Surname Rawl - Meaning and Origin
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Rawl: What does the surname Rawl mean?
The last name Rawl is of English origin. It evolved from a family that lived in Lancashire, where they held a family seat in early centuries. The name is derived from the Old English term "raw," meaning "row" and it was initially given as a topographic name for someone who lived by a row of houses or other structures. The surname may also be a patronymic name referring to the son of Ralph, adapted over time. Variations of the surname Rawl include Raw, Rawe, Ray, Reay, and others. Like many surnames, the original meaning and significance can become less clear over time due to changes in language and geographic movement of families. Therefore, while it is interesting to understand the historical meanings of surnames, they don't typically carry significant meaning in contemporary times.
Order DNA origin analysisRawl: Where does the name Rawl come from?
The last name Rawl is most commonly found today in the United States. Specifically, the most frequency of Rawl surnames are located in the southern United States, in states such as Tennessee, North Carolina, and Virginia. The origins of the Rawl surname lie in the Old English term, “rawl”, which means “roe deer”. This surname is believed to have originated in Gloucestershire, England and is thought to have first been used as a nickname for someone who resembled a roe deer, either in physical appearance or in character.
The Rawl name has dispersed from England to many other countries around the world. Other places the Rawl surname can be found include Canada, Australia, and South Africa. Variations of Rawl have also been found, such as the variants Rahl and Rall, which are also found in England and the United States.
Over time, the Rawl surname has continued to evolve and be passed down within the original families it originated in as well as in other families that have taken on and adapted the name. The Rawl family includes many prominent individuals, including acclaimed American football coach Bud Rawlings and American barnstorming pilot Leon Rawl. These two are just examples of the many individuals today who carry the Rawl name with them.
Variations of the surname Rawl
The surname Rawl can be spelled in a variety of ways, including Rall, Rawle, Raawl, Rawls and Rawles. These variations stem mainly from a combination of incorrect spelling in official documents and regional dialects.
The Rawl surname is believed to have originated in England and is most common in the British Isles, where records first appeared from the 13th century onwards. It has also been connected with various Irish clans, but this link is still disputed.
Rawls has often been linked with Welsh, Norman and Cornish origins and has been found in records spelling such as Raul and Ralle. The Norman roots lead to Wales where, in 1085, Ralph de Rawle was documented in the county of Herefordshire.
Raawl is the earliest variation on the Rawl surname and appears in church records as far back as the 16th century in County Durham, England. It is thought to be derived from the pre 7th century Old English word 'hrawell', which means the dwelling in the rough or brushwood.
Other variations on the name Rawl have come about over the centuries due to a combination of regional dialects, misspellings and common name interchange. For example, Rawles can be an Anglicization of the Irish MacRaghail, while Rall is derived from the Old Scandinavian word 'Ráðulfr' or the Anglo-Saxon 'Radulf'.
Therefore, in conclusion, Rawl can take on various different spellings, surnames and regional dialects which have evolved over the centuries.
Famous people with the name Rawl
- Dorothea Rawl: Dialect coach for film and television
- Phil Rawl: Olympic gold medalist in badminton
- Robert G. Rawl: actor and filmmaker
- Seth Rawl: American actor
- Terence Rawl: English soccer player
- Tom Rawl: Canadian tennis player
- Willie Rawl: former professional basketball player
- Charles Rawl Jr.: President of Rawlings Sporting Goods Company
- Don Rawl: former NFL player 10. Steve Rawl: former NFL player
- Tammie Rawl: former American television and movie actress
- Walt Rawl: former NFL player
- Terrence Rawls: American football player
- Maud Rawls: American beauty pageant titleholder
- Eric Rawls: professional mixed martial artist