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

Nobel, 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 Nobel surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Nobel in America

Nobel is the 29822nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Nobel surname appeared 788 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 Nobel.

We can also compare 2010 data for Nobel 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 Nobel

The surname Nobel has its origins in Sweden, dating back to the late medieval period. It is derived from the Old Swedish word "nobel," which means "noble" or "distinguished." This name likely originated as a descriptive surname given to individuals of noble or high-ranking status within Swedish society.

The earliest recorded instances of the Nobel surname can be traced back to the 15th century in various Swedish historical documents and records. One notable example is the mention of a Petrus Nobel in a manuscript from the city of Lund, dated around 1470.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Nobel name appeared in several parish records and church registers across Sweden, particularly in the regions of Värmland and Småland. One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Johan Nobel, born in Värmland in 1588.

In the 18th century, the Nobel family established itself as a prominent Swedish noble family. One of the most renowned members was Immanuel Nobel, born in 1801, who was a prominent engineer and inventor. He is credited with pioneering the use of modern construction techniques in Sweden.

Perhaps the most famous individual with the Nobel surname is Alfred Nobel, born in Stockholm in 1833. He was a renowned chemist, engineer, and inventor, best known for his invention of dynamite and the establishment of the Nobel Prizes through his will and fortune.

Other notable individuals with the Nobel surname include:

1. Emanuel Nobel, Alfred Nobel's father, born in 1801, who was a successful engineer and industrialist.
2. Ludvig Nobel, Alfred Nobel's brother, born in 1831, who was a prominent engineer and businessman involved in the family's oil industry ventures.
3. Robert Nobel, Alfred Nobel's nephew, born in 1859, who played a significant role in the development of the family's oil business in Russia.
4. Erich Nobel, a Swedish chemist and industrialist, born in 1879, who was involved in the Nobel family's various business ventures.
5. Carl Gustaf Nobel, a Swedish engineer and industrialist, born in 1892, who was instrumental in the development of the Nobel family's armaments manufacturing business.

The Nobel surname has a rich history and is deeply rooted in Sweden's cultural and industrial heritage, particularly through the accomplishments of Alfred Nobel and his family's contributions to various fields.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Nobel

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

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

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

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