2000
#121,058
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 132
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.05
Very Rare Last name
Broedel
A German surname derived from the word "Brot" meaning bread, likely referring to bakers or bread sellers.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 138 Americans carry the last name Broedel. That puts it at #142,049 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,483,727 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Broedel 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
138
1 in 2,483,727
Census rank
#142,049
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
120
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 120 bearers of the surname Broedel in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 142049th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Broedel, the largest self-reported group is White at 89.2%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (7.5%) and Black (2.5%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Broedel
The surname BROEDEL is of German origin, with its roots tracing back to the 16th century in the region of Bavaria. It is believed to have originated from the German word "Brot," meaning bread, and the suffix "-del," which denotes a diminutive form. This suggests that the name may have been associated with bakers or individuals involved in the trade of bread.
One of the earliest documented references to the surname BROEDEL can be found in the municipal records of the city of Augsburg, dated 1573. These records mention a certain "Johann BROEDEL," a baker by trade, who was a resident of the city at that time.
During the 17th century, the name BROEDEL appears to have spread across other regions of Germany, particularly in the areas surrounding the cities of Nuremberg and Munich. This could be attributed to the migration of individuals bearing the surname in search of new opportunities or due to the expansion of trade routes.
In the late 18th century, a notable figure with the surname BROEDEL was Johann Friedrich BROEDEL (1736-1811), a German theologian and philosopher who served as a professor at the University of Leipzig. His works on ethics and moral philosophy were widely recognized during his lifetime.
Another individual of historical significance was Carl Friedrich BROEDEL (1801-1873), a German architect and urban planner. He was responsible for the design and construction of several prominent buildings in the city of Dresden, including the Semper Opera House, which is renowned for its impressive architecture.
As the 19th century progressed, the surname BROEDEL began to appear in various parts of Europe and even in North America, likely due to the migration of individuals bearing the name. One such example is Wilhelm BROEDEL (1856-1932), a German-American physician who made significant contributions to the field of surgery and medical education in the United States.
In the 20th century, a notable figure with the surname BROEDEL was Hans BROEDEL (1902-1985), a German-American artist and illustrator renowned for his work in the field of medical illustration. His detailed and anatomically accurate illustrations were widely used in medical textbooks and publications.
While the surname BROEDEL has its origins in Germany, it has since been carried across different parts of the world by individuals bearing this name. The name's connection to the baking trade and its diminutive form have contributed to its unique historical significance and enduring legacy.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Broedel
Among Census respondents with the surname Broedel, the largest self-reported group is White at 89.2%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (7.5%) and Black (2.5%).
The bar chart below shows how Broedel 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 Broedel surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White89.2% · 107
- Two or more races7.5% · 9
- Black or African American2.5% · 3
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.8% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Broedel
Broedel 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
#141,140
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 118
-14 bearers (-10.6%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 20,082 places
2020
#142,049
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 120
+2 bearers (+1.7%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 909 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #121,058 | 132 | 0.05 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #141,140 | 118 | 0.04 | -14 bearers (-10.6%) | Down 20,082 places |
| 2020 | #142,049 | 120 | 0.04 | +2 bearers (+1.7%) | Down 909 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 Broedel 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 | #141,140 | #142,049 | -0.6% |
| Count | 118 | 120 | 1.7% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | 0.4% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Broedel bearers went from 118 to 120 (+1.7% change). The surname moved down 909 positions in the national ranking, going from #141,140 to #142,049.
FAQ
Broedel surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Broedel?
Name Census estimates that about 138 living Americans carry the surname Broedel. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,483,727 residents.
How common is Broedel?
Broedel ranks #142,049 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 120 people with the surname Broedel. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (138), 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 Broedel.
Has Broedel become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Broedel went from 118 recorded bearers to 120. That is an increase of 2 (+1.7%). In the national ranking it fell from #141,140 to #142,049.
What does the Census say about the background of Broedel?
Among Census respondents with the surname Broedel, the largest self-reported group is White at 89.2%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (7.5%) and Black (2.5%). 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 Broedel in the 2020 Census, accounting for 89.2% (107 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Broedel appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (89.2%), Two or More Races (7.5%), Black (2.5%). 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 Broedel (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 Broedel mean?
A German surname derived from the word "Brot" meaning bread, likely referring to bakers or bread sellers. 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 Broedel (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 Broedel?
You can see how common the surname Broedel is on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — same data roots, lighter UI.