Surname Duvel - Meaning and Origin
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Duvel: What does the surname Duvel mean?
The last name Duvel is of Belgian and Dutch origin. It is derived from Belgian Dutch terms for "devil" or "evil". Historically, the last name may have been used as a nickname for an unruly or troublesome person.
The actual Middle Dutch word, "Duvel" or "duvels" is a combination of two words; "duw" which means pushing and "vel" which means head. This can be translated into English as "forceful head". It may have been used as a nickname to refer to someone who was pushy or forceful.
Alternatively, the name was also used as a nickname for people who were perceived as being devilish. Such people may have been seen as mischievous or troublesome. It has also been speculated that the name was used in some rural areas to refer to people who had different or strange beliefs or practices.
Duvel is also an old-fashioned word for a bumblebee, although this meaning of the word is no longer used. It is possible that this particular definition of the word influenced the use of the name as a nickname.
Today, people with the last name Duvel are mainly found in the Netherlands, Belgium, and various parts of the United States.
Order DNA origin analysisDuvel: Where does the name Duvel come from?
The surname Duvel is most common in the Dutch-speaking region of Belgium, though it also has a presence in France, Netherlands, and Germany. It carries an old French meaning of “young fox” or “little devil,” a reference to the characteristics of a mischievous animal. As its root language is French, it is similar to other names in its language such as Duval and DeValle.
Duvel is the most frequent name throughout northern Belgium, specifically in East Flanders, West Flanders, and Limburg. It is particularly prominent in the cities of Antwerp and Ghent, representing more than 1% of the population in each. There is an even spread of the name in those regions, suggesting it does not carry any particular region’s unique heritage.
In the Netherlands, Duvel is a much less common name but it still has a presence in the provinces of Utrecht and North Holland. It is far more common in Germany, though concentrated in the states of North Rhine-Westphalia and Bavaria. The surname seems to have made its way to France over a long period of time. The spelling Duvel appears to be largely concentrated around Brittany and Pays de la Loire.
The name Duvel has slowly spread from its old French roots, mostly due to Belgian migration in the 19th and 20th centuries. Today it is a mostly Christian name found in many countries in Europe, and occasionally in other continents such as North America and Australia.
Variations of the surname Duvel
The surname Duvel is a common Dutch-German surname which has several variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. In Dutch, the surname can also be spelled as Duvels or Duveel. In English, the name is sometimes written as Dufel or Dufall. In German, it can also be spelled as Dufel or Dufel.
The Duvel surname is of German origin and derived from the medieval personal name Duvel, a diminutive of Tobel, which means “God Given”. This name was first found in a 10th century tax list of the region of Flanders (Belgium).
The surname Duvel can also be found in the USA, Canada, Australia, South Africa, and New Zealand, and can have several variants. Here, the surname Duvel may be spelled as Dobel, Dovel, Douvelle, Dovell, Dufall, Dufel, Dufle, Duple, Duvels, and Duveel.
In France, the surname can be spelled as Douvel, Dufel, Dufle, and Duvel. In Switzerland, the surname is sometimes seen as Dufel or Dufle. In Italy, the surname is sometimes seen as Di Felle or Di Felletto.
Additionally, related surnames include Dombrowski, Douvled, Duvall, Duvaux, and Duwe. All of these surnames are believed to be derived from the same surname of Duvel and have similar Germanic root languages.
Famous people with the name Duvel
- Jelena Duvel, Croatian model and TV personality
- Terry Duvel, an NHL defenseman
- Pieter Duvel, a Dutch singer, songwriter and guitarist
- Fredrick Duvel, a South African former professional rugby union player
- Mathias Duvel, a Belgian rower
- Austin Duvel, an American professional ice hockey player
- Pieter Duvel Jr., a Dutch radiologist
- Flo Duvel, a German comedian and actor
- Stefanie Duvel, a German ski-jumper
- Maximilian Duvel, a German musician and record producer