Surname Railey - Meaning and Origin

Railey: What does the surname Railey mean?

The surname Railey is of Anglo-Saxon origin, deriving from the Old English words "ra" and "leigh", meaning "roe deer" and "woodland clearing", respectively. Thus, the name encapsulates an image of a deer-strewn meadow or forest clearing. It is presumed to have been a geographical surname initially, designating families residing near such an area. It may have also been offered to people who embodied characteristics similar to a roe deer, like agility or gentleness, as was common practice during the Middle Ages when the surname tradition began. The spelling has changed over time with variations including Reiley, Raleigh, Rawleigh, and many others. Despite its English origins, it is used by families around the world today.

Railey: Where does the name Railey come from?

Railey is a popular surname in the English-speaking world, particularly in the United States and United Kingdom. In the United States, many Raileys can be found spread across the country. According to the United States Census Bureau, Railey was the 1,591st most common last name in the United States in 2018, with roughly 0.0034% of the population bearing the name.

The Railey surname can also be found in the United Kingdom; however, it is much less common. According to a 2014 online survey by Forebears, Railey is the 28,841st most popular surname in the UK.

In other parts of the world, the Railey surname is much less common. Records in Senegal and Canada, for example, show significantly fewer people with this surname.

In short, the Railey surname is most common in the English-speaking world, particularly in the United States and the United Kingdom. Anywhere else, the surname is not as common.

Variations of the surname Railey

The Railey surname can be found in various forms with slight variations in spelling. Some of the more popular variants of the name are Reiley, Reilly, Riley, Rylee, Ryleigh, and Ryle.

Reiley or Reilly are alternate spellings of the given name Railey and are typically Irish variants of the name, which could have derived from the Gaelic surname "Ó Raghallaigh" or "descendant of Raghallach". The surname Raghallach is believed to mean "valiant" in Irish.

Riley is another variation of the name with Irish and English roots. Many variants of Riley, such as Ryley and Rylee are derived from an old English name that meant “rye clearing”.

Ryle and Ryleigh were derived from an old Anglo-Norman surname, which was originally spelled as R'uil. This name was derived from the French word “ruel” which means a narrow way or ridge, or an unusual opening.

No matter what spelling you find, all of these surnames share the same origin and are linked to the same family. While there is much debate over the exact origin of the Railey surname, its variants are an important part of understanding the family's history.

Famous people with the name Railey

• Larkin Railey: basketball player for the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill who won the 2018 NCCA National Championship as a freshman.
• Stephanie Railey: engineering executive who was featured in the Forbes list of NextGen America's "30 Under 30" in 2019.
• Kaya Railey: pro surfer who has competed in the World Surf League since 2013.
• John Railey: American TV and film actor who has appeared on shows such as Criminal Minds and Grey's Anatomy.
• Dave Railey: professional rodeo cowboy who won the 1996 World Champion Bull Rider at the National Finals Rodeo.
• Darren Railey: former professional football player who was drafted from Appalachian State in 1995 and played for three teams during his NFL career.
• Martha Railey: Emmy-award winning producer and director, who has produced shows for television such as The Voice, The Bachelor, and Big Brother.
• Brandon Railey: country music singer who has released two EPs (Extended Play) to date and has done touring with other performing artists.
• Patrick Railey: award-winning travel writer and photographer for well-known publications such as National Geographic Magazine.
• Vondra Railey: Nobel Peace Prize nominee in 2007 for her work with Operation Smile and other children's foundations.

Other surnames

Railes