2000
#134,037
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 116
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Uzel
A surname derived from a Turkish word meaning "knot" or "cord."
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 128 Americans carry the last name Uzel. That puts it at #147,954 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,677,768 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Uzel surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, 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
128
1 in 2,677,768
Census rank
#147,954
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
112
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 112 bearers of the surname Uzel in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 147954th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Uzel, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.9%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.6%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (1.8%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Uzel
The surname UZEL originated in the Czech Republic, tracing its roots back to the early 15th century. It is believed to have derived from the Czech word "uzel," meaning "knot" or "bundle," possibly referring to an occupation or a physical characteristic of the family's earliest bearers.
The name UZEL first appeared in historical records from the town of Uherské Hradiště, located in the Moravian region of the Czech Republic. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name was found in a municipal document from 1427, where a certain Jan Uzel was mentioned as a resident of the town.
During the 16th century, the UZEL surname gained prominence in the nearby village of Velká nad Veličkou, where several members of the family were listed as landowners and respected citizens. Notable individuals from this period include Matěj Uzel (1535-1612), a prominent farmer known for his innovative agricultural practices.
As the UZEL family spread throughout the region, the name appeared in various historical documents, including church registers and land records. In the 17th century, a branch of the family settled in the town of Zlín, where they played a significant role in the local community. One of the most notable figures from this era was Tomáš Uzel (1648-1721), a respected magistrate and landowner.
The 18th century saw the UZEL name continue to gain recognition, particularly in the field of education. Jan Uzel (1712-1785), a renowned teacher and scholar, authored several influential works on pedagogy and contributed significantly to the development of educational systems in the Czech lands.
In the 19th century, the UZEL family produced several notable figures, including Karel Uzel (1824-1899), a prominent botanist and naturalist who made significant contributions to the study of Czech flora. Another notable individual was Marie Uzel (1856-1932), a pioneering feminist and activist who fought for women's rights and social reforms.
Throughout its history, the UZEL surname has been associated with various professions, including agriculture, education, law, and science. While the name has maintained its presence in the Czech Republic, it has also been carried by individuals who have emigrated to other parts of the world, contributing to the rich tapestry of cultural diversity.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Uzel
Among Census respondents with the surname Uzel, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.9%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.6%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (1.8%).
The bar chart below shows how Uzel bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 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.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
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 Uzel surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White92.9% · 104
- Hispanic or Latino3.6% · 4
- Asian and Pacific Islander1.8% · 2
- Black or African American0.9% · 1
- Two or more races0.9% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Uzel
Uzel appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#137,327
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 122
+6 bearers (+5.2%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 3,290 places
2020
#147,954
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 112
-10 bearers (-8.2%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 10,627 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #134,037 | 116 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #137,327 | 122 | 0.04 | +6 bearers (+5.2%) | Down 3,290 places |
| 2020 | #147,954 | 112 | 0.04 | -10 bearers (-8.2%) | Down 10,627 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Uzel surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #137,327 | #147,954 | -7.7% |
| Count | 122 | 112 | -8.2% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | -6.3% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Uzel bearers went from 122 to 112 (-8.2% change). The surname moved down 10,627 positions in the national ranking, going from #137,327 to #147,954.
FAQ
Uzel surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Uzel?
Name Census estimates that about 128 living Americans carry the surname Uzel. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,677,768 residents.
How common is Uzel?
Uzel ranks #147,954 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 112 people with the surname Uzel. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (128), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.04 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.04 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Uzel.
Has Uzel become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Uzel went from 122 recorded bearers to 112. That is a decrease of 10 (-8.2%). In the national ranking it fell from #137,327 to #147,954.
What does the Census say about the background of Uzel?
Among Census respondents with the surname Uzel, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.9%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.6%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (1.8%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Uzel in the 2020 Census, accounting for 92.9% (104 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Uzel appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (92.9%), Hispanic (3.6%), Asian/Pacific Islander (1.8%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Uzel (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Uzel mean?
A surname derived from a Turkish word meaning "knot" or "cord." The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Uzel (0.04 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people share the surname Uzel?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.