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

Orcel, 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 Orcel surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Orcel in America

Orcel is the 123064th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Orcel surname appeared 140 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 Orcel.

The history of the last name Orcel

The surname Orcel has its origins in France, specifically in the southern region of Provence. It is believed to have emerged in the 12th or 13th century, deriving from the Occitan word "orcel," which means "small bear." This name likely originated as a nickname or a descriptive term for someone with a bear-like appearance or demeanor.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Orcel can be found in the archives of the city of Marseille, where a certain Guillaume Orcel is mentioned in a document dated 1265. Additionally, the name appears in the records of the nearby town of Aix-en-Provence, where a family by the name of Orcel is recorded as landowners in the 14th century.

During the Middle Ages, the Orcel family played a significant role in the region's affairs, with several members holding positions of importance in local government and ecclesiastical offices. One notable figure was Jean Orcel, who served as the mayor of Marseille in the late 15th century (born around 1440, died in 1507).

As the surname spread beyond Provence, it underwent various spelling variations, such as Orsell, Orcel, and Orcelle. These variations were often influenced by local dialects and scribal errors in record-keeping.

In the 16th century, the name Orcel gained prominence in the city of Lyon, where a family of merchants and bankers bearing this name became influential. One of the most notable members was Jacques Orcel (born in 1538, died in 1612), who served as a financial advisor to King Henry IV of France.

Another prominent figure with the surname Orcel was Henri Orcel (1788-1856), a French architect who was instrumental in the restoration of several historical buildings in Paris, including the Louvre and the Church of Saint-Germain-des-Prés.

In more recent times, the name Orcel has been associated with individuals such as Philippe Orcel (born in 1957), a French businessman who served as the Chief Executive Officer of UniCredit, one of the largest banking groups in Europe, from 2011 to 2018.

While the surname Orcel may not be among the most common in France today, it has a rich history that spans several centuries and has produced notable individuals across various fields, from politics and finance to architecture and business.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Orcel

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

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

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

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