Surname Rayl - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'R'
Rayl: What does the surname Rayl mean?
The surname Rayl is of German origin, derived from the ancient and noble lineage of the Raoul family. It most likely originated from the German personal name "Raul," which in turn comes from the Old Norse name "Rǫgnvaldr," meaning "ruler with counsel." The name first appeared in Middle High German as "Raul" and in Middle Low German as "Role." Over time, it evolved into various forms including Raul, Rall, Rahl, Röhl, and Rayl, among others. Using surnames, often derived from patriarchal names, became common in Germany during the 15th century. It helped to distinguish individuals as the population grew and people started to have the same given names. Therefore, the surname Rayl could have been used to represent the descendants of a wise and ruling ancestor named Raul. However, interpretations of the surname may vary and it’s not definitive. Not much more is known specifically about the Rayl surname as it is relatively rare.
Order DNA origin analysisRayl: Where does the name Rayl come from?
The last name Rayl is most commonly found in the United States. Specifically, there are large clusters of the name found in areas northern Ohio, northern West Virginia, and southwestern Pennsylvania. Within these regions, it is estimated that over 2,500 individuals bear the name Rayl.
The name Rayl is believed to be of Germanic origin and was first established in the Rhineland region, located on the Rhine river in the west of Germany. It is thought to have been introduced in America during the 18th century, likely by immigrants from Germany and Switzerland. The Rayl surname is relatively infrequent outside of North America, although it is sometimes found in other areas of Europe, in Australia, and in modern-day Israel.
The Rayl name is most commonly found amongst Lutherans and Calvinists, and was adopted by Germanic Mennonites during the time of their migration to North America. It is thought to have a religious origin, and may be derived either from the German rayl meaning ‘wise’ or from German rayh meaning ‘shock of wheat’.
Today, the last name Rayl is a relatively common, having been borne by several generations. It has henceforth been well-established in the aforementioned areas of the United States, and can still be found amongst family lines across North America.
Variations of the surname Rayl
Rayl is a surname of English origin. Variants of this name include Rayle, Rayles, Rayleson, Rayls, Raylson, Raylson and Reily.
The name is derived from the Old English verb “raegan” which means “to counsel”. It is found in various place-names throughout England and was generally used to designate someone who came from a place where councils were held. As a surname, it is also thought to have been used to denote a council or ruling member of the community.
Rayl may also have Scandinavian or German origins. In Norway, the name is spelled Reil and may have come from the Old Norse element “ra” which means "roe deer" and was an occupational name for a hunter. In Germany, Rayl is a derivative of the pre-7th-century personal name Raginwald or Raginald, and would have been used to denote someone who was related to the original bearer of the name.
In addition to the variants listed above, various other spellings include Rayil, Reil, Raile, Reyle, Raele, Raely, Reyl, Reyle, Real, Reale, Reales, Elray, Elrayle, Elraylson, Elraylson, Elryl and Elrylson. The surname is also be found in various spellings around the world, including Reyal in South Africa, Rahil in Lebanon, Relil in Italy and Reil in Denmark.
Famous people with the name Rayl
- Dusty Rayl: actor, most known for appearing in the films “The Change-Up” and “The Kitchen”
- Celeste Rayl: retired model and Television personality, best known for her appearances on the daytime soaps As The World Turns and The Bold and the Beautiful
- Chris Rayl: former reality television contestant, most known for appearing on The Apprentice and Big Brother seasons 6 and 7
- Brad Rayl: professional football player who played for the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks in the late 1980s
- Dave Rayl: former NASCAR driver who competed both in the Busch Series and the Winston Cup Series
- Chad Rayl: professional skateboarder known for his appearance in the skateboarding video game Tony Hawk's Underground
- Zechariah Rayl: American Conservative activist and political commentator, most well-known for his appearances on the Fox News Channel
- Mary Rayl: actress and singer, best known for her lead role in the Broadway production of Little Women
- Melissa Rayl: American television presenter, most known for her work on the news show Fox & Friends
- Caitlin Rayl: artist, best known for her work in digital art and comics