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

Pagel, 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 Pagel surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Pagel in America

Pagel is the 6697th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Pagel surname appeared 5,043 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Pagel.

We can also compare 2010 data for Pagel 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 Pagel

The surname Pagel is believed to have originated in Germany, with roots dating back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old High German word "bach," meaning "stream" or "brook," suggesting a connection to a geographical location or feature.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus Anhaltinus, a collection of historical documents from the 12th century. The name appears as "Pagel" in reference to a landowner or resident near a small stream or brook.

In the 14th century, the name Pagel was recorded in various German chronicles and records, indicating its presence in areas such as Saxony, Thuringia, and Brandenburg. Some notable individuals bearing this surname include Johannes Pagel (1445-1512), a German theologian and reformer, and Hans Pagel (1501-1576), a prominent merchant and council member in the city of Nuremberg.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Pagel name gained recognition through several notable figures. Peter Pagel (1576-1638) was a German composer and organist, renowned for his contributions to sacred music. Christoph Pagel (1611-1671) was a respected jurist and legal scholar, serving as a professor at the University of Leipzig.

In the 18th century, the name Pagel was associated with place names such as Pagelsdorf (now part of the town of Wittingen in Lower Saxony) and Pagelsbach (a small stream in the Thuringian Forest region). Johann Friedrich Pagel (1720-1792) was a notable German philosopher and educator who authored several works on ethics and education.

Another prominent figure with the surname Pagel was Carl Friedrich Pagel (1786-1859), a German physician and naturalist. He made significant contributions to the study of botany and zoology, and his extensive collections are housed in various museums across Germany.

Throughout history, the surname Pagel has been associated with various professions, including academics, artists, and tradesmen. While its origins can be traced back to Germany, the name has spread to other parts of Europe and beyond, carried by individuals who have left their mark in various fields.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Pagel

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

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

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

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