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

Hufnagel, 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 Hufnagel surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Hufnagel in America

Hufnagel is the 17258th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Hufnagel surname appeared 1,641 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 Hufnagel.

We can also compare 2010 data for Hufnagel 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 Hufnagel

The surname HUFNAGEL is of German origin, with roots dating back to the Middle Ages. It originated in the southern regions of present-day Germany, particularly in Bavaria and parts of modern-day Austria.

HUFNAGEL is a compound word derived from the German words "Huf" meaning "hoof" and "Nagel" meaning "nail." This combination likely referred to an occupation or trade related to blacksmithing or horseshoeing. In those times, surnames often reflected one's profession or craft.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name HUFNAGEL can be found in the Nuremberg Chronicles, a world history published in 1493. The book mentions a Hans Hufnagel, a blacksmith from the town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber, located in modern-day Bavaria.

Another notable figure bearing this surname was Johann Georg Hufnagel, a 17th-century German engraver and painter. Born in Nuremberg in 1601, he was renowned for his intricate illustrations of plants and insects, contributing to the development of scientific illustration during the Renaissance.

In the 18th century, a man named Johann Hufnagel (1715-1795) gained recognition as a prominent mathematician and astronomer. He served as a professor at the University of Tübingen and made significant contributions to the field of celestial mechanics.

During the 19th century, the HUFNAGEL surname appeared in various historical records across German-speaking regions. One notable individual was Friedrich Hufnagel (1834-1908), a German-American civil engineer who played a crucial role in the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge in New York City.

Another prominent figure was Hermann Hufnagel (1873-1939), a German painter and printmaker known for his landscapes and cityscapes. His works are housed in several prestigious museums, including the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin (State Museums in Berlin).

While the HUFNAGEL surname has its roots in Germany, it has since spread to other parts of the world through emigration. Over the centuries, variations in spelling have emerged, such as Hufnagal, Hufnagele, and Hufnagil, reflecting regional dialects and adaptations.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Hufnagel

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

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

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

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