Hagel
A German surname derived from the word "hagel" meaning hail or pellets.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 1,851 Americans carry the last name Hagel. That puts it at #17,559 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.54 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 185,173 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Hagel surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, 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
1.9K
1 in 185,173
Census rank
#17,559
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.5
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
1.6K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 1,602 bearers of the surname Hagel in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.54 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 17559th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Hagel, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.6%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.8%) and Two or More Races (2.3%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Hagel
The surname "HAGEL" is of German origin, derived from the Middle High German word "hagel," which means "hail." This word is believed to have its roots in the Old High German "hagal" and the Proto-Germanic "hag(a)laz," both of which refer to the precipitation form of small pellets of ice.
The earliest recorded instances of the surname "HAGEL" can be traced back to the 13th century in various regions of Germany. One of the earliest documented references is found in the medieval records of the city of Cologne, where a Johannes Hagel is mentioned as a resident in the year 1283.
In the 14th century, the name appears in the records of the town of Memmingen in Bavaria, where a Cunrat Hagel is listed as a citizen in 1367. This suggests that the name had already spread to different parts of Germany by that time.
The surname "HAGEL" is also found in the historical records of the city of Nuremberg, where a Hanns Hagel is mentioned in a document from 1492. This document is notable for providing an early example of the surname's association with a specific individual.
One of the earliest notable individuals to bear the surname "HAGEL" was Johann Hagel, a German theologian and philosopher who lived from 1492 to 1554. He was a prominent figure in the Reformation movement and wrote several influential works on theology and ethics.
Another historical figure with the surname "HAGEL" was Konrad Hagel, a German painter and engraver who lived from 1546 to 1618. He is known for his intricate woodcuts and engravings, many of which depicted religious scenes and portraits.
In the 17th century, the name "HAGEL" appears in the records of the city of Hamburg, where a merchant named Hans Hagel is mentioned in a trade document from 1671. This suggests that the surname had gained a presence in the mercantile circles of northern Germany by that time.
A notable bearer of the surname in the 18th century was Johann Friedrich Hagel, a German composer and organist who lived from 1737 to 1807. He is known for his compositions for the organ and his contributions to the development of church music in Germany.
In the 19th century, the surname "HAGEL" gained prominence in the field of literature, with the German writer and poet Konrad Hagel (1819-1887) being one of the most well-known figures. His works, which included poetry and novels, often explored themes of nature and rural life.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Hagel
Among Census respondents with the surname Hagel, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.6%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.8%) and Two or More Races (2.3%).
The bar chart below shows how Hagel bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 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.
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 Hagel surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White93.6%
- Hispanic or Latino2.8%
- Two or more races2.3%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.7%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Hagel surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #17,559 | #17,559 | 0.0% |
| Count | 1,602 | 1,602 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.54 | 0.54 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Hagel bearers went from 1,602 to 1,602 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #17,559 to #17,559.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Hagel
FAQ
Hagel surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Hagel?
The surname Hagel holds position #17,559 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 1,851 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.54 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Hagel surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Hagel, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.6%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.8%) and Two or More Races (2.3%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.