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

Markel, 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 Markel surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Markel in America

Markel is the 8023rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Markel surname appeared 4,126 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 Markel.

We can also compare 2010 data for Markel 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 Markel

The surname Markel is of German origin, with its roots tracing back to the Middle Ages. It is a locational name, derived from various place names in Germany, such as Markel or Merkl. These places were likely named after an Old German word "marc," meaning "boundary" or "border."

The earliest known record of the name Markel dates back to the 13th century, when a Johannes Markel was documented in the tax rolls of the city of Cologne in 1285. Another early reference is found in the Codex Diplomaticus Brandenburgensis, a collection of historical documents from the Margraviate of Brandenburg, where a Henricus Markel is mentioned in 1324.

During the 14th century, the name appears in various spellings, such as Markel, Marckel, and Merkel, in various regions of Germany, including Bavaria, Saxony, and Thuringia. This indicates that the name had spread across different regions, possibly through migration or trade.

One notable bearer of the name Markel was Johann Markel (1455-1518), a German theologian and humanist scholar who taught at the University of Erfurt. He was known for his writings on moral philosophy and his advocacy for educational reforms.

Another prominent figure with the surname Markel was Caspar Markel (1570-1641), a German artist and engraver from Augsburg. He was renowned for his intricate copperplate engravings, which depicted religious scenes and landscapes.

In the 17th century, the name Markel can be found in various church records and land registries across Germany. For instance, a Hans Markel is recorded as a landowner in the village of Dietenhofen, near Nuremberg, in 1632.

During the 19th century, the surname Markel gained recognition through the works of German author and playwright Friedrich Markel (1825-1899). He is best known for his satirical plays and novels, which often criticized the social and political conditions of his time.

While the surname Markel originated in Germany, it has since spread to other parts of the world due to migration and diaspora. However, its roots can be traced back to the medieval German locales and the Old German word "marc," signifying its origins as a locational name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Markel

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

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

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

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