Surname Finkell - Meaning and Origin

Finkell: What does the surname Finkell mean?

The last name Finkell is a patronymic surname, typically indicating that the bearer was the son (or occasionally, the daughter) of someone with the first name Finn. It is generally thought to originate in Central Europe, and is shared by people of Jewish, Irish, and German descent.

The name Finn or Fynnil appears in many languages, including Hebrew (פִין), German (Fynn, Finne), Greek (Phinonas), and English, though not all of these are necessarily variants on the same root. The most likely linguistic root of the name is the Old Norse Finnr, which was used to refer to the now-extinct Finnsheim people. The Finnsheim migrated across Northern Europe and eventually settled in Central Europe, spreading their given and surnames throughout the region.

The Finkell surname is thought to refer to the Fynnil, Finne, or Finnr root and therefore indicates descent from the Finnsheim people. There are many variants of this name – including Finkel, Finnell, Fynnyll, and Finikl – each of which could indicate a different branch of the same family tree.

Today Finkell is used by individuals in many countries, though it remains most common in Central and Eastern Europe. It carries connotations of strength and perseverance, qualities that were no doubt developed by the Finnsheim in their travels across the continent.

Finkell: Where does the name Finkell come from?

The last name Finkell is most commonly seen in the United States, where it is among the 13,680th most common surname. This name tends to be most concentrated in the Midwest and Northeast United States, particularly in states like Ohio and New Jersey. Other states where this surname is more commonly seen include Florida, Pennsylvania, and California.

Finkell is also seen outside the US, particularly in countries that have a history of Jewish immigration, such as the UK, Canada, and Australia. In fact, most Finkells today have their roots in Central and Eastern European Jews who immigrated to the US during the 19th century. Meanwhile, some Finkells in Israel today trace their genesis to Ashkenazi Jewish immigrants who came from Poland, Lithuania, and other parts of Europe.

In general, Finkell is a relatively rare surname in the present day. Over time, it has likely been changed or simplified as it has been passed through generations of immigrants and emigrants, resulting in a decrease of its overall prevalence.

Variations of the surname Finkell

The surname Finkell is an anglicized form of the Jewish surname Finkel, and is believed to have likely originated in Germany. It is thought to be derived from the Yiddish word “finkl” which refers to a pear tree. It is also theorized that the surname may be related to the German surname “Finke”, which stems from a nickname deriving from the word “fink”, meaning “bird”.

Variants of the surname Finkel include Finkelman, Finkele, Finkelstein, Finkl, Finkle, and Fink. Spellings of the surname Finkell may include Finekel, Fynkel, Fynckell, Fynkel, Fynnckell, Phinckell, and Fynnckel.

Surnames of the same origin include Fink, Finklestein, Finkler, and Finkleson.

The surname Finkell is relatively common in the United States, and can be found in states such as New York, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, California, New Jersey, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Utah, Florida, and Michigan. There are also families with the surname Finkel in Canada, Israel, and across Europe, primarily in Germany, France, England, Italy, and the Netherlands.

Famous people with the name Finkell

• Barbara Finkelstein (M.D., physician, author)
• Adam Finkelstein (professor of computer science)
• John Finkelstein (sports journalist)
• Michael Finkelstein (American jazz pianist, composer, arranger, producer, and educator)
• David Finkelstein (American sculptor and professor)
• Steve Finkelstein (American director, producer, and screenwriter)
• Doug Finkelstein (American businessman, founder/CEO of Block Six Analytics)
• Dave Finkelstein (American tennis player, former professional for the Pittsburgh Triangles)
• Brian Finkelstein (American solo artist and flutist)
• Mark Finkelstein (American journalist, attorney, Republican political operative, campaign consultant, editor, and radio talk show host)

Other surnames

FinkeFinkelFinkelsteinFinkenFinkennestFinkenzellerFinkernagel