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

Hassell, 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 Hassell surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Hassell in America

Hassell is the 5538th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Hassell surname appeared 6,273 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Hassell.

We can also compare 2010 data for Hassell 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 Hassell

The surname Hassell originated in England during the medieval period. It is believed to be a locational name, derived from the Old English words 'hæsel' meaning hazel tree or hazel wood, and 'holm' meaning a small island or dry ground in a marsh. This suggests that the name likely referred to someone who lived near a hazel tree or copse on a small island or raised ground in a marshy area.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in various historical documents from the 13th and 14th centuries, with spelling variations such as Haselholt, Haselholte, and Hasselholt. One of the earliest known bearers of the name was John de Haselholt, who was mentioned in the Hundredorum Rolls of Yorkshire in 1273.

In the 15th century, the Hassell family was well-established in the county of Dorset, where they held land and property. John Hassell (c. 1420-1490) was a prominent figure in the area and served as the Sheriff of Dorset and Somerset in 1467.

As the name spread across England, it evolved into different spellings, including Hassel, Hassall, and Hassall. Notable individuals with this surname include Edward Hassell (1572-1652), an English theologian and author who wrote several religious works, and John Hassell (1767-1825), a celebrated English landscape painter and engraver known for his picturesque views of English towns and landscapes.

In the 18th century, the Hassell family had a presence in the coastal town of Weymouth, Dorset. William Hassell (1737-1799) was a successful merchant and ship owner who played a significant role in the town's maritime trade. His son, Edward Hassell (1789-1852), followed in his footsteps and became a prominent ship owner and businessman in Weymouth.

Another notable figure with the Hassell surname was John Hassell (1809-1888), a British architect and civil engineer who designed several important public buildings and infrastructure projects in the 19th century, including the Croydon Town Hall and the Dorking to Guildford railway line.

Throughout history, the Hassell name has been associated with various professions and achievements, ranging from religious scholars and authors to artists, merchants, and architects. While the exact origins of the name may be obscured by time, its English roots and connections to specific regions and historical figures have been well documented.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Hassell

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

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

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

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