Spiegel
A German and Jewish occupational surname referring to a maker of mirrors or a person who polishes metal.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 7,369 Americans carry the last name Spiegel. That puts it at #5,488 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 2.15 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 46,513 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Spiegel surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, 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
7.4K
1 in 46,513
Census rank
#5,488
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
2.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
6.3K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 6,338 bearers of the surname Spiegel in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 2.15 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 5488th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Spiegel, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.4%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.0%) and Two or More Races (1.6%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Spiegel
The surname Spiegel is of German origin, derived from the Middle High German word "spiegel," meaning "mirror." The name first emerged in the late 13th century and was likely an occupational name for a mirror maker or seller.
The earliest recorded instances of the surname Spiegel can be found in various German records from the 14th and 15th centuries. For example, the name appears in the Bürgeraufnahmebuch (Citizen Registration Book) of the city of Augsburg in 1388, with the entry "Hans Spiegel."
Over time, the surname Spiegel spread beyond its initial regions of origin, such as Bavaria and Saxony, and became more widespread across German-speaking areas. Variations of the spelling included Spiegell, Spigel, and Speegel.
Historically, the Spiegel surname has been associated with several notable individuals. One of the earliest was Frau Spiegel, a 15th-century German mystic and author who wrote about her spiritual experiences. Another was Jakob Spiegel, a 16th-century German theologian and philosopher who published works on ethics and moral philosophy (c. 1483-1547).
In the 17th century, Adriaen van de Spiegel (1578-1625) was a Dutch poet and playwright known for his works in the Renaissance tradition. Gottlieb Spiegel (1719-1783) was a German mathematician and astronomer who made significant contributions to the study of comets and planetary orbits.
Moving into the 19th century, Carl Spiegel (1868-1953) was a German-born American businessman who founded the Spiegel catalog company, a pioneering mail-order business that became a household name in the United States.
Throughout its history, the Spiegel surname has maintained its association with various professions, including mirror makers, glassworkers, and merchants, as well as scholars, writers, and artists. While its origins can be traced back to medieval Germany, the name has since spread globally, carried by generations of individuals with diverse backgrounds and accomplishments.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Spiegel
Among Census respondents with the surname Spiegel, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.4%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.0%) and Two or More Races (1.6%).
The bar chart below shows how Spiegel bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 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.
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 Spiegel surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White95.4%
- Hispanic or Latino2.0%
- Two or more races1.6%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.4%
- Black or African American0.4%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.2%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Spiegel surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #5,123 | #5,488 | -7.1% |
| Count | 6,285 | 6,338 | 0.8% |
| Per 100K | 2.33 | 2.15 | -7.7% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Spiegel bearers went from 6,285 to 6,338 (+0.8% change). The surname moved down 365 positions in the national ranking, going from #5,123 to #5,488.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Spiegel
FAQ
Spiegel surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Spiegel?
The surname Spiegel holds position #5,488 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 7,369 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 2.15 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Spiegel surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Spiegel, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.4%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.0%) and Two or More Races (1.6%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.