Biel
A Swiss habitational surname derived from place names meaning "hatchet" or "axe" in Middle High German.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 2,742 Americans carry the last name Biel. That puts it at #13,010 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.80 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 125,002 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Biel surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
2.7K
1 in 125,002
Census rank
#13,010
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.8
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
2.4K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 2,359 bearers of the surname Biel in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.80 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 13010th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Biel, the largest self-reported group is White at 86.9%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (5.5%) and Black (5.1%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Biel
The surname Biel has its origins in Germany and can be traced back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old German word "biele," which means "hill" or "slope," suggesting that the name may have originated from a geographic location or a topographic feature.
The earliest known record of the name Biel can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus Lubecensis, a collection of documents related to the city of Lübeck, Germany, dated around 1270. This suggests that the name was present in Northern Germany during the Middle Ages.
In the 14th century, there are mentions of the surname Biel in various historical records, such as the Hanseatic League's trade documents. This indicates that individuals with this name were involved in the commercial activities of the powerful trading association that dominated maritime commerce in Northern Europe during that period.
One notable individual bearing the surname Biel was Gabriel Biel, a renowned German scholastic philosopher and theologian who lived from around 1420 to 1495. He was an influential figure in the late medieval period and is considered one of the last great thinkers of the scholastic tradition.
Another prominent figure with the surname Biel was Johann Christian Biel, a German astronomer born in 1711. He made significant contributions to the study of celestial mechanics and is best known for his work on the orbital calculations of comets.
In the 18th century, the surname Biel can be found in various records from the German states, including birth and marriage registers. This suggests that the name had spread across various regions of Germany by this time.
The name Biel also appears in historical records from other parts of Europe, such as Switzerland and Austria, indicating that individuals with this surname may have migrated or had ancestors who emigrated from Germany to other regions.
One notable Swiss individual with the surname Biel was Johann Jakob Biel, a Swiss theologian and philosopher who lived from 1671 to 1732. He was known for his contributions to the study of natural law and moral philosophy.
The surname Biel can also be found in historical records from other parts of the world, particularly in regions with significant German immigration, such as the United States and Canada. This suggests that individuals bearing this name may have been part of the German diaspora that spread across the globe in the 19th and 20th centuries.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Biel
Among Census respondents with the surname Biel, the largest self-reported group is White at 86.9%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (5.5%) and Black (5.1%).
The bar chart below shows how Biel bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Biel surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White86.9%
- Hispanic or Latino5.5%
- Black or African American5.1%
- Asian and Pacific Islander1.1%
- Two or more races1.1%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.2%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Biel surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #13,010 | #13,010 | 0.0% |
| Count | 2,359 | 2,359 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.80 | 0.80 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Biel bearers went from 2,359 to 2,359 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #13,010 to #13,010.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Biel
FAQ
Biel surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Biel?
The surname Biel holds position #13,010 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 2,742 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.80 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Biel surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Biel, the largest self-reported group is White at 86.9%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (5.5%) and Black (5.1%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.