In Croatia, Radelj families are almost entirely Croats (from Dubrovnik area ), barely Serbs. In the past century, relatively most of Croatian residents bearing this family name were born in Dubrovnik and in Dubrovnik area. In Gabrili in Dubrovnik area every fifth inhabitant had the family name Radelj.
Prevalence
About 40 people with faimily name Radelj live in Croatia today, in 20 households. There were 40 of them in the middle of the past century, and their number remains constant. They are located in threee Croatian counties, threee cities and 6 other places, mostly in Gabrili in Dubrovnik area (20), Dubrovnik (10), and in Cilipi (<10), Cavtat (<5) and Soline (<5) in Dubrovnik area.
Outside Croatia
Family name Radelj (including: Radeli , Radelli and Radely ) is present in 15 countries worldwide.
In the sources analysed in the project Acta Croatica so far, the name is mentioned few times, the first time 1933 in source Emigration Commission Zagreb.