2000
#64,572
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 288
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.11
Very Rare Last name
Wickel
A surname derived from the Middle High German word "wickel" meaning a wrap or binding.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 360 Americans carry the last name Wickel. That puts it at #67,683 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.11 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 952,095 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Wickel 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
360
1 in 952,095
Census rank
#67,683
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
314
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 314 bearers of the surname Wickel in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.11 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 67683rd position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Wickel, the largest self-reported group is White at 91.7%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (3.5%) and Hispanic (2.2%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of 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.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Wickel
Among Census respondents with the surname Wickel, the largest self-reported group is White at 91.7%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (3.5%) and Hispanic (2.2%).
The bar chart below shows how Wickel 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 Wickel surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White91.7% · 288
- Two or more races3.5% · 11
- Hispanic or Latino2.2% · 7
- Black or African American1.9% · 6
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.6% · 2
Timeline
Historical Census data for Wickel
Wickel 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
#69,579
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 282
-6 bearers (-2.1%)
Per 100,000 0.10
Rank movement Down 5,007 places
2020
#67,683
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 314
+32 bearers (+11.3%)
Per 100,000 0.11
Rank movement Up 1,896 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #64,572 | 288 | 0.11 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #69,579 | 282 | 0.10 | -6 bearers (-2.1%) | Down 5,007 places |
| 2020 | #67,683 | 314 | 0.11 | +32 bearers (+11.3%) | Up 1,896 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 Wickel 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 | #69,579 | #67,683 | 2.7% |
| Count | 282 | 314 | 11.3% |
| Per 100K | 0.10 | 0.11 | 5.1% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Wickel bearers went from 282 to 314 (+11.3% change). The surname moved up 1,896 positions in the national ranking, going from #69,579 to #67,683.
FAQ
Wickel surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Wickel?
Name Census estimates that about 360 living Americans carry the surname Wickel. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 952,095 residents.
How common is Wickel?
Wickel ranks #67,683 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.11 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 314 people with the surname Wickel. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (360), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.11 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.11 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 Wickel.
Has Wickel become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Wickel went from 282 recorded bearers to 314. That is an increase of 32 (+11.3%). In the national ranking it rose from #69,579 to #67,683.
What does the Census say about the background of Wickel?
Among Census respondents with the surname Wickel, the largest self-reported group is White at 91.7%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (3.5%) and Hispanic (2.2%). 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 Wickel in the 2020 Census, accounting for 91.7% (288 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Wickel appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (91.7%), Two or More Races (3.5%), Hispanic (2.2%). 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 Wickel (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 Wickel mean?
A surname derived from the Middle High German word "wickel" meaning a wrap or binding. 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 Wickel (0.11 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 common is the surname Wickel?
Want to know how common the surname Wickel is? HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, puts the living-bearer count front and centre.