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

Wiegel, 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 Wiegel surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wiegel in America

Wiegel is the 21535th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wiegel surname appeared 1,212 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 Wiegel.

We can also compare 2010 data for Wiegel 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 Wiegel

The surname Wiegel has its origins in Germany and is considered a relatively old German surname. The name is believed to have first appeared during the medieval period, possibly as early as the 12th or 13th century. It is derived from the Middle High German word “wigil” or “wigelin,” which refers to a cradle or a little swing. This suggests that the name may have initially been given to someone who made or used cradles, or perhaps had some symbolic association with infancy and care.

Wiegel is most commonly associated with the regions of Bavaria and Saxony in Germany, areas known for a rich tapestry of cultural and linguistic history. Over the centuries, the name has undergone various spellings and adaptations, including forms like Wigel, Wigell, and Wegel. Such variations can often be attributed to regional dialects and the phonetic transcription practices of the time.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the surname Wiegel can be found in the records of the medieval German city of Nürnberg around the late 14th century. Here, a Hans Wiegel is noted in civic documents dating to 1378, marking an important historical reference for the family name.

Another significant figure is Peter Wiegel, a 16th-century jurist and author born in 1520 who achieved some acclaim in academic circles within Saxony. His legal works and contributions to German jurisprudence were well regarded during his lifetime and he left behind a legacy evidenced by several surviving manuscripts.

In the realm of art, Johann Christoph Wiegel, born in 1654, was a notable engraver and artist from Augsburg. His works contributed to the baroque artistic movements of the time and can still be viewed in some museums, particularly in Germany.

The 18th century saw the name Wiegel carried by Carl Friedrich Wiegel, an influential Bavarian businessman and philanthropist born in 1730. His enterprises and charitable works had a lasting impact on the local community, and he was a prominent figure in Munich's economic development during his era.

Moving into the 19th century, August Wiegel, born in 1825 in Leipzig, was an inventor known for his contributions to early industrial machinery. His innovations in textile manufacturing were forward-thinking and helped modernize production processes during the industrial revolution.

Throughout history, the surname Wiegel has been borne by individuals of varied professions and contributions to society. Each iteration and variant of the name carries its own unique story, but all share a common thread linking them back to the medieval roots in Germany.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wiegel

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

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

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

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