Hurschel
A masculine German name derived from the name Urschel, a diminutive form of Ursula.
Name Census estimates that about 3 living Americans carry the first name Hurschel. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Hurschel today is around 102 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Hurschel births was 1921 (13 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Hurschel. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • The typical person named Hurschel is about 102 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Hurschels were born before 1934.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Hurschel. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
3
~ 1 in 114,251,446 Americans
Peak year
1921
13 babies that year
Average age
102
years old
1937 SSA rank
#3,774
Tracked since 1915
Popularity
Hurschel: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Hurschel from the 1910s through to the 1930s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1920s, with 38 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1920s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Hurschel by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Hurschel during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Hurschels live
Origin
Meaning and history of Hurschel
The given name Hurschel is believed to have originated from the Germanic languages, specifically in regions where Old High German was spoken during the medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Old High German word "hurst," which means a wooded hill or a thicket.
In some historical records, the name appears with slightly different spellings, such as "Hurstel" or "Hurstal," reflecting regional variations and the evolution of language over time. However, the core meaning and root of the name remain consistent across these variations.
While there are no definitive records of the name appearing in ancient texts or religious scriptures, its Germanic roots suggest that it may have been used among communities in central and western Europe during the Middle Ages.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Hurschel was a landowner and farmer named Hurschel von Wildenau, who lived in the region of present-day Germany in the 13th century. Another notable figure was Hurschel Reichenbach, a renowned clockmaker and inventor from the 16th century, renowned for his innovative timepiece designs.
In the 17th century, Hurschel Braun was a respected scholar and theologian who wrote extensively on religious and philosophical topics. His works were widely read and influential during his time.
Moving into the 18th century, Hurschel Wittelsbach was a prominent military commander who served in the Prussian army and played a significant role in several campaigns during the Seven Years' War (1756-1763).
In the 19th century, Hurschel Ritter was a celebrated artist and painter known for his exquisite landscape paintings depicting the natural beauty of the German countryside.
While the name Hurschel may not be as common today as it once was, it carries a rich historical legacy and a connection to the Germanic linguistic and cultural heritage.
People
Hurschel + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Hurschel as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with H
Other first names starting with H with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Hurschel: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Hurschel?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 3 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Hurschel going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 114,251,446 US residents.
Is Hurschel a common name?
We classify Hurschel as "Very Rare". It ranks above 4.9% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 67 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Hurschel most popular?
The single biggest year for Hurschel was 1921, when 13 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Hurschel is about 102 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Hurschel in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Hurschel a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Hurschel in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Hurschel still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Hurschel in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Hurschel can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people have the name Hurschel?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.