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

Rabel, 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 Rabel surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Rabel in America

Rabel is the 28158th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Rabel surname appeared 850 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 Rabel.

We can also compare 2010 data for Rabel 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 Rabel

The surname Rabel has its origins in Germany, with records dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to be derived from the German word "rabe," which means "raven" or "crow." This could indicate that the name was originally a nickname given to someone with dark hair or a swarthy complexion, or perhaps someone who resided in an area known for these birds.

One of the earliest known references to the Rabel surname can be found in the records of the town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber in Bavaria, where a certain Hainrich Rabel was mentioned in 1287. Another early record comes from the city of Nuremberg, where a Kunigund Rabel was listed in a document from 1312.

In the 15th century, the name appeared in various parts of Germany, including the regions of Saxony and Silesia. One notable bearer of the name was Hans Rabel, a wealthy merchant from Freiburg who lived from 1425 to 1498. He was known for his extensive trade networks and his philanthropic efforts in supporting the construction of churches and hospitals.

As the centuries passed, the Rabel name spread across Europe, with variations in spelling emerging in different regions. In the Netherlands, for instance, the name was sometimes written as Rabell or Rabelle, while in France it appeared as Rabel or Rabelle.

One of the most famous bearers of the Rabel surname was the German painter and engraver Johann Rabel (1515-1592), who was born in Nuremberg and is known for his intricate woodcuts and engravings depicting biblical scenes and allegorical subjects.

Another notable figure was Friedrich Rabel (1684-1757), a German jurist and legal scholar from Leipzig who made significant contributions to the study of civil law and international private law. His treatises on these subjects were widely influential in Europe during the 18th century.

In the 19th century, the Rabel surname was also found in the United States, with immigrants from Germany and other parts of Europe bringing the name to the New World. One such individual was Johann Rabel (1821-1897), a German-born farmer who settled in Pennsylvania and became a prominent figure in the local agricultural community.

Throughout its long history, the Rabel surname has been borne by individuals from various walks of life, including artists, scholars, merchants, and farmers. While its exact origins may be shrouded in the mists of time, the name remains a testament to the rich cultural diversity and heritage of Germany and the broader European continent.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Rabel

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

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

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

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