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

Biehl, 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 Biehl surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Biehl in America

Biehl is the 10987th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Biehl surname appeared 2,894 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Biehl.

We can also compare 2010 data for Biehl 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 Biehl

The surname Biehl is believed to have originated in Germany, likely in the region of Bavaria. It is thought to have derived from the Old German word "bihal," which means "bent" or "crooked." This suggests that the name may have initially been used as a descriptive nickname for someone with a physical characteristic or perhaps referring to someone who lived near a bend in a river or road.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Biehl date back to the 13th century in various German regions. One notable early bearer of the name was Johannes Biehl, a merchant and landowner who lived in the town of Nuremberg in the late 15th century. Records show that he was involved in trade with other parts of Europe and owned several properties within the city walls.

In the 16th century, the name Biehl appeared in the records of the Duchy of Bavaria, where it was often spelled as "Biehel" or "Biehle." One prominent figure from this time was Hans Biehl, a master craftsman and woodcarver who created intricate religious sculptures and altarpieces for churches throughout the region. His work can still be seen in several Bavarian churches today.

As the name spread across German-speaking regions, various spelling variations emerged, such as "Biel," "Biehle," and "Biehl." In the 18th century, a notable bearer of the name was Johann Biehl, a respected scholar and philosopher from Saxony. He wrote extensively on topics such as ethics, metaphysics, and the philosophy of language, and his works were widely read and influential during the Enlightenment period.

Another significant figure bearing the Biehl surname was Friedrich Biehl, a German composer and musician who lived in the early 19th century. He was known for his contributions to the development of romantic opera and his collaborations with renowned writers and librettists of his time.

In the 20th century, one of the most notable individuals with the surname Biehl was Richard Biehl, a German-American engineer and inventor. He was born in 1887 in Germany and later immigrated to the United States, where he worked on various engineering projects, including the development of early television technology.

While the Biehl surname has its roots in Germany, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly through immigration patterns in more recent centuries. However, its origins and historical significance remain deeply rooted in the Germanic regions of Europe, where it has been a part of the cultural landscape for centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Biehl

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

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

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

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