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

Imel, 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 Imel surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Imel in America

Imel is the 14979th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Imel surname appeared 1,973 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 Imel.

We can also compare 2010 data for Imel 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 Imel

The surname Imel is believed to have originated in Germany, with its earliest records dating back to the 13th century. The name is derived from the Germanic root "Imel," which means "diligent" or "hard-working." It is thought to have been an occupational name given to individuals who were known for their industrious nature.

One of the earliest known references to the Imel surname comes from a 14th-century manuscript in the town of Nuremberg, where a certain Hans Imel was mentioned as a respected merchant and landowner. This suggests that the name had already gained some prominence in that region by that time.

During the Middle Ages, the Imel name spread across various parts of Germany, with some variations in spelling, such as Immel, Imle, and Immele. These variations were likely due to regional dialect differences and the inconsistencies in record-keeping practices of the time.

In the 16th century, a notable figure named Johann Imel (1500-1572) was a prominent theologian and reformer from the city of Augsburg. He played a significant role in the early years of the Protestant Reformation, working alongside Martin Luther and other influential figures of the time.

As the Imel family continued to expand and migrate, the name also found its way into other parts of Europe. In the 17th century, records show an Imel family settling in the Netherlands, where they became respected members of the local community.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Imel name in America dates back to the late 18th century, when a German immigrant named Jacob Imel (1755-1832) arrived in Pennsylvania. He later settled in Ohio, where he established a successful farming operation and became a prominent figure in his local community.

Another notable individual with the Imel surname was James Imel (1803-1876), an American politician and lawyer who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from Pennsylvania in the mid-19th century.

Throughout history, the Imel name has been associated with various occupations and professions, including farming, craftsmanship, education, and religious leadership. While not a particularly widespread surname, it has left its mark on the cultural and historical tapestry of various regions around the world.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Imel

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!