Real Family History

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Real Name Meaning

Spanish, Catalan, Portuguese, and Galicia: habitational name from any of the numerous places called Real; those in Galicia and Portugal being named from real ‘royal’, while those in southern Spain and Catalonia are named in part from real meaning ‘encampment’, ‘rural property’ (Arabic ra?hal ‘farmhouse’, ‘cabin’). French (Réal) and Spanish: from southern French réal, Spanish real ‘royal’, hence a nickname for someone who behaved in a regal manner or an occupational name for someone in the service of the king. French (Réal): habitational name from any of various places named for having been part of a royal domain (see Reau, Reaux). Probably an Americanized spelling of German Riehl, Riel, or Rühl (see Ruehl).

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names ©2013, Oxford University Press


Similar surnames: Beal, Reale, Regal, Read, Seal, Veal, Reil, Deal, Bean, Leal

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Real Family Origin

Where is the Real family from?

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You can see how Real families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Real family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Real families were found in the USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 56 Real families living in Devon. This was about 21% of all the recorded Real's in the UK. Devon had the highest population of Real families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Real surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

View Census Data for Real

Real Family Occupations

What did your Real ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the UK named Real. 7% of Real men worked as a General Labourer and 49% of Real women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Real were Incapacitated and Housewife

View Census data for Real | Data not to scale

Top Male Occupations in 1939

  • General Labourer
    7%
  • Bricklayer
    3%
  • Gardener
    3%
  • Incapacitated
    3%

Top Female Occupations in 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    49%
  • Retired
    3%
  • Domestic Duties Unpaid
    2%
  • Housewife
    2%

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

Real Historical Records

What Real family records will you find?

Census Record

There are 76,000 census records available for the last name Real. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Real census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search 1891 UK census records for Real

Passenger List

There are 7,000 immigration records available for the last name Real. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Real immigration records

Draft Card

There are 15,000 military records available for the last name Real. For the veterans among your Real ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Real military records

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Real Life Expectancy

What is the average Real lifespan?

Between 1947 and 2004, in the United States, Real life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1956, and highest in 1970. The average life expectancy for Real in 1947 was 58, and 73 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Real

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Real 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.

Famous Real Family Ancestors

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