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

Weigel, 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 Weigel surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Weigel in America

Weigel is the 5187th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Weigel surname appeared 6,740 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Weigel.

We can also compare 2010 data for Weigel 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 Weigel

The surname Weigel is of German origin and can be traced back to the early Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old Germanic word "wigan," which means "to fight" or "to struggle." The name likely originated as a descriptive nickname for someone who was a fierce warrior or a determined individual.

The earliest recorded instances of the Weigel surname date back to the 13th century in various regions of modern-day Germany, including Bavaria, Saxony, and Silesia. It is believed that the name may have been initially associated with certain occupations or professions that required physical strength and resilience, such as soldiers, blacksmiths, or miners.

In medieval German records, the name appeared in various spellings, including Weigel, Weygel, Weigell, and Weigl, reflecting regional variations and scribal inconsistencies. Some notable historical figures with the Weigel surname include:

1. Valentin Weigel (1533-1588), a German philosopher and theologian known for his mystical writings and influence on the Protestant Reformation.
2. Erhard Weigel (1625-1699), a German mathematician, astronomer, and philosopher who made significant contributions to the development of calculus and the study of celestial mechanics.
3. Johann Christoph Weigel (1661-1726), a German engraver and publisher renowned for his intricate copperplate engravings and cartographic works.
4. Christian Ehrenfried Weigel (1748-1831), a German bookseller, publisher, and engraver who produced numerous atlases and maps during the late 18th and early 19th centuries.
5. Rudolph Weigel (1804-1867), a German philologist and educator who specialized in Old Germanic languages and literature.

The Weigel surname has also been associated with various place names throughout Germany, such as Weigelsbach, a town in Bavaria, and Weigelthal, a village in Saxony. These place names may have their origins in the Weigel surname or vice versa, reflecting the close connection between surnames and geographic locations.

While the Weigel surname has its roots in medieval Germany, it has since spread to other parts of Europe and the world through migration and diaspora. However, the name's historical significance and connection to its Germanic origins remain intact, serving as a testament to the rich cultural heritage and linguistic diversity of the region.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Weigel

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

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

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

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