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

Orzel, 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 Orzel surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Orzel in America

Orzel is the 30538th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Orzel surname appeared 764 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 Orzel.

We can also compare 2010 data for Orzel 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 Orzel

The surname Orzel is of Polish origin, derived from the Polish word "orzeł" meaning "eagle." The name likely originated in the Middle Ages, when it was common for surnames to be derived from animals, occupations, or physical characteristics.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Orzel can be found in historical documents and records from various regions of Poland, particularly in areas such as Krakow, Wielkopolska, and Silesia. These records date back to the 14th and 15th centuries, when surnames were becoming more prevalent among the general population.

One notable early reference to the name Orzel is found in the "Akta Grodzkie i Ziemskie" (Records of the Castles and Lands), a collection of legal documents from the 16th and 17th centuries. These records mention several individuals with the surname Orzel, suggesting that the name was well-established by that time.

The name Orzel has also been associated with various place names throughout Poland, such as the village of Orzełek in the Podlaskie Voivodeship, and the town of Orzelec in the Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship. These place names may have influenced the development of the surname or vice versa.

Among the notable historical figures who bore the surname Orzel are:

1. Jan Orzel (c. 1510-1568), a Polish nobleman and military commander who fought in the Livonian War against Russia.
2. Stanisław Orzel (1593-1668), a Polish Catholic priest and theologian who served as the Rector of the Jagiellonian University in Krakow.
3. Wojciech Orzel (1677-1737), a Polish painter and engraver known for his religious works and portraits.
4. Michał Orzel (1788-1855), a Polish writer and translator who contributed to the development of the Polish language during the Enlightenment period.
5. Karolina Orzel (1846-1916), a Polish educator and activist who advocated for women's rights and education in the late 19th century.

The surname Orzel has a rich history and has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including nobility, clergy, artists, and intellectuals. Its connection to the symbolic eagle in Polish culture and history adds to its significance and enduring presence in the country's onomastic heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Orzel

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

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

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

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