2010
#160,975
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 100
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.03
Very Rare Last name
Fogell
An English occupational surname derived from the Old English word 'fogol' meaning fowler or birdcatcher.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 118 Americans carry the last name Fogell. That puts it at #154,182 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.03 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,904,698 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Fogell surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, 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
118
1 in 2,904,698
Census rank
#154,182
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
103
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 103 bearers of the surname Fogell in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.03 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 154182nd position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Fogell, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.2%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (1.9%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (1.9%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Fogell
The surname FOGELL is of German origin and can be traced back to the early 16th century. It is believed to have derived from the German word "Fogel," which means "bird" or "fowl." This suggests that the name may have initially been used as a nickname for someone who had a bird-like appearance or behavior.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name FOGELL can be found in the parish records of the town of Bamberg, Bavaria, dated around 1530. The name was spelled "Fogell" at that time, and it is believed that the family may have resided in or near the town.
In the late 16th century, there are records of a Johann Fogell, born in 1572, who was a prominent merchant in the city of Nuremberg. He was known for his successful trading business and his involvement in local politics.
Another notable individual with the surname FOGELL was Hans Fogell, a German cartographer born in 1620. He was renowned for his intricate and detailed maps of various regions in Europe, many of which were used by military strategists and explorers during his time.
The name FOGELL also appears in several historical documents from the 17th and 18th centuries, including church records, tax rolls, and land deeds. These records suggest that the name was prevalent in various parts of Germany, particularly in the southern regions.
In the 19th century, there are records of a Friedrich Fogell, born in 1825, who was a renowned author and poet. He wrote several acclaimed works of literature that explored themes of nature, love, and the human condition.
Another notable figure with the surname FOGELL was Anna Fogell, born in 1865. She was a pioneering female scientist who made significant contributions to the field of botany. Her research on plant species and their medicinal properties earned her recognition and respect within the scientific community.
While the surname FOGELL is not as common as some other German surnames, it has a rich history and has been associated with individuals who have made valuable contributions to various fields throughout the centuries.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Fogell
Among Census respondents with the surname Fogell, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.2%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (1.9%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (1.9%).
The bar chart below shows how Fogell bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 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.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
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 Fogell surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White93.2% · 96
- Hispanic or Latino1.9% · 2
- Asian and Pacific Islander1.9% · 2
- Black or African American1.0% · 1
- American Indian and Alaska Native1.0% · 1
- Two or more races1.0% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Fogell
Fogell appears in 2 published Census surname files: 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2020
#154,182
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 103
+3 bearers (+3.0%)
Per 100,000 0.03
Rank movement Up 6,793 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | #160,975 | 100 | 0.03 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2020 | #154,182 | 103 | 0.03 | +3 bearers (+3.0%) | Up 6,793 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Fogell surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #160,975 | #154,182 | 4.2% |
| Count | 100 | 103 | 3.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.03 | 0.03 | 14.9% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Fogell bearers went from 100 to 103 (+3.0% change). The surname moved up 6,793 positions in the national ranking, going from #160,975 to #154,182.
FAQ
Fogell surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Fogell?
Name Census estimates that about 118 living Americans carry the surname Fogell. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,904,698 residents.
How common is Fogell?
Fogell ranks #154,182 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.03 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 103 people with the surname Fogell. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (118), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.03 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.03 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Fogell.
Has Fogell become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Fogell went from 100 recorded bearers to 103. That is an increase of 3 (+3.0%). In the national ranking it rose from #160,975 to #154,182.
What does the Census say about the background of Fogell?
Among Census respondents with the surname Fogell, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.2%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (1.9%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (1.9%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Fogell in the 2020 Census, accounting for 93.2% (96 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Fogell appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (93.2%), Hispanic (1.9%), Asian/Pacific Islander (1.9%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Fogell (2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Fogell mean?
An English occupational surname derived from the Old English word 'fogol' meaning fowler or birdcatcher. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Fogell (0.03 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people have the last name Fogell?
Find out how many people are called Fogell on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — a quick modern estimate with the living-bearer count front and centre.