	0%	0%