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

Wickel, 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 Wickel surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wickel in America

Wickel is the 69579th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wickel surname appeared 282 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 Wickel.

We can also compare 2010 data for Wickel 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 Wickel

The surname Wickel finds its origins in Germany during the medieval period. It is thought to stem from the Middle High German word "wicken" or "wickeln," which means "to wrap" or "to bind." This suggests that the name may have originally been occupational, used for individuals who wrapped goods or were involved in binding or packaging in some capacity, perhaps as tradesmen or craftsmen.

A significant early reference to the name Wickel appears in the form of "Wickel" in documents from the 14th century, in the region that is now modern-day Lower Saxony, Germany. Further tracing shows its appearance in various records and manuscripts, particularly in towns such as Hanover and Bremen, which were bustling trade hubs during the medieval and Renaissance periods.

The earliest recorded example of the surname is found in a 1377 tax register from Hanover, where a "Hans Wickel" is listed as a merchant. This aligns well with the occupational theory of the surname's origin, indicating that Hans was possibly involved in trade or packaging of goods. Another early record is from 1453, detailing a "Margarete Wickel" who was noted in church documents for her philanthropic activities in Bremen.

In addition to these early records, the name Wickel appears in various forms through the centuries in different parts of Germany. For example, a notable person, Johann Wickel (born 1623, died 1687), was a well-regarded printer in Hamburg, evidencing the spread and influence of the family name in northern Germany.

Another significant historical figure bearing the surname was Wilhelm Wickel (born 1765, died 1832), a respected scholar and philologist from the University of Göttingen. His contributions to the study of Germanic languages were highly influential, and he is often cited in academic circles of the time.

The 19th century saw the emergence of Friedrich Wickel (born 1801, died 1875), a pioneering industrialist in Prussia who played a key role in the early iron and steel industry, contributing significantly to the industrialization efforts of the region. His enterprises in Essen became foundational for subsequent industrial developments.

Finally, the surname Wickel also appears in historical military records. For instance, Captain Karl Wickel (born 1834, died 1911) served with distinction in the Prussian Army during the Austro-Prussian War of 1866 and later during the Franco-Prussian War from 1870 to 1871. His service was commemorated in regimental histories and several medals he earned during his career.

The surname Wickel, thus, has a rich history that spans several centuries and diverse regions within Germany, marked by contributions in trade, philanthropy, academia, industry, and military service. This historical tapestry showcases the multifaceted roles and the widespread presence of the Wickel family lineage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wickel

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

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

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

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