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

Fishel, 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 Fishel surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Fishel in America

Fishel is the 10292nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Fishel surname appeared 3,131 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 Fishel.

We can also compare 2010 data for Fishel 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 Fishel

The surname FISHEL originated in Germany during the 13th century. It is derived from the Middle High German word "vischel," which means "small fish." The name likely referred to someone who caught or sold small fish for a living.

During the Middle Ages, many surnames were based on occupations or trades. The FISHEL surname was likely given to a family involved in the fishing industry, whether as fishermen, fish mongers, or those who lived near bodies of water where fishing was common.

One of the earliest known references to the FISHEL name can be found in a 14th-century German census record from the town of Augsburg. The record mentions a "Hans Vischel" residing in the city at that time.

In the 15th century, the FISHEL name appeared in various forms, such as "Fischel" and "Fischele," reflecting regional spelling variations. These variations were common before the standardization of written languages.

The first known person of note with the FISHEL surname was Johann Fischel, a German philosopher and theologian born in 1497. He was a influential figure during the Protestant Reformation and authored several works on religious doctrine.

Another notable FISHEL was Anna Fischel, a 16th-century German painter known for her portraits and religious scenes. Her work can still be found in several museums and churches across Germany.

In the 17th century, the FISHEL name spread to other parts of Europe, including the Netherlands and England. One prominent individual from this era was Willem Fischel, a Dutch merchant and explorer who traveled extensively throughout the East Indies and wrote accounts of his voyages.

During the 18th century, the FISHEL surname gained prominence in the field of medicine. Johann Fischel (1733-1804) was a respected German physician and anatomist who made significant contributions to the study of human anatomy.

In the 19th century, the FISHEL name appeared in various parts of the world, including the United States. One notable American with this surname was Samuel Fishel (1823-1895), a Union Army officer during the American Civil War who later became a successful businessman and philanthropist.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Fishel

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

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

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

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