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

Basel, 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 Basel surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Basel in America

Basel is the 21878th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Basel surname appeared 1,187 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Basel.

We can also compare 2010 data for Basel 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 Basel

The surname "Basel" is of German origin, and it is believed to have originated in the city of Basel, Switzerland, which is located on the Rhine River. The name is derived from the Old High German word "basil," which means "basilica" or "palace."

The earliest recorded instance of the name "Basel" dates back to the 13th century, when it appeared in various historical records and manuscripts from the region. One notable example is the mention of a "Johannes de Basilea" in a manuscript from 1265, which is believed to refer to a person from the city of Basel.

During the Middle Ages, the city of Basel was an important center of trade and commerce, and many people with the surname "Basel" were likely merchants or traders who traveled to other parts of Europe. The name may have also been associated with individuals who worked in or were associated with the basilica or cathedral in Basel.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname "Basel" was Henricus de Basel (c. 1295-1363), who was a German theologian and philosopher. He was a prominent figure in the intellectual circles of his time and was known for his writings on logic and metaphysics.

Another notable bearer of the surname "Basel" was Johannes von Basel (c. 1420-1484), who was a Swiss physician and alchemist. He is known for his contributions to the study of alchemy and for his work on the preparation of various chemical compounds.

In the 16th century, there was a prominent family of bankers and merchants with the surname "Basel" who were based in the city of Basel. One member of this family, Jacob Basel (1530-1601), was a successful merchant and banker who amassed a considerable fortune through his business dealings.

In the 17th century, Johannes Basel (1639-1714) was a German theologian and philosopher who was known for his writings on ethics and moral philosophy. He was a professor at the University of Basel and was highly regarded for his scholarly work.

Another notable figure with the surname "Basel" was Johann Basel (1765-1843), who was a German composer and musician. He was born in the town of Basel-Landschaft, which is located near the city of Basel, and he is known for his contributions to the development of classical music in the region.

While the surname "Basel" is not as common as some other German surnames, it has a rich history and has been associated with individuals from various walks of life, including scholars, merchants, bankers, and artists.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Basel

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

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 Basel 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 Basel 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 Basel was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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