2010
#144,141
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 115
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Plessel
A topographic surname possibly derived from a German place name related to flat or level land.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 135 Americans carry the last name Plessel. That puts it at #143,511 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,538,921 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Plessel surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, 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
135
1 in 2,538,921
Census rank
#143,511
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
118
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 118 bearers of the surname Plessel in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 143511th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Plessel, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.8%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (4.2%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Plessel
The surname PLESSEL is of German origin, with its roots tracing back to the 15th century. It is believed to have originated in the region of Bavaria, derived from the Old German word "plessel," which referred to a small plot of land or a clearing in a forest.
The earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in various local records and documents from towns and villages in southern Germany. One notable mention is in the Weissenborn parish registers from the year 1482, where a certain Hanns Plessel is listed as a resident.
Throughout the centuries, the name has undergone minor spelling variations, such as Pleßel, Plessell, and Pleszel, which were common in different areas of Germany. These variations often reflected regional dialects and scribal preferences.
In the 16th century, the name appears in the chronicles of the city of Nuremberg, where a family of artisans bearing the surname Plessel is mentioned. One prominent member was Hans Plessel (1520-1592), a skilled woodcarver and furniture maker known for his intricate designs and craftsmanship.
The 17th century saw the rise of Johann Michael Plessel (1639-1707), a renowned theologian and philosopher who served as a professor at the University of Jena. His influential works on ethics and moral philosophy earned him widespread recognition among scholars of his time.
In the 19th century, the name gained further prominence with Karl Plessel (1823-1892), a German explorer and naturalist. He embarked on several expeditions to South America, contributing significant findings to the fields of botany and zoology. His detailed accounts and collections of specimens were highly valued by the scientific community.
Another notable figure was Emilie Plessel (1866-1941), a pioneering educator and advocate for women's rights. She founded several schools and educational institutions in Berlin, dedicated to providing quality education for girls and promoting gender equality in academia.
The 20th century saw the emergence of Heinrich Plessel (1901-1978), a renowned architect who played a significant role in the reconstruction efforts after World War II. His innovative designs and urban planning initiatives helped shape the modern landscape of many German cities, including Berlin and Frankfurt.
While the surname PLESSEL may have originated from humble beginnings, it has left an indelible mark on various fields throughout history, from craftsmanship and academia to exploration and architecture. Its enduring presence serves as a testament to the diverse contributions made by individuals bearing this name.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Plessel
Among Census respondents with the surname Plessel, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.8%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (4.2%).
The bar chart below shows how Plessel bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 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.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
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 Plessel surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White95.8% · 113
- Hispanic or Latino4.2% · 5
Timeline
Historical Census data for Plessel
Plessel appears in 2 published Census surname files: 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2020
#143,511
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 118
+3 bearers (+2.6%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Up 630 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | #144,141 | 115 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2020 | #143,511 | 118 | 0.04 | +3 bearers (+2.6%) | Up 630 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Plessel surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #144,141 | #143,511 | 0.4% |
| Count | 115 | 118 | 2.6% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | -1.3% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Plessel bearers went from 115 to 118 (+2.6% change). The surname moved up 630 positions in the national ranking, going from #144,141 to #143,511.
FAQ
Plessel surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Plessel?
Name Census estimates that about 135 living Americans carry the surname Plessel. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,538,921 residents.
How common is Plessel?
Plessel ranks #143,511 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 118 people with the surname Plessel. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (135), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.04 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.04 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Plessel.
Has Plessel become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Plessel went from 115 recorded bearers to 118. That is an increase of 3 (+2.6%). In the national ranking it rose from #144,141 to #143,511.
What does the Census say about the background of Plessel?
Among Census respondents with the surname Plessel, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.8%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (4.2%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Plessel in the 2020 Census, accounting for 95.8% (113 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Plessel appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (95.8%), Hispanic (4.2%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Plessel (2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Plessel mean?
A topographic surname possibly derived from a German place name related to flat or level land. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Plessel (0.04 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many Americans have the surname Plessel?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.