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

Drell, 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 Drell surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Drell in America

Drell is the 113155th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Drell surname appeared 155 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 Drell.

We can also compare 2010 data for Drell 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 Drell

The surname Drell is of German origin, with roots dating back to the 16th century. It is believed to have derived from the Middle High German word "drelle," which translates to "one who is idle or lazy." This suggests that the name may have initially been used as a descriptive nickname for someone perceived as indolent or slothful.

In its early years, the name was primarily concentrated in the southern regions of Germany, particularly in the areas around Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg. Historical records indicate that the earliest known bearer of the name was Hans Drell, born in the town of Augsburg in 1532.

One of the earliest documented references to the Drell surname can be found in the Kirchenbücher (church records) of the small village of Oberstenfeld, located in the present-day state of Baden-Württemberg. These records, dating back to the late 16th century, contain several entries pertaining to families with the Drell surname.

As the name spread throughout Germany over the centuries, it evolved into various spellings, such as Drel, Drell, and Drelle. Some of these variations may have been influenced by regional dialects or scribal errors in record-keeping.

One notable figure bearing the Drell surname was Johann Drell, a German clergyman and theologian who lived from 1624 to 1691. He served as a Lutheran minister and published several religious works during his lifetime.

Another historically significant individual was Wilhelm Drell, a German painter and illustrator born in 1817. He is renowned for his intricate watercolor landscapes and his illustrations for children's books in the 19th century.

In the realm of literature, the name Drell is associated with Gottfried Drell, a German novelist and playwright who lived from 1879 to 1949. His works often explored themes of social commentary and class dynamics in early 20th-century Germany.

Moving into the 20th century, one cannot overlook the contributions of Hans Drell, a German-American physicist who played a pivotal role in the development of nuclear physics. Born in 1908, he worked alongside renowned scientists like Robert Oppenheimer and made significant advancements in the field of quantum electrodynamics.

Finally, it is worth mentioning Erwin Drell, a German-born American artist and sculptor who lived from 1926 to 2022. He is best known for his abstract metal sculptures and his innovative use of industrial materials in his artwork.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Drell

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

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

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

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