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

Dertel, 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 Dertel surname is from the 2000 census data.

Popularity of Dertel in America

Dertel is the 110523rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Dertel surname appeared 148 times in the 2000 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Dertel.

The history of the last name Dertel

The surname Dertel is believed to have its origins in Central Europe, likely in the regions comprising present-day Germany and the Czech Republic, around the late medieval period. The exact etymology of the name is somewhat ambiguous, but it may derive from the Old German word "Dörten" or the Czech word "Důrtel," both of which could have referred to a small settlement or a geographical feature such as a hill or riverbank.

There are no references to the name Dertel in prominent historical records such as the Domesday Book, which predominantly covered English lands, but the name does appear in various regional records and documents from Central Europe. One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name is in a Bohemian land registry from the 14th century. The name was listed as Dürtel, signifying a smallholder or a person of minor noble status in the rural areas.

Among the earliest known individuals bearing this surname was Heinrich Dertel, born circa 1450, who was a minor noble in the region that is now modern-day Saxony, Germany. His name appears in several property records, indicating he was a landowner of modest holdings. Shortly thereafter, a record from 1492 mentions a Mikuláš Durtel residing in Prague, suggesting that the name was present in both Germanic and Slavic regions.

By the 17th century, the name had variations in its spelling. One notable individual was Joachim Dertel, born in 1603 in what is now the Czech Republic. He was documented as a master craftsman in the guilds of Prague, and his expert metalwork earned him recognition at the court of the Habsburg monarchy. His records were meticulously kept due to his importance in the craft guilds, and his works are still referenced in historical studies of the time.

The surname Dertel further appears in the military records of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Karl Dertel, born in 1775, served as an officer during the Napoleonic Wars. His distinguished service, documented in military archives, earned him several commendations and a modest estate, elevating his family’s status within the regional hierarchy.

In the 19th century, the name appears in academic records. Johann Dertel, born in 1832, was a respected scholar who contributed to early sociological studies in Berlin. His published works on rural communities and their economic structures were groundbreaking at the time and remain a reference point in historical sociological research.

Throughout its history, the surname Dertel has maintained a modest but persistent presence, with its bearers often involved in various professional trades, military service, and academics. The consistent recurrence of this name in historical documents across Central Europe highlights its enduring heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Dertel

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

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 2000 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Dertel 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.

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

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

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