Surname Railes - Meaning and Origin

Railes: What does the surname Railes mean?

The last name Railes is of English and Scottish origin, and its meaning is unknown. Railes is an uncommon surname but is believed to have originally been a topographic surname referring to someone who lived near or on an overhead line, such as a railway line. It is possible that the name is derived from the Old English term ‘hral’, meaning ‘prone’, or the Old French ‘raille’, meaning ‘rail’ or ‘barrier’.

The Railes surname first appears in records in the early 18th century, suggesting the name was created in the late 16th century. It is likely that the Railes were highly mobile, as it is found in a variety of locations across England and Scotland. The first recorded Railway in Britain was built as part of a waggonway in Durham in 1603, so it is possible that this is the origin of the Railes surname.

The Railes surname is found mainly in the north of England and Scotland, in Middleridge, Durham, Northumberland, Yorkshire, Wales, and Lancashire. There are also some occurrences of Railes in Ireland and the USA, probably as a result of emigration during the 19th century.

In conclusion, the Railes surname is an unusual and interesting name of possibly English or Scottish origin, likely to have been created during the late 16th century. It could be derived from the Old English and Old French terms for ‘rail’ or ‘barrier’, referring to living near or on a railway line. The name is found mainly in northern England and Scotland, but also in Ireland and the USA.

Railes: Where does the name Railes come from?

The last name Railes is most common in the United States and it is thought to be of an English or Irish origin. It can be found in many states within the country, including Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Mississippi, Ohio, Texas, and Virginia.

Railes is also present in Australia, Canada, Germany, and the United Kingdom. In the UK, there are many variations of the name including Railes, Reals, Raealles, Reyls, Rales, Rolls, Roiles, and Royles.

The Railes surname can be found in historical documents throughout several countries, as early as the 16th century. One example of this is in the United States as an early settler, John Railes, was documented in 1719 in London Grove, Pennsylvania.

In modern times, Railes remains a popular surname and can be found in records of first-time pregnancies, births, marriages, and divorces. It is also widely used on social media platforms and other websites, often with users boasting of their ancestors' connection to the Railes name.

In summation, the last name Railes is most commonly found today in the United States, as well as Australia, Canada, Germany, and the United Kingdom. It has a rich history which stretches back centuries and has been notable documented in various countries.

Variations of the surname Railes

Rails is an English surname of Anglo-Saxon origin. It is a variation of the name Rayle, which comes from an old English word meaning ‘red’. The original spelling of the surname is Rayle, though various spellings and variants have evolved over time.

The most common variant of the surname is Reece, which is also of Anglo-Saxon origin. Other variants of the surname include Rael, Rial, Reel, Rale, Reales and Reaile.

The name has also been altered by many bearers in different countries, times and languages, leaving other surnames of similar origin. Compare Rails with the French surnames de Rail, des Rail, des Rayle, des Raele, du Rayl and de la Rue; the Italian name Rael; the Portuguese Reis and Reza; and the Spanish Real, Reale and Rey.

Another surname of the same origin is Raley. Raley is an Americanized version of the surname, which is derived from the Scottish Gaelic phrase ‘rea li’, which means ‘descendent of Rea’. This surname was originally used as an Anglicization of the Irish surname O’Righle, which is composed of the personal name Riagan and the genitive of leathain which means ‘half’.

The spelling of this surname can also vary as Relyea, Rieley or Reely and sometimes is found in the hyphenated form of Rail-Raley.

Therefore, Rails is a surname with a long and varied history. It has evolved over time into a range of related surnames reflecting the many cultures and countries that have adopted it.

Famous people with the name Railes

• Roy Railles: Professional motocross racer who competed in the X-Games and AMA Supercross.
• Elmer Railles: Professional basketball player who was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
• Miguel Railles: Famous Spanish journalist and TV presenter who was awarded the Golden Medal for Merit in Fine Arts.
• Paul Railles: French composer, arranger and songwriter, best known for writing the 1980 musical Starmania.
• Margaret Railles: English playwright and poet whose works were featured in the Royal Shakespeare Company.
• Sebastien Railles: French singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer who released several albums in the early 2000s.
• Anna Railles: American composer and producer whose classical compositions have been performed across the United States.
• Gary Railles: American Olympic decathlete and gold medalist at the 1988 Seoul Summer Games.
• Joshua Railles: Famous English actor and producer, best known for roles in Harry Potter, Pirates of the Caribbean, and The Lord of the Rings.
• Delilah Railles: Canadian actress, singer and dancer who was nominated for a Genie Award for her leading role in the movie The French Lieutenants' Women.

Other surnames

Railey