Surname Bestel - Meaning and Origin
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Bestel: What does the surname Bestel mean?
The German surname Bestel is an occupational name derived from the Old High German word “bestela” or “besta”. This indicates a person who was a “baker” or someone who worked at a bakery, most likely kneading and baking bread, rolls, cakes, and pastries. In some cases, the term “Bestel” could also refer to a person who was a servant in a house who worked in the kitchen preparing meals and baking.
Bestel is an old name dating back to the medieval times. It was a common name given to families from the Netherlands, and had spread through the Germanic regions by 900 C.E. It is also related to the French surname, Bester. Throughout time, the Bestel surname has developed several spellings, such as Bestel, Bestelmann, Bestelman, Bestelmeier, and Beestel.
The Bestel family can trace their lineage back to the town of Bestel in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is believed that the family may have originated from the Netherlands before moving to Germany. The town of Bestel dates back to 1174 and was known for its production of grain and flour.
Most of the Bestel/Beestel family migrated to the United States beginning in the 1840s. They settled mostly in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, although members of the Bestel family can also be found in New York and Texas.
Therefore, the surname Bestel has a long history which connects it to medieval Europe, when it was used to identify bakers and kitchen servants. The last name has evolved over time, with members of the Bestel family migrating to the United States and settling in various states.
Order DNA origin analysisBestel: Where does the name Bestel come from?
The last name Bestel is most commonly found in the German-speaking countries of Europe, particularly in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. The name is derived from the German word "bestellen," which means "to order." Records indicate the various spellings of Bestel, such as Bessel, Bestell, Bestle, Buildel, Bytell, and Bistel. In addition, some records spell the name as Bostel, which is a form of Bestel combined with the German word "bosten," meaning "to inhabit."
The surname Bestel is associated with a variety of locations in Germany, including Hamburg, Westphalia, and Bavaria. This indicates that the First Bearers of the surnames Bestel were likely to have originated from these regions.
The name is much less common outside of Europe, with anecdotal evidence suggesting it can be found in parts of the United States and New Zealand. There are approximately 11,000 people in the United States bearing the last name Bestel, with the majority located in California, Ohio, and Texas. In New Zealand, there are approximately 1000 people with the Bestel surname.
Overall, records indicate that the Bestel last name is most common in the German-speaking countries of Europe, with a small presence in the United States and New Zealand.
Variations of the surname Bestel
Bestel is a surname that originated in Germany and is derived from the term “Bestellung,” meaning order or arrangement. Over time it has been anglicized to Bestel and variants such as Bestell, Bestelle and Bestele.
In addition to the different spellings mentioned above, the surname might also be spelled “Bestl” or “Bestly”. The closely related, but distinct surnames Bessel and Bester are also variants of the same origin. These variations are the result of linguistic changes and different regional dialects over time.
Another closely related surname is Bistel, which could have come from the combination of the words “beste” and “stellen”, meaning to arrange or order. Along with Bistel, Bestel is also related to the surnames Beisell and Beisel, which both developed in different regions of Germany.
Bestel is also an element in compound surnames such as Bieberbestel, Herzbestel, Hubertbestl, Schillingbestel, and Gartnerbestel. It is also a component of certain placenames such as “Besterthal” in Austria, which is derived from “Bester Tal” meaning “valley of Bes(t)el”.
Overall, Bestel is a surname with a diverse range of origins and spellings, many of which are still in use in different parts of the world.
Famous people with the name Bestel
- Frank Bestel: German handball player and coach, played for German club TSG Solingen and is currently the manager of Bundesliga side VfL Wolfsburg.
- Thomas Bestel: German novelist and poet, best known for his short fiction works such as “The Room” (2003).
- Ferdinand Bestel: German fencer who won a bronze medal in the 1936 Summer Olympics in the team épée event.
- Johann Bestel: German baroque architect and engineer, built churches and fortifications for the Princes of Württemberg.
- Kirt Bestel: American visual effects supervisor, has credits on television series such as "Game of Thrones", "Westworld", and "The Mandalorian".
- Christian Bestel: German businessman, founder and CEO of top German export-import company ELTEX Group.
- John Bestel: Canadian engineer and early environmentalist, co-founded Friends of the Earth Canada.
- Dieter Bestel: German lyricist, author of songs for musicals including “Der Komödienstadel: Der Tag der Emännererneuerung” (1979).
- Lydia Bestel: Austrian figure skater, competed at the Grand Prix International St. Gervais in 2017.
- Charlotte Bestel: German actress, notable works include the films Memento (2002) and Crazy Race (2003).