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

Nebel, 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 Nebel surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Nebel in America

Nebel is the 13413th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Nebel surname appeared 2,272 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 Nebel.

We can also compare 2010 data for Nebel 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 Nebel

The surname Nebel originated in Germany, specifically in the southern regions around Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg. It can be traced back to the Middle Ages, likely emerging in the 12th or 13th century. The name is derived from the German word "Nebel," which means "fog" or "mist," suggesting that the earliest bearers of this surname may have lived in areas prone to dense fog or mist.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Nebel can be found in the chronicles of the Reichsabtei Weingarten, a former imperial abbey located in Baden-Württemberg. These chronicles, dating back to the 13th century, mention a certain "Heinrich Nebel" who was a member of the abbey's congregation.

During the late Middle Ages and the Renaissance period, the surname Nebel appeared in various historical documents and records across southern Germany. For example, in the city archives of Augsburg, there are records of a merchant named "Hans Nebel" who lived in the city during the 15th century.

As trade and migration patterns evolved, the Nebel name spread to other parts of Germany and neighboring regions. In the 16th century, a prominent figure named "Johann Nebel" (1535-1597) was a renowned theologian and preacher in the city of Wittenberg, where he worked alongside Martin Luther and other Reformers.

Another notable individual with the Nebel surname was "Georg Nebel" (1570-1635), a German composer and organist who was active in the early Baroque era. His works, including several collections of sacred and secular compositions, were widely performed and published during his lifetime.

In the 18th century, the Nebel name gained further recognition with the birth of "Johann Philipp Nebel" (1773-1841), a German architect and urban planner. He is best known for his contributions to the reconstruction and expansion of the city of Darmstadt, where he designed numerous buildings and public spaces.

Throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries, the Nebel surname continued to be represented across various fields, including academia, the arts, and politics. "Carl Nebel" (1805-1855) was a German-born artist and explorer who documented the landscapes and indigenous cultures of Mexico through his intricate lithographs and illustrations.

These examples highlight the rich history and diversity of individuals who have carried the surname Nebel over the centuries, originating from the misty regions of southern Germany and eventually spreading to other parts of the world.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Nebel

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

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

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

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