Essel
A German surname derived from the Old German word "Esso" meaning "house" or "homestead."
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 274 Americans carry the last name Essel. That puts it at #79,846 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.08 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 1,250,928 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Essel surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
274
1 in 1,250,928
Census rank
#79,846
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
238
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 238 bearers of the surname Essel in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.08 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 79846th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Essel, the largest self-reported group is Black at 48.7%. The next largest groups are White (47.9%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Essel
The surname Essel is of German origin and can be traced back to the 13th century. It is believed to have originated from the German word "Essel," which means "donkey" or "ass." This name was likely initially given as a nickname to someone who exhibited characteristics or physical traits reminiscent of a donkey, such as stubbornness or strength.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Essel can be found in the town records of Cologne, Germany, dating back to 1287, where a person named Henrich Essel is mentioned. Another early reference is in the Würzburg municipal archives from 1311, which lists a Kunrad Essel.
In the 15th century, the name appeared in various German regions, including Bavaria and Saxony. During this time, the spelling variations included Essell, Esell, and Ezel. These variations were likely influenced by regional dialects and phonetic changes over time.
A notable bearer of the Essel name was Johann Essel, a German cartographer and mathematician who lived from 1566 to 1624. He is best known for his work "Novae Terrae Descriptio" (Description of a New Land), which was one of the first detailed maps of the Americas.
Another prominent figure was Wilhelm Essel, a German industrialist and founder of the Essel Group, a conglomerate involved in various industries, including steel, chemicals, and machinery. He was born in 1861 and passed away in 1934.
In the 16th century, the name Essel was also found in some place names, such as Esselbach, a small town in Bavaria. This suggests that some families may have derived their surname from the place where they lived or originated.
Other notable bearers of the Essel surname include:
1. Friedrich Essel (1805-1887), a German politician and lawyer.
2. Theodor Essel (1868-1943), a German painter and printmaker.
3. Hans Essel (1900-1973), a German writer and filmmaker.
4. Elsa Essel (1902-1983), a German-American painter and textile artist.
5. Karl Essel (1911-1994), a German film director and screenwriter.
While the surname Essel is of German origin, it has spread to other parts of the world through migration and has been adopted by families of different ethnicities and nationalities.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Essel
Among Census respondents with the surname Essel, the largest self-reported group is Black at 48.7%. The next largest groups are White (47.9%).
The bar chart below shows how Essel bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Essel surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Black or African American48.7%
- White47.9%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Essel surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #79,846 | #79,846 | 0.0% |
| Count | 238 | 238 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.08 | 0.08 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Essel bearers went from 238 to 238 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #79,846 to #79,846.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Essel
FAQ
Essel surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Essel?
The surname Essel holds position #79,846 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 274 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.08 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Essel surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Essel, the largest self-reported group is Black at 48.7%. The next largest groups are White (47.9%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.