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

Jekel, 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 Jekel surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Jekel in America

Jekel is the 56310th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Jekel surname appeared 363 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Jekel.

We can also compare 2010 data for Jekel 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 Jekel

The surname JEKEL originated in Germany, with the earliest records of its use dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old German word "jekkel," which referred to a type of outer garment or jacket worn by peasants and farmers.

In the medieval period, the name JEKEL was primarily found in the regions of Bavaria and Saxony, where it was often associated with rural communities and agricultural settlements. One of the earliest documented references to the name appears in a land registry from the town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber, dated 1243, which mentions a "Johannes Jekkel" as a landowner.

By the 14th century, variations of the name, such as "Jekel," "Jeckel," and "Jecklin," had begun to emerge in various parts of Germany. These spellings likely arose due to regional dialects and the evolving nature of the German language over time.

In 1521, a manuscript from the city of Nuremberg referred to a "Hans Jekel," who was a prominent merchant and member of the local guilds. This record provides evidence of the name's presence among the urban middle classes during the Renaissance period.

Notable individuals bearing the surname JEKEL throughout history include:

1. Johann Friedrich Jekel (1737-1810), a German philosopher and educator known for his contributions to the field of pedagogy.
2. Theodor Jekel (1825-1892), a German entomologist and naturalist, who made significant discoveries in the study of beetles.
3. Gustav Jekel (1867-1945), a German architect and urban planner, renowned for his work in designing public housing projects in Berlin.
4. Helene Jekel (1885-1972), a German actress and singer who performed in numerous operettas and musical theater productions during the early 20th century.
5. Karl Jekel (1905-1983), a German-born American chemist who played a crucial role in the development of synthetic rubber during World War II.

While the JEKEL surname has its roots in medieval Germany, it eventually spread to other parts of Europe and beyond, carried by individuals and families who migrated or immigrated to new lands over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Jekel

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

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

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

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