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

Fehl, 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 Fehl surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Fehl in America

Fehl is the 32396th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Fehl surname appeared 710 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 Fehl.

We can also compare 2010 data for Fehl 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 Fehl

The surname Fehl originated in Germany and can be traced back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old German word "fehl," which means "wrong" or "error." This suggests that the name may have been initially used as a nickname or a descriptive term for someone who was prone to making mistakes or errors.

In the Middle Ages, surnames were often derived from personal characteristics, occupations, or places of origin. The Fehl surname likely emerged as a descriptive name for individuals who were known for their clumsiness or tendency to make errors.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the Fehl surname can be found in the records of the city of Nuremberg, Germany, dating back to the late 13th century. A certain Heinricus Fehl was listed as a resident of the city in 1287.

Throughout the centuries, the Fehl name has been associated with various notable individuals. In the 16th century, Hans Fehl (1518-1592) was a prominent German painter and engraver known for his religious works and portraits.

In the 18th century, Johann Gottfried Fehl (1741-1809) was a German philosopher and writer who made significant contributions to the field of aesthetics.

Another notable bearer of the Fehl surname was Friedrich Fehl (1835-1898), a German architect and urban planner who designed several important buildings and urban developments in Berlin during the late 19th century.

In the field of music, the name Fehl is associated with Karl Fehl (1892-1973), a German composer and conductor who was known for his works for orchestra and chamber ensembles.

Moving into the 20th century, Herbert Fehl (1920-2008) was a German-American art historian and scholar who specialized in Renaissance art and architecture.

While the Fehl surname has its origins in Germany, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and intermarriage. However, its earliest recorded instances and most notable bearers can be traced back to its German roots.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Fehl

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

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

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

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