Ackels
Derived from a German surname meaning "little field" or "little acre," likely referring to a small landowner or farmer.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 274 Americans carry the last name Ackels. That puts it at #81,181 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.08 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 1,250,928 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Ackels surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
274
1 in 1,250,928
Census rank
#81,181
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
233
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 233 bearers of the surname Ackels in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.08 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 81181st position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Ackels, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.6%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (3.0%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Ackels
The surname Ackels is believed to have originated in the region of Lower Saxony, Germany, during the medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Old German word "akker," meaning "field" or "cultivated land." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived near or worked on a field or farm.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Ackels can be found in the town records of Lüneburg, Lower Saxony, dating back to the 14th century. These records mention a certain Henning Ackels, who was a landowner and farmer in the area.
In the 16th century, the name Ackels appeared in various German chronicles and manuscripts, often in reference to families living in rural areas or involved in agricultural pursuits. For example, the Ackels family was mentioned in the annals of the town of Celle, Hanover, in the year 1567.
As the name spread across Germany and neighboring regions, various spelling variations emerged, such as Ackels, Ackels, Akels, and Ackels. These variations often reflected regional dialects and pronunciations.
One notable historical figure bearing the surname Ackels was Johann Ackels (1592-1662), a Lutheran theologian and author from Lübeck, Germany. His works on religious topics were widely read and influential during the Protestant Reformation.
Another prominent individual with the Ackels surname was Friedrich Ackels (1765-1834), a German jurist and legal scholar from Hanover. He authored several treatises on civil law and was highly regarded in his field.
In the 19th century, the name Ackels can be found in records from various German states, including Prussia, Bavaria, and Saxony. One notable example is Heinrich Ackels (1819-1888), a Prussian military officer and veteran of the Austro-Prussian War and the Franco-Prussian War.
As Germans emigrated to other parts of the world, the surname Ackels also spread to places like the United States, Canada, and Australia. For instance, in the late 19th century, a family named Ackels settled in the Midwest region of the United States, where they became farmers and landowners.
Another individual of note was Hans Ackels (1876-1949), a German-born American businessman and entrepreneur who founded a successful manufacturing company in the early 20th century.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Ackels
Among Census respondents with the surname Ackels, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.6%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (3.0%).
The bar chart below shows how Ackels bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Ackels surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White93.6%
- Unknown or suppressed3.4%
- Two or more races3.0%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Ackels surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #78,838 | #81,181 | -3.0% |
| Count | 225 | 233 | 3.6% |
| Per 100K | 0.08 | 0.08 | 0.0% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Ackels bearers went from 225 to 233 (+3.6% change). The surname moved down 2,343 positions in the national ranking, going from #78,838 to #81,181.
FAQ
Ackels surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Ackels?
The surname Ackels holds position #81,181 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 274 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.08 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Ackels surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Ackels, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.6%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (3.0%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.