Find out how popular the last name Angel is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Angel.

Angel, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Angel surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Angel in America

Angel is the 1428th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Angel surname appeared 24,895 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 8 people would have the surname Angel.

We can also compare 2010 data for Angel to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Angel

The surname Angel has its roots in the Spanish and Portuguese languages, originating from the Latin word "angelus," which translates to "messenger" or "angel." This name first emerged during the Middle Ages in the Iberian Peninsula, encompassing modern-day Spain and Portugal.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Angel surname can be found in the "Libro de las Behetrías" ("Book of Bequests"), a 14th-century Castilian document that documented landowners and their properties. The document mentions individuals bearing the surname Angel, suggesting its widespread use in that era.

The Angel surname is believed to have been initially adopted as a descriptive name, referring to individuals who were considered angelic or virtuous in their behavior. It may have also been used as a nickname for individuals with a gentle or kind demeanor.

During the 15th century, the Angel surname gained prominence in various regions of Spain, particularly in Andalusia and Catalonia. Notable individuals bearing this surname include Juan Angel, a renowned architect who designed several notable structures in Seville during the late 15th century.

As the Spanish and Portuguese empires expanded their reach in the 16th and 17th centuries, the Angel surname traveled across the globe, carried by explorers, settlers, and colonists. One such notable figure was Pedro de Angel, a Spanish conquistador who participated in the conquest of Mexico alongside Hernán Cortés in the early 16th century.

In the 19th century, the Angel surname continued to spread, with individuals bearing this name making their mark in various fields. Miguel Angel Asturias, a Guatemalan writer and diplomat, was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1967 for his influential works that blended indigenous and European cultural traditions.

Another prominent figure was José Angel Lamas, a Venezuelan writer and politician who played a significant role in the country's independence movement in the early 19th century. His literary works and political activism left a lasting impact on Venezuelan society.

The Angel surname has also been associated with notable figures in the arts and entertainment industries. One such individual is Jack Angel, an American voice actor born in 1930, best known for his work in animated films and television series.

Overall, the surname Angel has a rich history that spans centuries and traverses various regions of the world, reflecting the diverse cultural and linguistic influences that have shaped its evolution and legacy.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Angel

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Angel.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Angel was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Angel has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Angel was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Angel, please contact us.

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