2000
#135,837
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 114
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Brhel
An occupational surname derived from the Czech word for a maker of wooden tubs or vats.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 123 Americans carry the last name Brhel. That puts it at #151,639 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,786,621 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Brhel surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, 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
123
1 in 2,786,621
Census rank
#151,639
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
107
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 107 bearers of the surname Brhel in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 151639th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Brhel, the largest self-reported group is White at 86.9%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (6.5%) and Hispanic (4.7%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Brhel
The surname BRHEL is of Czech origin, with its roots tracing back to the medieval period in the region of Bohemia. It is believed to have derived from the Old Czech word "brhel," which was a term used to refer to a small hill or a mound.
One of the earliest known references to the BRHEL surname can be found in a 14th-century manuscript detailing land ownership records in the village of Litomericky. This document mentions a farmer named Jakub BRHEL, who owned a parcel of land near a small hillock, which likely inspired the surname.
During the 15th century, the BRHEL name gained prominence in the town of Cesky Krumlov, where a family of brewers and merchants bearing the surname established a successful business. Notably, Vaclav BRHEL (1432-1498) was a respected member of the town council and played a key role in negotiating trade agreements with neighboring regions.
In the 16th century, a branch of the BRHEL family migrated to the city of Prague, where they became involved in the printing and publishing industry. Jan BRHEL (1564-1628) was a renowned printer who published several important works, including a Czech translation of the Bible.
The BRHEL surname also found its way into the annals of Czech literature, with the poet and playwright Jaroslav BRHEL (1782-1856) being one of the most celebrated figures. His works, which often explored themes of nature and rural life, were widely acclaimed and helped shape the development of Czech romanticism.
Another notable figure was Karel BRHEL (1875-1941), a prominent architect who played a significant role in the design and construction of several iconic buildings in Prague, including the Municipal House and the Prague State Opera House.
Throughout history, the BRHEL surname has been associated with various occupations and professions, ranging from farmers and artisans to intellectuals and artists. While its origins can be traced back to a simple reference to a geographical feature, the name has evolved to represent a rich cultural heritage and a diverse array of contributions to Czech society.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Brhel
Among Census respondents with the surname Brhel, the largest self-reported group is White at 86.9%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (6.5%) and Hispanic (4.7%).
The bar chart below shows how Brhel bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 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.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
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 Brhel surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White86.9% · 93
- Two or more races6.5% · 7
- Hispanic or Latino4.7% · 5
- Black or African American0.9% · 1
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.9% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Brhel
Brhel appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#153,769
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 106
-8 bearers (-7.0%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 17,932 places
2020
#151,639
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 107
+1 bearers (+0.9%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Up 2,130 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #135,837 | 114 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #153,769 | 106 | 0.04 | -8 bearers (-7.0%) | Down 17,932 places |
| 2020 | #151,639 | 107 | 0.04 | +1 bearers (+0.9%) | Up 2,130 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Brhel surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #153,769 | #151,639 | 1.4% |
| Count | 106 | 107 | 0.9% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | -10.5% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Brhel bearers went from 106 to 107 (+0.9% change). The surname moved up 2,130 positions in the national ranking, going from #153,769 to #151,639.
FAQ
Brhel surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Brhel?
Name Census estimates that about 123 living Americans carry the surname Brhel. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,786,621 residents.
How common is Brhel?
Brhel ranks #151,639 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 107 people with the surname Brhel. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (123), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.04 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.04 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Brhel.
Has Brhel become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Brhel went from 106 recorded bearers to 107. That is an increase of 1 (+0.9%). In the national ranking it rose from #153,769 to #151,639.
What does the Census say about the background of Brhel?
Among Census respondents with the surname Brhel, the largest self-reported group is White at 86.9%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (6.5%) and Hispanic (4.7%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Brhel in the 2020 Census, accounting for 86.9% (93 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Brhel appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (86.9%), Two or More Races (6.5%), Hispanic (4.7%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Brhel (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Brhel mean?
An occupational surname derived from the Czech word for a maker of wooden tubs or vats. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Brhel (0.04 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people are called Brhel?
You can see how common the surname Brhel is on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — same data roots, lighter UI.