Surname Chmel - Meaning and Origin
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Chmel: What does the surname Chmel mean?
The surname Chmel is a Slavonic name of Czech, Polish and Slovak origin. It is derived from the Czech word "chmel", meaning "hop", and it is a common Slavic occupational surname that dates back to the Middle Ages.
In Czech records, the name Chmel was used to refer to someone who grew and harvested hops for brewing beer. The hop harvest began to increase in popularity during the 1200s, and the amount harvested increased steadily over the centuries. With that growth came the need for more people to work in this industry.
In the 1400s, the surname Chmel was used to refer to those who harvested and sold hops to their local brewers, and it is possible that the Chmel family were among the first to be involved in this profession.
The name Chmel has been associated with the Czech Republic and its regions of Moravia and Bohemia since at least the 16th century. It is not a particularly common name elsewhere in the world, but some people with the Chmel name may be found in other European countries, as well as North America and Australia.
Chmel is a name with a long history in the Slavic world, and it still carries with it a sense of respect and pride. Those who bear the name of Chmel are proud of their rooots and their role in the brewing profession.
Order DNA origin analysisChmel: Where does the name Chmel come from?
The last name Chmel can be found relatively commonly in certain areas of Europe. In the Czech Republic, for example, the surname is ranked in the top hundred most common, with approximately 5,700 people having the surname in the country. It is also a common last name in Slovakia, where over 5,000 people have the surname. The surname is also found in Poland, particularly in the southern parts of the country, where over 3,000 people have the surname.
In terms of where else the name appears, Chmel is a surname that can be found in a number of different countries around the world, including the United States, Russia, Canada, Australia, Ukraine, and Germany, to name a few. The number of people with the surname is usually smaller in these countries. In the United States, for example, there are less than 700 people with the last name Chmel.
Overall, the surname Chmel is most common in certain parts of Europe, such as the Czech Republic and Slovakia, where thousands of people carry the surname. However, smaller numbers of people around the world also have the last name.
Variations of the surname Chmel
Chmel is a surname of Czech, Slovakian and Polish origin. The most common spelling is Chmiel, though Chmielewski is also seen.
Variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin as Chmel include: Chmelař, Chmela, Chmelík, Chmelar, Chmell, Chmielak, Chmielarz, Chmielek, Chmieleski, Chmieleszyńska, Chmielewicz, Chmielik, Chmelak, Chmelík, Chmielnik, Chmil, Chmilák, Chmílek, Chmílka, Chmílková, Chmilniková, Smailová, Smil, Smilák, Smolař, Smolik, Smolka, Smolák, Smolík, Smolník, Smolovec, Smolarczyk, Smolarek, Smolinski, Smolinský, Smolyák, Smolarczyk, Smolarek, Smolinski, Smolinský, Smolarek, and Smolarecki.
These surnames evolved from the word for hops, which is ‘chmiel’ in Polish and ‘chmeľ’ in Slovak. As a result, many of these variations have to do with trades or professions connected to hops, such as brewing and the hop trade. Others likely indicated that the family lived or originated from a hop-growing region.
Though Chmel may have originally been associated with the hop trade, it may also have been given to those who lived near a physical landmark such as a hill, mountain, or stream with the same name. The suffix of certain variations of the surname, such as Smolenová and Smolová, suggests that an early ancestor was identified with a nearby place with the same name.
The many variations of this surname can be found among international records. Chmels from Czech, Slovak and Polish families may also share a common origin, especially those with similar backgrounds or who lived in the same geographical areas.
Famous people with the name Chmel
- Jakub Chmel (Drum'n'Bass producer and DJ from Czech Republic)
- Pavel Chmel (Czech sculptor and painter)
- Rajko Chmel (Slovenian painter and illustrator)
- Svatopluk Chmel (Czech actor and film producer)
- Milan Chmel (Czech sculptor)
- Sergej Chmel (Russian actor)
- Vit Chmel (Czech costume designer and stylist)
- Denis Chmel (Russian football player)
- Jan Chmel (Czech dancer and choreographer)
- Martin Chmel (Czech film director and actor)