Surname Rail - Meaning and Origin

Rail: What does the surname Rail mean?

The surname Rail has origins in different cultures with different meanings attached to it. In general, it is a topographic surname, often given to people living near a notable landscape feature such as a hill, stream, church, or type of tree.

In its English origin, Rail refers to individuals who lived near a strip of cleared land, derived from the Old English term "rygel". It could also refer to someone who came from the town of Ryle in Cheshire, England.

In French, it comes from the Old French word "Raille" meaning "beam," "plank," or a "divider of some sort". A variant is "de la Rail", which could refer to someone who lived near a railway, although this is unlikely as the name predates the invention of railways.

At its root, though, the meanings are often linked to a geographic feature or occupation of the the name's initial bearer. Like most surnames, it also marked the place of a person’s residence or birth.

Rail: Where does the name Rail come from?

The last name Rail is a widely distributed surname that can be found throughout Europe, especially in France, Germany, and Switzerland. It is also very common in the United States due to immigration from those countries. In the United States, Rail is most commonly found in areas with large German and Swiss immigrant populations such as Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Wisconsin. The states with the highest population of Rail are Pennsylvania, Michigan, California, and Texas.

The surname is derived from the French word rai or roi meaning "wheel" or "king." This was a common way to refer tosomeone who made wheels or worked as a wheelwright, turning wooden wheels into sturdy transportation tools. Over time, this name devolved into the modern Rail.

Another possible origin of the surname Rail is from the German word Rail meaning "movie," which would have been associated with those in the film or video production business.

Today, Rail is a common surname in both the United States and Europe, representing the descendants of many different countries. No matter the origin, individuals with the last name Rail are proud to represent this surname and all of its associated history.

Variations of the surname Rail

The Rail surname has numerous variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. The most common variant of the surname is the ‘Reilly’. This variant appears in numerous countries, and while the spelling has progressed from the original form of ‘Reilly’ to ‘Raleigh’ or ‘Rael’, the variant remains meaning ‘valorous’ or ‘brave’ The surname is etymologically derived from the Gaelic language and is found in the Irish counties of Donegal, Sligo and Mayo.

Rail is largely found as a British variant in England and many hour other English counties. This variant of the surname is also found in Scotland and sound countries like Australia and the United States. The variant ‘Ralph’ is an alternative spelling and it can be found in some branches of the family.

A variant of Rail is the O'Rail family from Irleand. The O'Rail is an anglicised version of the Irish name O’ Raghailleach, derived from the Irish word ‘raghaill’ meaning ‘ruler’. This variant of the surname is found in counties such as Galway, Cavan and Monaghan. This variant is also found in Scotland as ‘O’Ral’.

Further variants of Rail can be found in many other countries. These include the German ‘Reil’, the French ‘Raelle’, the Norwegian ‘Revello’ and the Spanish ‘Railo’. The surname Rail is also found in Russia as the ‘Ryall’.

In conclusion, there are many variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Rail. These variants are found in numerous countries throughout the world.

Famous people with the name Rail

• Axel Rail (French artist)
• Renée Rail (Canadian politician)
• Amberley Rail (British author)
• Nathan Rail (American actor)
• Aled Rail (Welsh actor)
• J. William Rail (American historian)
• Father Richard Rail (American Roman Catholic priest)
• Robert Rail (Belgian cyclist)
• Marty Rail (Australian swimmer)
• Shauna Rail (American dance-pop singer-songwriter)
• Christina Rail (Canadian singer-songwriter)
• Nashville Rail (American singer-songwriter and guitarist)
• Nathan Rail (American electro-dance producer)
• Annette Rail (American racewalker)
• Rayne Rail (British artist)
• Graham Rail (British photographer)
• Richard Rail (British racing driver)
• Masami Rail (Japanese Go player and teacher)
• Léon Rail (French singer and songwriter)
• Max Rail (American professional skateboarder)

Other surnames

RaiRaiberRaiboldRaibornRaiborneRaibournRaibourneRaiburnRaichRaichelRaichertRaichlRaichleRaieRaifRaifahrtRaifarthRaifegerstRaiferRaiffRaifschneiderRaighneRaiguelRaijmakersRaikesRailesRaileyRailsRailstockRaimann