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

Heckel, 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 Heckel surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Heckel in America

Heckel is the 12927th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Heckel surname appeared 2,378 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 Heckel.

We can also compare 2010 data for Heckel 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 Heckel

The surname HECKEL has its origins in the German language, originating in the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Middle High German word "heckel," which referred to a hooked implement used in weaving, particularly in the textile industry. This suggests that the name may have initially been associated with weavers or those involved in textile-related professions.

The earliest known recorded instances of the name HECKEL can be traced back to the 13th century in the regions of Bavaria and Swabia in present-day Germany. It is likely that the name emerged as a occupational surname, given to individuals who worked with the "heckel" tool or were involved in weaving activities.

One of the earliest documented references to the name HECKEL can be found in the town records of Nuremberg from the year 1322, where a certain Hans Heckel is mentioned. This suggests that the name was already established in the region by the early 14th century.

In the 15th century, the name HECKEL appeared in various historical records, such as the Würzburg Episcopal Register of 1437, which mentioned a Johann Heckel. Another notable individual from this period was Peter Heckel, a renowned German painter and engraver who lived between 1460 and 1534.

As the name spread throughout Germany and neighboring regions, it underwent various spelling variations, including Heckel, Heckell, Heckle, and Heckele. These variations likely emerged due to regional dialects and scribal errors in record-keeping.

One of the most famous individuals bearing the HECKEL surname was Johann Heckel (1673-1737), a German organ builder from Nuremberg. His work had a significant impact on the development of organ construction in the 18th century.

Another notable figure was Johann Jakob Heckel (1790-1857), a German naturalist and entomologist known for his contributions to the study of insects. He described numerous new species and published several influential works on entomology.

In the 19th century, Johann Nepomuk Heckel (1799-1857) was a prominent Austrian botanist and ichthyologist. He made significant contributions to the study of fish and participated in several scientific expeditions to explore the natural history of various regions.

The HECKEL surname also gained recognition in the realm of music with the birth of Ernst Heckel (1834-1899), a German instrument maker who founded the company that bears his name. His innovations in the design and construction of oboes and bassoons had a lasting impact on the development of these woodwind instruments.

Finally, one cannot overlook the legacy of Wilhelm Heckel (1856-1909), a renowned German sculptor and medalist. His works adorned numerous public buildings and monuments, earning him widespread acclaim during his lifetime.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Heckel

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

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

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

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