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

Papel, 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 Papel surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Papel in America

Papel is the 127494th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Papel surname appeared 134 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 Papel.

The history of the last name Papel

The surname "PAPEL" is believed to have originated in Spain during the medieval period, likely derived from the Spanish word "papel," which means "paper." This name may have been given to an individual or family associated with the paper-making trade or industry.

The earliest known record of the surname "PAPEL" can be found in the Spanish town of Alcalá de Henares, where a document from the 15th century mentions a certain Juan Papel, a papermaker by profession. This suggests that the name was already established and associated with the paper industry in that region during that time.

In the 16th century, the name appears in various parts of Spain, including Madrid and Seville, indicating its spread across the country. One notable figure from this period was Rodrigo Papel (1510-1580), a renowned calligrapher and artist who created intricate illuminated manuscripts for the Spanish nobility.

As Spain expanded its influence through exploration and colonization, the surname "PAPEL" also found its way to the Americas. In the 17th century, records show a Pedro Papel (1620-1685) among the early Spanish settlers in what is now Mexico City, where he established a successful paper mill.

Another prominent individual with the surname "PAPEL" was María Papel (1745-1812), a renowned scholar and educator from Córdoba, Spain. She was known for her contributions to the field of linguistics and her efforts to promote education for women during the Enlightenment era.

In the 19th century, the name appears in various parts of the Spanish-speaking world, including Cuba, where a notable figure was General Juan Papel (1825-1895), a military leader who played a significant role in the Cuban War of Independence against Spanish colonial rule.

While the surname "PAPEL" is primarily associated with Spain and its former colonies, it has also spread to other parts of the world through migration and intermarriage. However, its origins can be traced back to the medieval period in Spain, where it was closely tied to the paper-making industry and the skilled artisans who worked in that trade.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Papel

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

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

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

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