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

Goebel, 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 Goebel surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Goebel in America

Goebel is the 3920th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Goebel surname appeared 9,062 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 3 people would have the surname Goebel.

We can also compare 2010 data for Goebel 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 Goebel

The surname Goebel has its origins in Germany, where it first emerged in the medieval period. It is derived from the German word "Göbel," which means "gable" or "roof ridge," suggesting that the name may have been given to someone who lived in a house with a distinct gable or worked as a roofer or builder.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Goebel surname dates back to the 13th century in the town of Nuremberg, where a certain Heinrich Goebel was mentioned in historical records from 1292. This indicates that the name was already well-established in the region at that time.

In the 14th century, the Goebel name appeared in various German chronicles and manuscripts, including the Codex Diplomaticus, which contains official documents and charters from the Holy Roman Empire. This further solidifies the name's deep roots in German history.

During the 16th century, the Goebel surname gained prominence with the birth of Johannes Goebel (1500-1585), a renowned German theologian and reformer who played a significant role in the Protestant Reformation. He was a close associate of Martin Luther and worked tirelessly to promote the ideals of the Reformation.

Another notable figure bearing the Goebel name was Johann Friedrich Goebel (1766-1836), a German painter and lithographer who made significant contributions to the art world during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. His works are still celebrated for their technical mastery and artistic expression.

In the 19th century, Karl Goebel (1854-1932) was a prominent German botanist and professor who made groundbreaking discoveries in the field of plant biology. He is particularly renowned for his contributions to the understanding of plant development and evolution.

The Goebel surname also found its way to other parts of Europe, including the Netherlands and Belgium, where variations such as "Goebels" and "Goebelsz" were used. In these regions, the name was often associated with families involved in agriculture or the production of food and beverages.

Throughout its long history, the Goebel surname has been carried by many individuals from various walks of life, including artisans, scholars, and professionals. While its original meaning may have been related to architecture or construction, the name has transcended these origins and become a part of the rich tapestry of German and European cultural heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Goebel

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

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

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

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