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

Habel, 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 Habel surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Habel in America

Habel is the 17495th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Habel surname appeared 1,611 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 Habel.

We can also compare 2010 data for Habel 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 Habel

The surname Habel is of German origin, derived from the personal name Abel, which itself has Hebrew roots and means "breath" or "vanity." The earliest recorded instances of this surname date back to the 16th century in various regions of Germany.

One of the earliest known bearers of this surname was Hans Habel, a merchant from Nuremberg who lived in the late 15th and early 16th centuries. Records show that he traded in various goods, including textiles and spices, and had business dealings throughout Europe.

In the 17th century, the Habel family had a notable presence in the town of Waldenburg in Saxony. Johann Habel, born in 1620, was a respected Lutheran minister who served the local church for over four decades until his death in 1685.

The surname Habel also appears in several historical records from the 18th century. For instance, Christian Habel, born in 1735 in Kirchheim unter Teck, was a renowned clockmaker whose intricate timepieces were highly sought after by nobility and wealthy patrons across Europe.

As the Habel family spread throughout Germany and beyond, variations in spelling emerged, such as Habele, Habelin, and Häbel. These variations were often influenced by regional dialects and linguistic shifts over time.

One notable figure bearing this surname was Johann Peter Habel, born in 1809 in Mainz. He was a renowned painter and engraver, known for his stunning landscapes and cityscapes depicting the scenic beauty of the Rhineland region.

Another prominent individual was Karl Habel, born in 1856 in Hanover. He was a pioneering industrialist who played a significant role in the development of Germany's steel industry and was instrumental in the establishment of several major steel manufacturing companies.

Throughout history, the Habel surname has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including merchants, clergy, artisans, and industrialists, contributing to the rich tapestry of German culture and heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Habel

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

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

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

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