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

Theel, 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 Theel surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Theel in America

Theel is the 30538th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Theel surname appeared 764 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 Theel.

We can also compare 2010 data for Theel 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 Theel

The surname Theel has its origins in Germany, with records indicating that it first appeared in the region of Bavaria as early as the 12th century. The name is believed to be derived from the Old German word "Thiel," which means "tiller of the soil" or "farmer."

In its early form, the name was often spelled as "Thiel" or "Thyll." However, over time, the spelling evolved to "Theel" due to local dialect variations and the influence of other languages. The earliest known record of the name appears in the Codex Diplomaticus Saxoniae, a collection of medieval documents from Saxony, dated around 1180.

One notable historical figure with the surname Theel was Johannes Theel, a German theologian and reformer who lived in the 16th century (c. 1490-1560). He was a prominent figure during the Protestant Reformation and played a role in the spread of Lutheran teachings in parts of Germany.

Another individual of note was Friedrich Theel, a German architect who lived in the 19th century (1811-1889). He was responsible for designing several important buildings in Berlin, including the iconic Reichstag building, the seat of the German parliament.

In the 18th century, a family by the name of Theel settled in the town of Wörlitz, in the region of Saxony-Anhalt. One member of this family, Hans Theel (1720-1785), was a well-known clockmaker and achieved recognition for his intricate and beautifully crafted timepieces.

The name Theel also has ties to the region of Alsace, which was historically contested between France and Germany. In the 16th century, a man named Peter Theel (c. 1520-1580) was a prominent winemaker and landowner in the town of Riquewihr, known for its vineyards and medieval architecture.

Another notable figure with the surname Theel was Magdalena Theel (c. 1650-1720), a German midwife and herbalist who gained fame for her knowledge of traditional remedies and her skill in assisting with childbirth in the region of Swabia.

While the surname Theel is not as common as some other German names, it has a rich history and can be traced back to its agricultural roots in medieval Bavaria. Over the centuries, individuals with this name have made their mark in various fields, from theology and architecture to craftsmanship and medicine.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Theel

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

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

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

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