Surname Rachel - Meaning and Origin

Rachel: What does the surname Rachel mean?

The last name Rachel is an Anglo-Saxon surname, likely derived from an Old Testament name. It is believed to come from the Hebrew language and is composed of two elements, “ra”, meaning “ewe", and “el”, meaning “God”. Literally translated, the name Rachel means “ ewe of God”.

Historically, the name Rachel was very popular amongst Jewish families who were trying to trace their lineage to prominent biblical figures. Rachel was the name of one of the matriarchs in the Bible. The name has been seen throughout the history of the UK, with records of the name during the early 12th century. Interestingly, Rachel has always been a female name and by the 15th century it was among the most popular girls’ names in England. The name has since spread to many other countries, and is still a popular choice among many families.

In terms of personality, those with the surname Rachel are sometimes seen as gentle, generous and patient people. They value order and loyalty and prefer to avoid conflict. They are creative thinkers and often more focused internally and as a result, take time to process their thoughts before speaking. They are also often very organized and enjoy problem-solving or analytical assignments.

In short, those individuals with the surname Rachel likely have roots traceable to the Old Testament in the Hebrew language. The name is traditionally seen to encompass positive traits such as kindness, creativity, loyalty and patience.

Rachel: Where does the name Rachel come from?

The last name Rachel can be found all over the world today. It is especially prevalent in countries such as the United States, England, and France, although Rachel is also a popular first name in many other countries, such as Israel, Norway, Sweden, and Australia.

Within the United States, Rachel is most common in the East and Midwest and is particularly popular in New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Maryland. It is the 285th most common surname among Americans, with an estimated population of about 56,000 individuals bearing the name.

In England, Rachel is the 114th most common surname, with an estimated population of about 20,000 individuals. It is especially ubiquitous in London and the Southeast.

France is home to the highest population of individuals with the surname Rachel, with an estimated 120,000 people bearing the name. It is particularly popular in the Hood region.

In other countries of the world, the name Rachel is also quite common. Norway, Sweden, and Israel all have a high population of individuals with the surname Rachel. In Israel, it is a popular first name that was incorporated into a surname, with an estimated 6,000 individuals bearing the name. In the Philippines, Rachel is a popular first name and an estimated 11,000 individuals have the surname.

Overall, the last name Rachel is quite common in countries all over the world today, with populations ranging from a few hundred to a few hundred thousand.

Variations of the surname Rachel

The surname Rachel has a number of variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. Common variants of the surname include Rachael, Rahel, Rachil, and Rachele. The Hebrew form of the name, Rahel, is sometimes used as a surname as well.

Other spellings of the surname Rachel include Raychel, Raychell, Raichel, Rachal, Raechel, Reachel, and Rachell. These variations can also be found spelled with a "-z-", as in Raczul, Raczell, Raizul, Raziel, Razell, and Raziel.

In some instances, the surname Rachel can be found with a double ("l") or triple ("lll") letter "L" in the spelling. The double-letter form of the surname includes Raccel, Raccal, Raiccel, Raucel, Raucell, and Raucil, while the triple-letter form consists of Raackell, Raeccall, Raile, Raceall, Rackell, and Raucell.

Gaelic forms of the surname include Rhadhail, Riodail, and Riley. Variations of the name can also be expressed in various other languages and regions, such as the German form of Raechel and the French form of Rachelle.

In some cases, the surname Rachel can also be found in combination with another surname, such as Rachaelota or Rachetol. This combination surname often signifies a marriage between two people with different surnames; for example, Rachaelota could signify a marriage between two people with the surnames Rachel and Ota.

Famous people with the name Rachel

• Rachel Brosnahan: Golden Globe winning actress
• Rachel Bloom: Grammy, Emmy and Golden Globe winning actress
• Rachel Maddow: two-time Emmy Award winning journalist
• Rachel Leah Bloom: American singer, songwriter, and actress
• Rachel Skarsten: Canadian actress
• Rachel Weisz: Academy Award winning British actress
• Rachel McAdams: Academy Award nominated actress
• Rachel Platten: Grammy and Billboard Music Award nominated singer
• Rachel Zoe: Emmy Award nominated fashion designer
• Rachel Dratch: US comedian and actress
• Rachel Stevens: British singer
• Rachel Boston: US actress
• Rachel Bilson: US actress
• Rachel McLean: Scottish actress
• Rachel Hurd-Wood: British actress
• Rachel Finch: Australian model
• Rachel Bradshaw: American singer and daughter of NFL Quarterback Terry Bradshaw
• Rachel Clark: American film and television actress
• Rachel Luttrell: Canadian actress
• Rachel Bloom: Golden Globe nominated actress and writer

Other surnames

RachellRachellsRachels