Surname Bostel - Meaning and Origin
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Bostel: What does the surname Bostel mean?
The last name Bostel is of German origin and is composed of two elements; ‘Bost’ meaning a cell or an underground shelter, and ‘-el’ which is a suffix denoting a diminutive form or small size. The literal meaning of the name is ‘small cell’ or ‘little bunker’.
The surname Bostel likely began as a locational name; it may have originally referred to someone from a specific area where cells or bunkers had been built, or to a person living near a specific cell or bunker. It can also be an occupational name for someone whose profession had to do with bunker work, such as a builder.
The first recorded mention of Bostel as a surname is dated 1521 in Hesse, Germany. Since then, it has grown significantly in popularity, especially in Lower Saxony and Bavaria, where it is also very common.
Today, the surname Bostel is still found mostly in Germany, though some individuals with this name have spread to other parts of Europe, such as North America. Here, the name is more often spelled ‘Bostle.’
Order DNA origin analysisBostel: Where does the name Bostel come from?
The last name Bostel is quite rare, but is still present today mainly in Germany, The Netherlands, Belgium and the United Kingdom.
In Germany, the Bostel surname is most commonly found in the northwest part of Rhineland-Palatinate, near the border with Belgium. It is particularly common in the towns of Aachen and Kreuzau, located in the Eifel region. The Bostel family is known to have descended from Palatine Germans who settled in the area during the 1700s.
In The Netherlands, the surname is most common in the southern province of Limburg. Here, it is especially present throughout the towns of Meijel and Neer.
In Belgium, the Bostel surname is mainly seen in the province of Liege, which is located near the border with the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia.
In the United Kingdom, the Bostel surname is mainly present in the county of Cheshire, in the north-west part of England. Here, the Bostel family is known to have settled in the early 19th century.
Overall, the Bostel surname remains present today, mainly in Germany, The Netherlands, Belgium and the United Kingdom.
Variations of the surname Bostel
The surname Bostel is of German origin, with the main variant spelling being Boestel. It is also variously spelled as Bostal, Boestal, Bostill, Bostel, Boestel, Bosteler, Boesteler, Boestler, and Boestill. It is a topographic surname, which was given to someone who lived on a ridge of land, or a geographical feature shaped like a ridge, such as a hill, shoreline or mountain crest.
This surname often originated from places where people with the name Bostel lived or worked over an extended period of time. Such places may include areas such as the Rhineland region, Austria, Switzerland, and other parts of Central Europe.
This surname is also found in North American records, indicative of the migration of individuals or families bearing the name Bostel (and its variants) to the United States and Canada in the 19th century. This makes it likely that the surname may have originated from a German family, or families, that have emigrated to one or both of these countries.
Surnames with a similar spelling, which may be derived from the name Bostel, include Bowstell, Boesel, Bosten, Bowtell, Bostian, and Bowsell. These names all appear to have a topographic or geographical origin.
Famous people with the name Bostel
- Joan Bostel: Olympic silver medal winner in synchronized swimming for Spain
- Nathalie Bostel: French tennis player
- Christopher Bostel: American actor
- Jürgen Bostel: German musician
- Eric Bostel: American composer and producer
- Lou Bostel: French disc jockey
- Sarah Bostel: Canadian painter
- Ninon Bostel: Belgian fashion designer
- George Bostel: American violin maker
- Charles Bostel: French mystic
- Edy Bostel: Dutch footballer
- Stanley Bostel: American photographer
- Gerda Bostel: German composer
- Arthur Bostel: Swiss sculpturist
- Dwight Bostel: American publisher
- Jean-Claude Bostel: Belgian animator and illustrator
- Marie Bostel: French photographer
- Charles Bostel: French physician
- Darlene Bostel: American author
- Dierk Bostel: German voice actor