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

Eckel, 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 Eckel surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Eckel in America

Eckel is the 12616th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Eckel surname appeared 2,453 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Eckel.

We can also compare 2010 data for Eckel 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 Eckel

The surname ECKEL is of German origin, tracing its roots back to the Middle Ages. It emerged in the regions of modern-day Bavaria and Saxony, where it was initially spelled variations like "Eckel," "Eckell," or "Eckl." The name is derived from the Old High German word "eck," meaning "corner" or "edge," suggesting a connection to a geographical location or a physical feature.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the ECKEL surname can be found in the "Codex Diplomaticus Saxoniae" (Diplomatic Code of Saxony), a collection of historical documents from the 8th to the 15th centuries. The name appears in records from the 13th century, indicating its long-standing presence in the region.

During the medieval period, the ECKEL surname was often associated with noble families or landowners who held properties near prominent corners, edges, or boundaries. In some instances, the name was also given to individuals who lived or worked in such locations.

Noteworthy individuals bearing the ECKEL surname include Johannes Eckel (c. 1480-1540), a German humanist scholar and writer from Nuremberg, renowned for his Latin translations of Greek texts. Another notable figure was Hans Eckel (1551-1619), a German painter and engraver from Nuremberg, known for his religious artworks and portraits.

In the 17th century, Johannes Eckel (1609-1679) was a prominent German theologian and pastor who served as the rector of the University of Rostock. His son, Johann Friedrich Eckel (1642-1715), followed in his footsteps and became a respected Lutheran minister and writer.

In the 19th century, Johann Eckel (1823-1892) was a German botanist and mycologist who made significant contributions to the study of fungi. He published numerous works on the subject and was recognized for his expertise in mycology.

As the ECKEL surname spread across German-speaking regions, it also found its way into other European countries through migration and intermarriage. Over time, the name evolved with various spellings, such as "Eckl," "Eckle," or "Eckell," reflecting local linguistic variations and adaptations.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Eckel

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!