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

Oppel, 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 Oppel surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Oppel in America

Oppel is the 39717th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Oppel surname appeared 553 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 Oppel.

We can also compare 2010 data for Oppel 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 Oppel

The surname Oppel is of German origin and can be traced back to the Middle Ages. It is believed to have originated in the region of Saxony, which was a powerful medieval duchy located in the modern-day states of Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and Thuringia.

One theory suggests that the name Oppel is derived from the Old German word "opfel," which means "apple." This could indicate that the earliest bearers of this surname were farmers or resided in areas known for apple cultivation. Another possibility is that the name is a variation of the German word "oppen," meaning "open" or "uncovered," potentially referring to a geographic feature or a descriptive name for a person or place.

The earliest known record of the surname Oppel dates back to the 13th century. In 1268, a document from the town of Merseburg mentions a certain Conradus Oppel, who may have been a landowner or a prominent figure in the community. This document is now preserved in the archives of the city of Merseburg.

During the 14th century, the name Oppel appeared in various records across German-speaking regions. In 1342, a Johannes Oppel was mentioned in the records of the town of Erfurt, which was an important trading center and a hub of religious and cultural activity during the Middle Ages.

One notable figure with the surname Oppel was Johann Philipp Oppel (1678-1736), a German theologian and professor of theology at the University of Jena. He authored several works on religious subjects and was widely respected in academic circles during his lifetime.

Another individual of historical significance was Carl Oppel (1831-1880), a German paleontologist and geologist. He made significant contributions to the study of fossil reptiles and is known for his work on the stratigraphy of the Jurassic period. Carl Oppel's research and publications had a lasting impact on the field of paleontology.

In the 19th century, the surname Oppel was also associated with the arts. Friedrich Wilhelm Oppel (1828-1900) was a German painter and engraver who specialized in portraiture and landscape painting. His works were exhibited in various galleries and museums throughout Germany.

Johann Philipp Oppel (1768-1834), a German author and translator, is also noteworthy. He is best known for his translations of works by English writers such as William Shakespeare and Sir Walter Scott into German.

It is worth mentioning that the surname Oppel has also been found in various spellings throughout history, such as Oppell, Opel, and Oepel. These variations may have emerged due to regional differences in pronunciation or transcription practices.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Oppel

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

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

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

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