Explore the Family Name Tell
The meaning of Tell
1. North German: from a pet form of Dietrich. 2. South German: topographic name from Middle High German telle ‘gorge, depression’. The name of the Swiss hero Wilhelm Tell has not been explained. 3. North German (mainly Westphalia): topographic name from Middle Low German telg(e) ‘branch, twig, undergrowth’. 4. Catalan: topographic name from tila ‘linden’ (from Latin tilia), denoting someone who lived near a conspicuous linden. 5. English (northern): possibly a variant of Teale. This form of the surname is rare in Britain and Ireland.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Tell in the United States?
Based on data from the Decennial U.S. Census, the popularity of the surname "Tell" has experienced a decline between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, the surname ranked 16,028 in popularity and this rank fell to 18,128 by 2010, indicating a decrease of 13.1%. The total count of individuals with the surname also dropped from 1,662 in 2000 to 1,536 in 2010, marking a decline of 7.58%. Consequently, the proportion per 100,000 people bearing the name "Tell" declined by 16.13%, from 0.62 in 2000 to 0.52 in 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #16,028 | #18,128 | -13.1% |
| Count | 1,662 | 1,536 | -7.58% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.62 | 0.52 | -16.13% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Tell
In terms of ethnicity, according to the Decennial U.S. Census data, there were notable changes among those carrying the surname "Tell" between 2000 and 2010. While the percentage of Asian/Pacific Islanders decreased by 13.96% from 2.65 to 2.28, that of individuals identified as two or more races increased from 0 to 3.26. White individuals decreased by 7.24% from 64.08 to 59.44. A significant increase was observed in the Hispanic demographic, which saw an upsurge of 58.98% from 2.95 to 4.69. Black individuals also saw an increase, rising by 7.97% from 27.74 to 29.95. Interestingly, American Indian and Alaskan Natives appeared in the 2010 census at 0.39, whereas they were not represented in the 2000 data.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 64.08% | 59.44% | -7.24% |
| Black | 27.74% | 29.95% | 7.97% |
| Hispanic | 2.95% | 4.69% | 58.98% |
| Two or More Races | 0% | 3.26% | 0% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 2.65% | 2.28% | -13.96% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0.39% | 0% |