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

Schell, 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 Schell surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Schell in America

Schell is the 2773rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Schell surname appeared 13,016 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 4 people would have the surname Schell.

We can also compare 2010 data for Schell 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 Schell

The surname SCHELL has its origins in Germany, and is believed to have emerged during the Middle Ages, around the 12th or 13th century. It is likely derived from the Old High German word "schel," which means "bright" or "shining," and may have initially been used as a descriptive nickname for someone with a fair complexion or bright hair.

The name SCHELL was particularly prevalent in the regions of Bavaria and Saxony, where it is recorded in various historical documents and parish records from the 13th century onward. One of the earliest known references to the name is found in the Codex Diplomaticus Saxoniae, a collection of medieval charters and documents from Saxony, where a "Heinricus Schel" is mentioned in a record from 1285.

In the 14th century, the name appears in various forms, including "Schelle," "Schel," and "Schell," reflecting the regional variations in spelling and pronunciation. One notable bearer of the name during this period was Johann Schell, a prominent merchant and alderman in the city of Nuremberg, who lived from around 1350 to 1420.

The SCHELL surname is also associated with several place names in Germany, such as Schellenberg and Schellenburg, which may have influenced the spelling and spread of the name in certain regions. In some cases, the name may have originated as a reference to a person's place of origin or residence, rather than as a descriptive nickname.

Among the notable historical figures with the surname SCHELL are:

1. Johann Schell (1589-1657), a German composer and organist who served as the Kapellmeister at the court of Saxony.
2. Maximilian von Schell (1720-1792), a Bavarian nobleman and military officer who served as a field marshal in the Imperial Austrian Army.
3. August Wilhelm von Schell (1776-1847), a Prussian statesman and diplomat who served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1842 to 1845.
4. Paul Schell (1835-1919), a German-American architect and engineer who designed several notable buildings in Chicago, including the Auditorium Building and the Chicago Stock Exchange.
5. Inge Schell (1911-1994), a German actress and singer who appeared in numerous films and stage productions during the 1930s and 1940s.

These examples illustrate the long and diverse history of the SCHELL surname, which has been borne by individuals from various walks of life, including artists, military leaders, statesmen, and professionals.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Schell

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

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

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

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