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

Handel, 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 Handel surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Handel in America

Handel is the 12971st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Handel surname appeared 2,367 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 Handel.

We can also compare 2010 data for Handel 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 Handel

The surname Handel has its origins in Germany, and it is believed to have emerged around the 12th century. The name is thought to be derived from the Old German word "handal," which means "trade" or "commerce." This suggests that the name was likely initially associated with merchants or traders.

The earliest known record of the Handel surname dates back to the 13th century, with references found in various medieval manuscripts and records from different regions of Germany. One notable mention is in the Codex Diplomaticus Brandenburgensis, a collection of historical documents from the Brandenburg region, where the name "Handel" appears in entries from the late 13th century.

The name Handel has also been linked to various place names throughout Germany, such as Handelsblatt, a town in the state of Hesse, which translates to "trade sheet" or "commercial paper." This further reinforces the connection between the surname and the concept of trade or commerce.

Among the notable individuals who have borne the surname Handel is the renowned Baroque composer Georg Friedrich Handel (1685-1759). Born in Halle, Germany, Handel is considered one of the greatest composers of the Baroque era and is best known for his operas, oratorios, and instrumental works, including the celebrated "Messiah."

Another prominent figure with the Handel surname is the German astronomer Ernst Handel (1853-1915), who made significant contributions to the study of asteroids and comets. He discovered several asteroids during his career and had one named after him, Asteroid 2682 Handel.

In the realm of literature, the German writer and poet Gottfried Handel (1771-1849) gained recognition for his work in the Romantic period. He is particularly known for his lyrical poetry and his contributions to the development of German literature in the early 19th century.

The Handel surname can also be found in historical records from other parts of Europe, such as the Netherlands and parts of Eastern Europe. For instance, the Dutch painter Theodoor Handel (1668-1737) was a notable figure in the Golden Age of Dutch painting, known for his genre scenes and portraits.

While the Handel surname has its roots in Germany, it has since spread to various parts of the world through migration and diaspora. However, the name's origins and historical associations with trade and commerce remain an integral part of its rich heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Handel

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

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

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

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