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

Neitzel, 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 Neitzel surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Neitzel in America

Neitzel is the 14528th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Neitzel surname appeared 2,052 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 Neitzel.

We can also compare 2010 data for Neitzel 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 Neitzel

The surname Neitzel is of German origin and can be traced back to the early 15th century in the regions of Saxony and Pomerania. It is derived from the Old German word 'neitz', meaning a sickle or curved knife, often used in agricultural settings. This suggests that the earliest bearers of this name were likely involved in farming or agricultural activities.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Neitzel can be found in the town of Stettin (now Szczecin, Poland) in 1437, where a certain Hans Neitzel was mentioned in a municipal record. The name also appears in various church registers and tax records from the 16th and 17th centuries across northern Germany, indicating its widespread usage during that time.

In the late 16th century, the name Neitzel was associated with the village of Neetzeln (now Nieciecza) in the Pomeranian region, which may have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname. This village name is believed to be derived from the same Old German root as the surname, further reinforcing the connection between the name and agricultural tools.

One notable figure bearing the surname Neitzel was Johann Christian Neitzel (1695-1768), a German theologian and philosopher who served as a professor at the University of Greifswald. His works on natural theology and the philosophy of religion were widely influential during the Enlightenment period.

Another individual of historical significance was Carl Friedrich Neitzel (1810-1886), a German architect and urban planner who designed several prominent buildings in Berlin, including the Reichsbank and the Borsig Palace. His contributions to the architectural landscape of the city earned him recognition as one of the leading figures in the Prussian Revivalist movement.

In the 19th century, the Neitzel name also gained prominence through the achievements of Johann Gottfried Neitzel (1828-1912), a German mathematician and educator who made significant contributions to the field of geometry. His work on quadrilaterals and polygons was widely studied and influenced the development of mathematical education in Germany.

The surname Neitzel also has a presence in the United States, where it was likely brought by German immigrants in the 19th and early 20th centuries. One notable American bearing this name was Robert Neitzel (1924-2010), a distinguished World War II veteran who served in the U.S. Army and later became a prominent businessman and philanthropist in the state of Wisconsin.

Throughout its history, the surname Neitzel has been associated with individuals from various professions, including academics, architects, and military personnel, reflecting the diverse paths taken by those who have carried this name over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Neitzel

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

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

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

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