This page needs Javascript enabled in order to work properly. Click here for instructions on how to enable it in your browser.
Surname Header Image
Get access to Rail family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Rail Family History

Rail Surname Meaning

English (Cornwall): perhaps a nickname from Middle English raile ‘rail bar barrier stake’ (Old French reille ‘bolt bar rung’) perhaps denoting a tall thin man.

Alternatively it may be from Middle English rail ‘garment robe clothing cloth’ (Old English hrægel). German: variant of Raile.

Altered form of Breton (Côtes-d'Armor) Réhel: probably a habitational name from Réhel a minor placename in Brittany.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: 

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Rail family from?

You can see how Rail families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Rail family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Rail families were found in USA in 1880. In 1911 there were 140 Rail families living in Quebec. This was about 84% of all the recorded Rail's in Canada. Quebec had the highest population of Rail families in 1911.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Rail surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
Mapbox
© Mapbox © OpenStreetMap Improve this map

What did your Rail ancestors do for a living?

In 1921, Farmer and Maid were the top reported jobs for men and women in the Canada named Rail. 35% of Rail men worked as a Farmer and 100% of Rail women worked as a Maid.

View Census Data for Rail | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1921

  • Farmer
    35%
  • Laborer
    14%
  • Labourer
    12%
  • Journalier
    10%

Top Female Occupations In 1921

  • Maid
    100%

What Rail family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 11,000 census records available for the last name Rail. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Rail census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Rail

Passenger Lists

There are 1,000 immigration records available for the last name Rail. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in Canada, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Rail immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 7,000 military records available for the last name Rail. For the veterans among your Rail ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Rail military records

You've only scratched the surface of Rail family history

Discover More

What is the average Rail lifespan?

Between 1962 and 2004, in the United States, Rail life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1980, and highest in 1985. The average life expectancy for Rail in 1962 was 76, and 73 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Rail

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Rail ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Rail family tree

Explore Your Tree
Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial