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

Ehl, 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 Ehl surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ehl in America

Ehl is the 79075th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ehl surname appeared 241 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 Ehl.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ehl 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 Ehl

The surname Ehl is of German origin, tracing its roots back to the 16th century. It is believed to have derived from the Middle High German word "egel," which referred to a hedgehog or porcupine. This suggests that the name may have initially been a descriptive nickname for someone with a prickly or spiky appearance or demeanor.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Ehl can be found in the town records of Nuremberg, where a certain Hans Ehl was mentioned as a resident in 1524. Another notable early bearer of the name was Johann Ehl, a Lutheran theologian born in Augsburg in 1586, who authored several treatises on religious doctrine.

In the 17th century, the name Ehl appears to have spread across various regions of Germany. Records from this period show Ehls residing in cities like Leipzig, Frankfurt, and Cologne. One prominent figure was Philipp Ehl, a merchant from Mainz who lived from 1625 to 1697 and was known for his extensive trade dealings with the Netherlands.

As the surname grew more common, it also evolved into various spellings, such as Ehle, Ehl, and Oehl. These variations can be found in historical documents from different parts of Germany, reflecting regional linguistic influences.

In the 18th century, the Ehl name gained further recognition with individuals like Johann Georg Ehl (1713-1786), a renowned clockmaker from Augsburg whose intricate timepieces were highly sought after by European nobility. Another notable bearer was Christoph Ehl (1737-1809), a prolific composer from Mannheim who wrote several operas and orchestral works.

By the 19th century, the Ehl surname had spread beyond Germany to other parts of Europe and even overseas. One prominent figure from this era was Friedrich Ehl (1825-1891), a German-American engineer who played a pivotal role in the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge in New York City.

Throughout its history, the Ehl surname has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including artists, scholars, and industrialists. While not as widespread as some other German surnames, it has left a notable imprint on the historical record, reflecting the diverse experiences and achievements of those who bore this name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ehl

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

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

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

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