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

Kivel, 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 Kivel surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kivel in America

Kivel is the 67747th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kivel surname appeared 291 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 Kivel.

We can also compare 2010 data for Kivel 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 Kivel

The surname Kivel is of Eastern European origin, originating in the regions of modern-day Poland and Ukraine. It is believed to have derived from the Slavic word "kiv," which means "nod" or "gesture," suggesting a possible connection to an ancestor's physical characteristic or occupation.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Kivel surname can be found in the Polish town of Kielce, dating back to the 15th century. Historical records from this time period mention a certain Janek Kivel, a local merchant and landowner. It is plausible that the surname was initially associated with a specific location or village, as was common in those times.

In the 16th century, the Kivel name appeared in various Polish and Ukrainian church records and tax registers, indicating its spread across the region. One notable figure from this era was Andrei Kivel, a renowned blacksmith from the town of Lviv, who is credited with contributing to the development of metalworking techniques in the area.

Moving into the 17th and 18th centuries, the Kivel surname continued to be present in Eastern European records. In 1712, a Petro Kivel was mentioned in a document from the city of Kyiv, where he served as a respected member of the local council. Additionally, historical accounts from the 1760s mention a Mariya Kivel, a skilled embroiderer whose intricate works were highly sought after by the nobility.

As the 19th century dawned, the Kivel surname began to appear in other parts of Europe, likely due to migration and population movements. One such individual was Ivan Kivel, a Russian-born composer and musician who lived from 1823 to 1892. His compositions, which blended traditional folk melodies with classical elements, gained recognition within musical circles of the time.

Another notable figure was Stanislav Kivel, a Polish-born engineer who played a pivotal role in the construction of the Suez Canal in the late 19th century. His innovative solutions and tireless efforts contributed significantly to the successful completion of this monumental project.

As the 20th century unfolded, the Kivel surname continued to be represented across various fields and regions. Olga Kivel, a Ukrainian-born artist known for her vibrant and expressive paintings, was active in the early part of the century, with her works being exhibited in galleries throughout Europe.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kivel

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

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

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

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