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

Hertel, 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 Hertel surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Hertel in America

Hertel is the 7562nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Hertel surname appeared 4,395 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 Hertel.

We can also compare 2010 data for Hertel 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 Hertel

The surname Hertel originated in Germany, likely during the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old German word "hert" or "herti," which means "hardy" or "brave." This suggests that the name may have been initially bestowed upon someone with a courageous or hardy disposition.

The earliest known record of the Hertel name dates back to the 13th century in the region of Saxony, where it was found in various medieval documents and charters. One of the earliest recorded individuals with this surname was Heinrich Hertel, a landowner mentioned in a document from 1287 in the town of Mühlhausen.

As the name spread throughout Germany, it also took on different spellings, such as Hertell, Hertel, and Hertell, reflecting the varying regional dialects and scribal practices of the time. The surname is also related to the place name Hertlingen, a town in the state of Baden-Württemberg, which may have contributed to the name's origins.

In the 16th century, the Hertel name gained prominence with Johannes Hertel, a notable German theologian and reformer born in 1518 in Saxony. He played a significant role in the Protestant Reformation and was a close associate of Martin Luther.

Another notable figure with the Hertel surname was Johann Wilhelm Hertel, a German composer and organist born in 1665 in Eisenach. He was highly regarded for his contributions to the development of the Baroque music style and served as the court composer in Darmstadt.

In the 19th century, Karl Friedrich Hertel, a German painter and engraver born in 1816 in Dresden, achieved recognition for his intricate landscapes and architectural etchings, which captured the beauty of various German cities.

The Hertel name also found its way to other parts of Europe, including France, where it was sometimes spelled as Hertelle or Hertell. One notable French figure with this surname was Jean-Claude Hertelle, a renowned architect and urban planner born in 1672 in Paris, who was responsible for the design of several iconic buildings and public spaces in the city.

Over the centuries, the Hertel surname has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including artists, musicians, academics, and professionals, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and accomplishments of those who bear this name of German origin.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Hertel

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

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

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

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