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

Genel, 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 Genel surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Genel in America

Genel is the 123064th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Genel surname appeared 140 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 Genel.

We can also compare 2010 data for Genel 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 Genel

The surname GENEL is of Turkish origin, originating from the Anatolian region of modern-day Turkey. It is believed to have emerged during the Ottoman Empire era, which spanned from the 13th to the early 20th century. The name is thought to be derived from the Turkish word "genel," meaning "general" or "universal," suggesting a possible connection to military or administrative roles held by early bearers of the name.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname GENEL can be found in the Ottoman tax registers (tahrir defterleri) from the 16th century, where it appears as a variant spelling, such as "Genal" or "Jennel." These registers were meticulously maintained by the Ottoman authorities and provide valuable insights into the distribution and prevalence of surnames across the empire's territories.

In the 17th century, a notable figure with the surname GENEL was Ahmet Genel, a prominent Ottoman merchant and trader based in the city of Aleppo, modern-day Syria. Ahmet Genel's business dealings extended across the Mediterranean region, and his name is mentioned in various trade records and correspondence from that era.

During the 19th century, the surname GENEL gained further prominence with the birth of Mustafa Genel (1825-1890), a renowned Turkish poet and scholar. Mustafa Genel's literary works, which celebrated the rich cultural heritage of Anatolia, earned him widespread acclaim and cemented the GENEL name in the annals of Turkish literature.

Another significant figure bearing the surname GENEL was Fatma Genel (1865-1932), a pioneering Turkish feminist and activist. Fatma Genel dedicated her life to advocating for women's rights and education, establishing several schools and organizations that empowered women in the late Ottoman era.

In the 20th century, the surname GENEL continued to be associated with notable individuals, such as Ahmet Genel (1905-1980), a distinguished Turkish diplomat who served as the ambassador to several countries, including the United Kingdom and France. His diplomatic career spanned several decades and played a crucial role in shaping Turkey's international relations during the post-World War II period.

While the surname GENEL has its roots in Turkey, it has since spread across the globe through migration and diaspora communities. However, its origins and historical significance remain firmly rooted in the rich cultural tapestry of Anatolia and the Ottoman Empire.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Genel

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

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

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

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