Surname Eickel - Meaning and Origin
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Eickel: What does the surname Eickel mean?
The surname Eickel has its roots in German and Dutch culture and is a topographical name which draws its origin from the Old High German word “igal” which translates to “corner”. The name evolved in variations which include Ickle, Ikel, Eckle and Eickel, and is believed to have referred to someone who lived on a corner of two roads or streets.
The early records of the name in the Low Countries date back to the 13th century, when Johann Ekkel was mentioned in a document from Velen in 1258. Records from regions in modern-day France, Germany, Austria and the Netherlands under the various spellings demonstrate the wide distribution of the Eickel name.
In some cases, the spelling of the surname evolved in the native language of the country in which it was found, particularly in North America, where the spelling was changed to Ackel, Eckle and others. Through migration, the Eickel surname can now be found in different countries around the world.
Today, the Eickel name is often found among individuals with Dutch and German ancestry. It is likely that each family has had a unique journey to its modern-day location - when researching the family genealogy this story can be discovered.
Order DNA origin analysisEickel: Where does the name Eickel come from?
The last name Eickel is primarily found in Germany in modern times, particularly in western areas like the Rhineland, North and Lower Saxony, and Westphalia. The surname is often spelled Ickel, Ekal, Ickels, Ikel or Ickle.
It is thought that the Eickel surname originated in the Middle Ages, when it may have been used to designate someone who lived in or near a particular type of house, or those who were marked out by trades or occupations such as a smith or carpenter. The name could have also been given to someone by place of residence or origin, for example a person from a certain village could also be a Eickel.
Another geographical area where the Eickel surname is found today is the United States. Records show that it was brought there by German immigrants in the immigration wave of the 19th century, where it could still be found in the 21st Century in mainly rural areas of Pennsylvania, Michigan and Ohio. The name can also be found in Canada, Australia and parts of Europe such as France and the Netherlands.
Variations of the surname Eickel
The surname Eickel is a variant of the Germanic name Eckal or Ickle, meaning ‘from the edge or corner of the wood’. It is an old German name, prevalent in Europe. The variants of the name are Ikle, Ikel, Ickel, Ekel, Ekle, Eickel, Eickle, Eyckel, Eikel, Eikle, and Aikel.
The most common versions of the surname in America are Ekle, Eichel, Eicke, Ickle, Eickel and Eckel. They might also be found in different spellings such as Ikel, Eyckel, Eike, Eical, Eikel and Aikel
The various surnames that have derived from the same origin are Ekle, Eichel, Yeckel, Eick, Eicke, Eke, Ike, Eickl, Eikle, and Eeckelmann.
In England, the surname is sometimes spelled Eikle or Eyckel and the Dutch variants of the name are Ekkel and Eekkelman. The spellings used most frequently in Germany are Eicke, Eckel, Eickel, Ikel and Eickelmann. The Swiss variant of the name is Ickl, and some other forms of the name are found in France, Belgium, and Scandinavia.
In sum, the Eickel surname has many variants and surnames associated with it from America, England, Germany, Switzerland, France, Belgium, and Scandinavia. It is an old German name and is considered to be of aristocratic origin.
Famous people with the name Eickel
- Michael Eichel: German ice hockey player, currently playing for the Tampa Bay Lightning in the National Hockey League.
- Kurt Eichel: American biophysicist and former chairman of the biology department at Stanford University.
- Tim Eickel: American former Major League Baseball player who played for the St. Louis Browns and New York Yankees.
- Peter Eichel: German sailer, won the Olympic gold medal in the 1984 Los Angeles Games.
- Ernst Eickel: German explosives expert and rocket scientist who was one of the inventors of the first liquid-fueled rocket engine.
- Werner Eickel: German composer and organist, composed numerous operas, concertos and chorales.
- Alexander Eickel: Austrian composer of symphonies, oratorios, liturgical pieces and other works for the church.
- Carol Eichel: American artist, known for her paintings, collages and prints.
- Fred Eickel: German-born American historian and illustrator who wrote and drew many books about his family's immigrants experience.
- Frank Eickel: American physicist, specialized in mass spectrometry and laser-induced fluorescence methods.