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

Diebel, 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 Diebel surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Diebel in America

Diebel is the 28618th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Diebel surname appeared 833 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Diebel.

We can also compare 2010 data for Diebel 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 Diebel

The surname DIEBEL is of German origin, with roots dating back to the Middle Ages. It is believed to have originated in the region of Saxony-Anhalt, where it was derived from the German word "Dieb," meaning "thief." This suggests that the name may have initially been a descriptive nickname given to someone known for their mischievous or unlawful behavior.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name DIEBEL can be found in the historical records of the city of Leipzig, where a certain Hans Diebel was mentioned in a document from the early 15th century. It is likely that this individual or his ancestors had migrated to the area from a nearby village or town with a similar-sounding name, such as Diebitz or Diebau.

In the 16th century, the DIEBEL surname appeared in various church records and tax rolls throughout central Germany, indicating its gradual spread across the region. Notable individuals from this period include Johannes Diebel, a Protestant reformer and theologian born in Nuremberg in 1543, and Hans Diebel, a renowned glassmaker from the town of Murano, near Venice, who lived from 1550 to 1625.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, the DIEBEL name continued to be well-represented in various parts of Germany, particularly in the states of Saxony, Thuringia, and Brandenburg. One prominent figure was Johann Gottfried Diebel, a celebrated composer and organist born in Nuremberg in 1677. His works, including numerous church cantatas and organ pieces, were widely performed and admired during his lifetime.

As German immigrants began to settle in other parts of Europe and the Americas in the 19th century, the DIEBEL surname traveled with them. In the United States, for instance, a notable bearer of the name was William Diebel, a German-American businessman and philanthropist from Philadelphia, who lived from 1838 to 1912 and was instrumental in the development of the city's public transportation system.

Throughout its long history, the DIEBEL surname has also undergone various spelling variations, such as Diebele, Diebelt, and Diebele, reflecting the regional dialects and linguistic changes that occurred over time. However, the core meaning and significance of the name have remained rooted in its German heritage and the colorful, if somewhat mischievous, origins it represents.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Diebel

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

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

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

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