Find out how popular the last name Sperl is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Sperl.
A topographic surname derived from a Middle High German word meaning swamp or marsh.
Sperl, 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 Sperl surname is from the 2010 census data.
Sperl is the 30946th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.
The Sperl surname appeared 751 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 Sperl.
We can also compare 2010 data for Sperl 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.
| 2010 | 2000 | Change (%) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | 30946 | 28974 | 6.58% |
| Count | 751 | 772 | -2.76% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.25 | 0.29 | -14.81% |
The surname SPERL is believed to have originated in Germany, with records indicating its presence dating back to the 16th century. It is thought to have derived from the Middle High German word "sperren," which means "to block" or "to bar." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to an occupation or a physical trait related to this meaning.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name SPERL can be found in the town of Bamberg, located in the northern Bavaria region of Germany. A document from 1587 mentions a certain Johannes SPERL, who was a local merchant and landowner. Around the same time period, there are also records of the SPERL surname appearing in the nearby cities of Nuremberg and Würzburg.
In the 17th century, the name SPERL started to spread to other regions of Germany, as well as neighboring countries like Austria and Switzerland. This was likely due to migration and the establishment of new trade routes and settlements. For example, a family by the name of SPERL is documented as having settled in the town of Bregenz, Austria, in the late 1600s.
One notable individual with the surname SPERL was Johann Georg SPERL (1670-1738), a German composer and organist who served at the court of the Prince-Bishop of Bamberg. His works, which included numerous sacred compositions and organ pieces, were widely performed and acclaimed during his lifetime.
Another significant figure was Theodor SPERL (1820-1895), a German architect and urban planner who was responsible for the design of several iconic buildings and public spaces in the city of Munich. His most famous work is the Alte Pinakothek, a renowned art museum that houses one of the world's most important collections of European paintings.
In the 19th century, the SPERL name also found its way to the United States, likely through German immigration. One example is that of Johann SPERL (1827-1903), a Bavarian immigrant who settled in New York City and became a successful businessman and community leader.
Throughout its history, the surname SPERL has been associated with various professions and social classes, from merchants and artisans to academics and professionals. While its origins may have been humble, the name has earned a place in the annals of German and European history through the contributions and achievements of its bearers.
We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Sperl.
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:
For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Sperl was:
| Race/Ethnicity | Percentage | Total Occurrences |
|---|---|---|
| Non-Hispanic White Only | 97.20% | 730 |
| Non-Hispanic Black Only | (S)% | (S) |
| Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only | (S)% | (S) |
| Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native | (S)% | (S) |
| Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races | 0.93% | 7 |
| Hispanic Origin | 0.80% | 6 |
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 Sperl has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.
| 2010 | 2000 | Change (%) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 97.20% | 96.76% | 0.45% |
| Black | (S)% | (S)% | (S)% |
| Asian and Pacific Islander | (S)% | (S)% | (S)% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | (S)% | (S)% | (S)% |
| Two or More Races | 0.93% | 1.30% | -33.18% |
| Hispanic | 0.80% | 1.04% | -26.09% |
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 Sperl was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.
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