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

Maedel, 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 Maedel surname is from the 2000 census data.

Popularity of Maedel in America

Maedel is the 150436th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Maedel surname appeared 100 times in the 2000 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Maedel.

The history of the last name Maedel

The surname Maedel originates from Germany, specifically from regions in the medieval Holy Roman Empire, such as Bavaria and Saxony. It dates back to the Middle Ages, around the 14th century. The name Maedel appears to be derived from the Middle High German word "maedl" or "maedel," which means "girl" or "maiden." This suggests that the surname could have initially been a nickname or a descriptive term relating to a young female.

Historical records indicate the presence of the surname Maedel in various medieval manuscripts and church records from the 14th and 15th centuries. One such reference appears in the 1354 land registry of Bavaria, where a Hans Maedel is listed as a landowner. This aligns with the common practice at the time of recording individuals based on their given name followed by a descriptive surname.

Another early example is found in a Saxon church registry from 1389, which mentions an Anna Maedel as a witness in a land dispute. The appearance of the name in these documents indicates it was well-established in the region by this time and possibly carried connotations of familial heritage or lineage, especially among farming communities.

Famous individuals with the surname Maedel can be traced back over the centuries. One notable example is Johann Maedel, born in 1467 and a roofer by trade in the town of Augsburg. He became renowned for his craftsmanship and was mentioned in the town’s guild records several times until his death in 1535.

In the 17th century, another prominent figure was Dorothea Maedel, born in 1632. She was known for her charitable works in Nuremberg, where she established foundations that aided poor maidens in getting married, enhancing the community’s social welfare. Dorothea’s legacy in philanthropy lasted until her passing in 1699.

During the Enlightenment era, Friedrich Maedel (born 1720) gained recognition as a respected academic. He was a professor of philosophy at the University of Leipzig and contributed numerous works to the fields of logic and metaphysics before his death in 1785. His scholarly achievements helped elevate the intellectual status of the Maedel family name.

In the 19th century, the name crossed from Europe to the United States with German immigrants. One prominent emigrant was Heinrich Maedel, born in 1825, who moved to Pennsylvania in 1850. Heinrich became a successful brewer, contributing to the regional beer industry, and his brewery, Maedel’s Brewery, was well-regarded throughout the latter part of the 19th century until his death in 1898.

By examining these varying appearances and contexts, it becomes evident that the surname Maedel has deep roots in German-speaking regions, primarily associated with female ancestry or characteristics, and has been borne by various notable individuals. The legacy of the name continues to manifest through historical records, underscoring its longstanding presence and significance.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Maedel

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

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 2000 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Maedel 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.

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

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

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