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

Shpigel, 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 Shpigel surname is from the 2000 census data.

Popularity of Shpigel in America

Shpigel is the 143847th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Shpigel surname appeared 106 times in the 2000 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Shpigel.

The history of the last name Shpigel

The surname Shpigel has its origins in Eastern Europe, most notably among the Jewish communities in parts of what are now Poland, Ukraine, and Lithuania. The name likely emerged during the late Middle Ages, around the 15th to 16th centuries. It is derived from the Yiddish word "shpigel," which means "mirror," and this in turn comes from the Middle High German word "spiegel."

Historically, surnames like Shpigel were adopted by Ashkenazi Jews during a period when family names were becoming mandatory due to various governmental edicts. These names often reflected professions, physical characteristics, or objects familiar to daily life, and Shpigel may have been associated with someone who worked as a mirror maker or seller, or it could have been metaphorical, referring to someone who was considered reflective or insightful.

One of the earliest records of the surname can be found in Jewish community registers from the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in the 18th century. These documents, often maintained by synagogue officials, detail familial and social ties within the Jewish communities, though earlier, less formal references might exist in regional manuscripts or local tax records, which have largely been lost to time.

Among the notable individuals with the surname Shpigel is Jacob Shpigel, a respected rabbi in the town of Vilnius, born in 1765 and died in 1830. His teachings and community leadership left a considerable impact on Jewish thought in the region. Another prominent figure is Sarah Shpigel, born in 1810, who was known for her contributions to Jewish literature in Poland and her involvement in the Haskalah (Jewish Enlightenment) movement until her death in 1880.

Moving further into the 19th century, David Shpigel (1824-1899) made a name for himself as a skilled craftsman and entrepreneur in mirror manufacturing in what is now Ukraine. His business not only supplied local demand but also extended to neighboring regions, bringing some prominence to the name.

In America, Solomon Shpigel is a notable immigrant, born in 1875 and emigrating in the early 1900s. His work as a community organizer and philanthropist was instrumental in helping Jewish immigrants settle in New York City during the early 20th century, until his death in 1945.

Last but not least, Isaac Shpigel, born in 1882, was a well-known figure in the Zionist movement in Eastern Europe and later in Palestine. His advocacy for Jewish immigration and settlement in what would become Israel made significant strides before his death in 1952.

The Shpigel name, with its roots in a term as universal and evocative as "mirror," encapsulates a rich tapestry of familial history and cultural significance, reflecting the diverse paths and contributions of its bearers over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Shpigel

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

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 2000 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Shpigel 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.

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

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

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