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

Niichel, 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 Niichel surname is from the 2000 census data.

Popularity of Niichel in America

Niichel is the 142819th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Niichel surname appeared 107 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 Niichel.

The history of the last name Niichel

The surname Niichel is believed to have originated in the region of Central Europe, particularly in areas that are now part of modern-day Germany and Luxembourg. Tracing back to around the early medieval period, specifically the 11th and 12th centuries, the name likely emerged in rural communities where surnames were often derived from personal characteristics, occupations, or geographical locations.

Niichel is thought to be derived from the older Germanic word "nichil," signifying "little one" or "petty." This aligns with a trend during that era, where names often reflected attributes of the individual's stature or personality. Variations of the spelling included Nicol, Nickl, and Nickhel, indicative of regional dialects and orthographic evolutions as the name spread.

Historical records show the surname appearing in various medieval documents. One of the earliest references can be found in the register of the Abbey of Echternach, dated around 1165, where a certain Heinrich Nickhel is documented as having donated lands to the monastery. This indicates the surname's association with the nobility or landholding class during that period.

In the 14th century, the name appears again in legal documents from the Cologne region, with an entry detailing the marriage of Johan Nichel to Adelheid von Würzburg in 1369. This record not only provides evidence of the surname but also contributes to the genealogical mapping of the Niichel lineage across different regions in Germany.

Throughout the late medieval and early Renaissance periods, individuals bearing the surname Niichel made notable contributions to their communities. One prominent figure was Margarethe Niichel, born in 1452, who became renowned for her charitable works and the foundation of a hospital in Trier, Germany, around 1490. Her legacy persisted into the next centuries, laying a foundation of philanthropy associated with the surname.

The 16th century saw the migration of families bearing the Niichel name towards the Netherlands and France due to socio-political upheavals in the Holy Roman Empire. One example is Hans Niichel, a merchant born in 1513, who settled in Antwerp and established a successful trading company dealing in textiles. His enterprise continued to thrive under the management of his descendants into the early 17th century.

The name Niichel also has roots in the intellectual realm, with Anselm Niichel, an academic born in 1585, who was noted for his works on medieval philosophy and theology. His teachings at the University of Vienna around the early 1600s were influential, particularly his treatises which combined scholastic and humanist traditions.

The evolution of the surname continued into the 18th century, with the spelling Niichel becoming more standardized. A notable individual from this period is Friederich Niichel, a prominent military figure born in 1720, who served under the Prussian Army during the War of Austrian Succession. His achievements in various battles earned him recognition and further solidified the Niichel family’s historical legacy.

The surname Niichel represents a rich tapestry of historical development, marked by geographical dispersion and the contributions of its bearers across several centuries. From its origins in medieval Germany to its spread across Europe, the name has carried with it a legacy of nobility, philanthropy, commerce, and intellectualism.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Niichel

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

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

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

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