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

Behl, 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 Behl surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Behl in America

Behl is the 22481st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Behl surname appeared 1,144 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 Behl.

We can also compare 2010 data for Behl 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 Behl

The surname Behl is of German origin, with its earliest recorded use dating back to the 16th century. It is believed to be derived from the Middle High German word "bühel," which means a small hill or a mound. This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived near or on a small hill or elevated terrain.

The name Behl can be traced back to various regions of Germany, particularly in the southern and central parts of the country. Some of the areas where the name was common include Bavaria, Hesse, and Saxony. It is also possible that the name had variations in its spelling, such as "Bühel" or "Bühl," which were more closely aligned with the original Middle High German word.

One of the earliest known references to the name Behl can be found in the records of the city of Nuremberg, where a certain Hanns Behl was mentioned in a document dated 1543. This suggests that the name was already in use during the mid-16th century in that region.

Over the centuries, several notable individuals have carried the surname Behl. One such person was Johann Christian Behl (1717-1788), a German theologian and philosopher who lived during the Age of Enlightenment. He was known for his contributions to the field of ethics and his writings on the concept of virtue.

Another prominent figure was Carl Friedrich Behl (1734-1806), a German painter and engraver who specialized in portraiture and landscapes. He was a member of the prestigious Prussian Academy of Arts and is remembered for his work in the Rococo and Neoclassical styles.

In the 19th century, Friedrich Behl (1805-1873) was a German politician and jurist who served as a member of the Prussian House of Representatives and advocated for liberal reforms.

The name Behl has also been associated with certain place names in Germany, such as Bühl, a town located in the state of Baden-Württemberg, which may have influenced the development of the surname in that region.

Furthermore, Johann Gottfried Behl (1762-1830) was a German composer and organist who made significant contributions to the field of church music during the late 18th and early 19th centuries.

While the surname Behl has its roots in Germany, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and immigration patterns. However, its origins can be traced back to the Middle High German word "bühel," reflecting the name's connection to the German language and its historical significance in various regions of the country.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Behl

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

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

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

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