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

Bethel, 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 Bethel surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Bethel in America

Bethel is the 4686th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Bethel surname appeared 7,573 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 3 people would have the surname Bethel.

We can also compare 2010 data for Bethel 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 Bethel

The surname Bethel has its origins in the Hebrew language and can be traced back to ancient times. The name is derived from the Hebrew words "Beit" meaning "house" and "El" referring to God, thus translating to "House of God." This name was likely given to those who lived near a place of worship or a holy site.

The earliest known reference to the surname Bethel dates back to the 12th century in England. During this period, many individuals began adopting surnames based on their place of residence, occupation, or other distinguishing characteristics. The name Bethel may have been used to identify someone who lived near a church or a prominent religious site.

In the Domesday Book, a invaluable record of landowners in England compiled in 1086, there are no direct mentions of the surname Bethel. However, there are references to places called "Bethel," which may have been the origin of the surname for those residing in or near these locations.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Bethel was Sir Walter de Bethel, a English knight who lived in the 13th century. Another notable figure was John Bethel (c. 1552-1625), an English Puritan minister and author who was a prominent figure in the early days of the Massachusetts Bay Colony.

In the 17th century, the surname Bethel gained prominence in colonial America, particularly in Virginia and Maryland. One notable individual was Sir Henry Bethel (1617-1677), a British politician and lawyer who served as a Member of Parliament and was appointed to the Council of Virginia in the 1660s.

Another prominent figure was Maximilian Bethel (1639-1718), a English-born landowner and merchant who settled in Virginia and became one of the wealthiest individuals in the colony. He played a significant role in the development of the tobacco trade and served in various political positions.

In the 18th century, the surname Bethel continued to be prominent in America, with individuals such as Oliver Bethel (1740-1815), a American Revolutionary War soldier and politician from South Carolina, and John Bethel (1765-1836), a United States Representative from North Carolina.

Throughout history, the surname Bethel has been associated with various notable figures, spanning different fields such as religion, politics, and commerce. While the name has maintained its connection to its Hebrew roots, it has also evolved and taken on new meanings and associations over time.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Bethel

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

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

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

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