Pichel
A surname derived from the German word 'pichel', meaning a small jug or pitcher.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 171 Americans carry the last name Pichel. That puts it at #125,282 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.05 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,004,411 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Pichel surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
171
1 in 2,004,411
Census rank
#125,282
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
137
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 137 bearers of the surname Pichel in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.05 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 125282nd position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Pichel, the largest self-reported group is White at 61.3%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (38.0%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Pichel
The surname PICHEL originated in Germany, with its earliest records dating back to the 13th century. It is derived from the Middle High German word "pichel," which referred to a small wooden barrel or container used for carrying liquids. This suggests that the name may have been initially associated with a person involved in the production or transportation of such containers.
During the medieval period, the name PICHEL appeared in various historical documents, including regional tax rolls and city censuses. One of the earliest recorded instances can be found in the Würzburg Manuscript of 1287, where a certain Konrad Pichel is mentioned as a resident of the city.
As surnames became more widespread in the 14th and 15th centuries, the name PICHEL began to appear in various parts of Germany, particularly in the regions of Bavaria, Saxony, and Thuringia. In the Stadtbuch (city book) of Erfurt from 1391, a Hans Pichel is listed among the town's residents.
The name PICHEL is also linked to several place names across Germany, such as Pichelsdorf (now part of Cologne) and Pichelberg (a hill near Würzburg). These toponyms suggest that the name may have originated from a specific location or settlement.
Notable individuals bearing the surname PICHEL include:
1. Johann Pichel (c. 1445-1507), a German Renaissance sculptor and woodcarver from Nuremberg.
2. Andreas Pichel (1508-1573), a German Protestant theologian and reformer from Saxony.
3. Caspar Pichel (1570-1634), a German jurist and legal scholar from Erfurt.
4. Christoph Pichel (1602-1677), a German composer and organist from Thuringia.
5. Johanna Pichel (1727-1803), a German textile artist and embroiderer from Bavaria.
Over the centuries, the spelling of the name has undergone various modifications, including Pichell, Pichelle, and Pichelmann. However, the core form of PICHEL has remained largely intact, reflecting its deep-rooted Germanic origins and historical significance.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Pichel
Among Census respondents with the surname Pichel, the largest self-reported group is White at 61.3%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (38.0%).
The bar chart below shows how Pichel bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Pichel surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White61.3%
- Hispanic or Latino38.0%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Pichel surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #125,282 | #125,282 | 0.0% |
| Count | 137 | 137 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.05 | 0.05 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Pichel bearers went from 137 to 137 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #125,282 to #125,282.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Pichel
FAQ
Pichel surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Pichel?
The surname Pichel holds position #125,282 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 171 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.05 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Pichel surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Pichel, the largest self-reported group is White at 61.3%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (38.0%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.