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

Riegel, 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 Riegel surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Riegel in America

Riegel is the 8345th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Riegel surname appeared 3,967 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Riegel.

We can also compare 2010 data for Riegel 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 Riegel

The surname Riegel has its origins in Germany, where it first emerged during the medieval period. The name is derived from the German word "Riegel," which means "bolt" or "bar," referring to a bar or latch used to secure doors or gates. This suggests that the name might have originally been an occupational surname, given to those who worked as locksmiths or those responsible for securing fortifications.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Riegel surname can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus Brandenburgensis, a collection of historical documents from the 13th century, where a person named Henricus Riegel is mentioned in relation to a land transaction in the town of Spandau near Berlin.

In the 14th century, the Riegel surname appears in various records from the region of Saxony, particularly in the city of Leipzig. Notable individuals from this period include Johannes Riegel, a merchant who is mentioned in the city's tax records from 1382.

During the Renaissance period, the Riegel name gained prominence in the German states. In the 16th century, Caspar Riegel (1540-1617) was a renowned mathematician and astronomer who served as a professor at the University of Tübingen.

The Thirty Years' War (1618-1648) saw the Riegel family spread across different parts of Europe. One notable figure from this time was Hans Riegel (1602-1672), a military officer who fought for the Protestant cause during the conflict.

In the 18th century, the Riegel surname was well-established in various regions of Germany, with several notable individuals bearing the name. Johann Riegel (1705-1785) was a prominent theologian and philosopher who taught at the University of Halle, while Johann Philipp Riegel (1748-1818) was a celebrated architect who designed numerous buildings in the city of Frankfurt.

As the Industrial Revolution took hold in the 19th century, the Riegel family played a role in the development of various industries. August Riegel (1829-1901) was a successful industrialist who founded the Riegel Paper Mills in Essen, which became one of the largest paper manufacturers in Germany.

Overall, the Riegel surname has a rich history that can be traced back to medieval Germany, with connections to various occupations, professions, and regions throughout the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Riegel

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

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

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

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