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

Opel, 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 Opel surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Opel in America

Opel is the 26391st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Opel surname appeared 925 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 Opel.

We can also compare 2010 data for Opel 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 Opel

The surname OPEL is of German origin, arising in the medieval period. It is derived from the Middle High German word "ophele", meaning "hill" or "height". The name likely originated in the southern regions of Germany, possibly in areas such as Bavaria or Baden-Württemberg, where this topographic term was commonly used.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname OPEL can be found in the tax records of the city of Nuremberg, dated to the late 14th century. These records mention an individual named Hans Opel, a merchant who resided within the city walls.

Another early reference to the name OPEL appears in a 15th-century manuscript from the town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber, which chronicles the activities of a local guild. Among the members listed is a certain Konrad Opel, a skilled artisan and metalworker.

In the 16th century, the OPEL surname can be traced to the town of Rüsselsheim, located in the modern-day state of Hesse. This region was known for its vineyards, and it is possible that the name's association with hills or elevated terrain was particularly relevant to those who worked in the wine-making industry.

One notable individual bearing the OPEL surname was Johann Adam Opel (1637-1719), a successful businessman and landowner from the town of Rüsselsheim. His descendants would go on to establish the Opel automotive company, which became one of Germany's most prominent manufacturers of automobiles.

Another individual of historical significance was Friedrich Wilhelm Opel (1720-1789), a respected theologian and philosopher who served as a professor at the University of Marburg. His published works explored themes of ethics and morality, and he was regarded as an influential thinker of the Enlightenment era.

During the 19th century, the OPEL name gained further prominence with the achievements of Adam Opel (1837-1895), the founder of the Opel automotive company. Born in Rüsselsheim, he established a successful business manufacturing sewing machines and later expanded into the production of bicycles and automobiles.

While the OPEL name has its roots in medieval Germany, it has since spread to various parts of the world, carried by descendants of those who bore this surname throughout history. However, its origins can be traced back to the hills and elevated regions of southern Germany, where it first emerged as a topographic descriptor.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Opel

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

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

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

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