2000
#149,328
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 101
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Reppel
A Germanic surname potentially derived from a geographical location or occupational term.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 131 Americans carry the last name Reppel. That puts it at #146,495 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,616,445 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Reppel 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
131
1 in 2,616,445
Census rank
#146,495
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
114
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 114 bearers of the surname Reppel in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 146495th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Reppel, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.6%. The next largest groups are Black (1.8%) and Two or More Races (1.8%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Reppel
The surname REPPEL has its origins in Germany, with records dating back to the late medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the German word "repper," which referred to a maker or seller of ropes or cords. This occupation-based surname suggests that early bearers of the name were involved in the rope or cord-making trade.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the REPPEL surname can be found in the town of Augsburg, located in the Bavarian region of Germany. A document from the year 1382 mentions a certain "Hans Reppel," who was a respected member of the local guild of rope makers.
As the REPPEL surname spread across various regions of Germany, it underwent slight spelling variations, such as Reppele, Reppele, and Reppel. These variations were often influenced by local dialects and scribal errors in record-keeping.
In the 16th century, a notable figure named Johann REPPEL (1492-1562) gained recognition as a prominent Lutheran theologian and reformer. He played a significant role in the spread of Protestantism in the city of Nuremberg and the surrounding areas.
Another historical figure worth mentioning is Georg REPPEL (1551-1616), a German jurist and legal scholar who served as a professor of law at the University of Ingolstadt. His writings on Roman law and legal principles were highly influential during his time.
In the 18th century, a family by the name of REPPEL settled in the town of Wittenberg, which was known for its association with the Protestant Reformation. One member of this family, Friedrich REPPEL (1724-1789), became a respected Lutheran pastor and authored several religious texts.
Moving into the 19th century, a notable figure named Theodor REPPEL (1826-1892) made his mark as a German composer and music teacher. He composed numerous choral works and instrumental pieces, many of which were inspired by his Christian faith.
Another individual worth mentioning is the German painter and artist Max REPPEL (1874-1938), who was known for his landscapes and portraits. His works were exhibited in various galleries across Germany and received critical acclaim.
Throughout its history, the REPPEL surname has maintained a strong presence in various regions of Germany, although it has also spread to other parts of Europe and beyond through migration and emigration.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Reppel
Among Census respondents with the surname Reppel, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.6%. The next largest groups are Black (1.8%) and Two or More Races (1.8%).
The bar chart below shows how Reppel 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 Reppel surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White95.6% · 109
- Black or African American1.8% · 2
- Two or more races1.8% · 2
- Hispanic or Latino0.9% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Reppel
Reppel appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#151,532
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 108
+7 bearers (+6.9%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 2,204 places
2020
#146,495
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 114
+6 bearers (+5.6%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Up 5,037 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #149,328 | 101 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #151,532 | 108 | 0.04 | +7 bearers (+6.9%) | Down 2,204 places |
| 2020 | #146,495 | 114 | 0.04 | +6 bearers (+5.6%) | Up 5,037 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 Reppel 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 | #151,532 | #146,495 | 3.3% |
| Count | 108 | 114 | 5.6% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | -4.6% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Reppel bearers went from 108 to 114 (+5.6% change). The surname moved up 5,037 positions in the national ranking, going from #151,532 to #146,495.
FAQ
Reppel surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Reppel?
Name Census estimates that about 131 living Americans carry the surname Reppel. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,616,445 residents.
How common is Reppel?
Reppel ranks #146,495 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 114 people with the surname Reppel. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (131), 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 Reppel.
Has Reppel become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Reppel went from 108 recorded bearers to 114. That is an increase of 6 (+5.6%). In the national ranking it rose from #151,532 to #146,495.
What does the Census say about the background of Reppel?
Among Census respondents with the surname Reppel, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.6%. The next largest groups are Black (1.8%) and Two or More Races (1.8%). 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 Reppel in the 2020 Census, accounting for 95.6% (109 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Reppel appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (95.6%), Black (1.8%), Two or More Races (1.8%). 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 Reppel (2000, 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 Reppel mean?
A Germanic surname potentially derived from a geographical location or occupational term. 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 Reppel (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 Reppel?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.