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

Niebel, 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 Niebel surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Niebel in America

Niebel is the 62531st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Niebel surname appeared 320 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 Niebel.

We can also compare 2010 data for Niebel 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 Niebel

The surname Niebel is believed to have originated in Germany, likely in the northern regions near the Baltic Sea. It is thought to derive from the Old German word "nibul," which means "mist" or "fog," potentially referring to someone who lived near misty or foggy areas.

The name can be traced back to the 12th century, with early records showing variations in spelling such as Nebbel, Nibbel, and Nebel. Some of the earliest references to the name are found in the medieval German records known as the Codex Diplomaticus Saxoniae.

One of the earliest known individuals with the surname Niebel was Hans Niebel, a merchant who lived in the city of Lübeck in the 15th century. Records indicate that he was involved in the Hanseatic League, a powerful medieval trading organization.

Another notable figure was Johann Niebel, a 16th-century Lutheran theologian and reformer from Saxony. He was a contemporary of Martin Luther and played a role in the Protestant Reformation.

In the 17th century, a man named Christoph Niebel was a prominent architect in the city of Dresden, where he designed several notable buildings, including the Frauenkirche (Church of Our Lady).

The surname Niebel has also been associated with various place names in Germany, such as Niebelungen, a region mentioned in the epic German poem "Nibelungenlied." Additionally, there are villages and towns with similar names like Niebelsbach and Niebelungen-Wohnbach.

Throughout history, other individuals with the surname Niebel have made contributions in various fields, including literature, music, and science. For example, Konrad Niebel was a 19th-century German poet and writer, while Gustav Niebel was a 20th-century German composer and conductor.

While the surname Niebel is not as widespread as some others, it has a rich history and connections to various regions and notable figures, particularly in Germany. Its origins can be traced back to the mists of medieval times, reflecting the linguistic and cultural heritage of the German people.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Niebel

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

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

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

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