Surname Gimpel - Meaning and Origin
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Gimpel: What does the surname Gimpel mean?
The last name Gimpel has an interesting origin. It is a German, Yiddish, and Jewish surname thought to have originated in the Ashkenazi Jewish communities of Germany, and is derived from the Middle High German words "gimbel" or "gimple," meaning a bird that hops. The name is derived from the fact that the word itself is a metaphor that describes someone who has "lively and active feet."
The Gimpel surname can be traced back to late medieval Germany. Over the centuries, the surname spread to other countries throughout Europe, such as the Czech Republic, Poland, and Russia. It was also adopted by some families in the United States.
In many Ashkenazi Jewish families, the surname Gimpel is indicative of a long-standing and deep connection to Jewish heritage and culture. It is often associated with specific rituals and traditions that are still maintained and observed today in some communities.
The underlying meaning of the word Gimpel, as well as some of its regional variations, is often used as a symbol of resilience in the face of adversity or challenge. It is also said to represent an indomitable spirit, a boundless will to succeed, and a forward-thinking outlook towards the future. The Gimpel surname is also used in many folktales and stories as a trope for the presence of the everyday, the mundane, and the miraculous.
Order DNA origin analysisGimpel: Where does the name Gimpel come from?
The last name Gimpel is primarily found in Europe and the United States today. In Germany, the name has origins as a coinsmith surname and is still found in larger numbers. In the US, the name appears to have been carried over from Germany and is most common among the communities of Pennsylvania Dutch and Amish.
It is also found in France, though the sources of origin for France are not as certain as the other countries. The Gimpel family of France is of a noble, military background, and likely has Jewish origins. In Switzerland, the last name is especially common in the French-speaking part of the country, though it may also be found in other parts of the country as well.
It is less commonly found in other regions of Europe such as Poland, though it may still be found in lesser numbers. Outside of Europe, people with the name Gimpel can be found in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Australia, and New Zealand. It is likely that the surname is connected in some way to Jewish-German communities who lived in those countries at one point or another.
Overall, the last name Gimpel is most commonly found in Europe, particularly Germany, France, and Switzerland, as well as in the United States and other countries around the world.
Variations of the surname Gimpel
The surname Gimpel can have several variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. These include Gimpel, Gimple, Gumpel, Gumpelheimer, Gumperl, Gumperle, Gumpfl, Gampel, Gampelheimer, and Gumpfel.
Gimpel originates from the Yiddish word Gimpel, which translates to "chubby". The surname has its roots in Germany, where it was most commonly found amongst Jewish communities in the 1700s. It is mainly prevalent in regions of Bavaria, especially in the Jewish communities of Mittelfranken and Württemberg around 1750.
In the English-speaking countries, the spelling of this name has been adapted to the local phonetics. The spelling "Gimple" can be found in the United States, Great Britain, and other places.
The surnames Gumperl, Gumperle, Gumpfel, and Gampel are also associated with this surname. These spellings have most likely arisen from the Iberian Jewish population, where the name is most popularly found today.
In French and Italian, the surname has been adapted to Gampel and Gampelheimer. It is believed that most surnames of this origin in these countries are derived from Germanic immigrants.
The variation Gumpelheimer can be found in Germany as well as in the USA. Gumpel is the most commonly found variant of the surname in Germany today, as most Jewish families have retained their original Yiddish spelling.
In summary, the surname Gimpel has numerous variants and spellings, with each one having its own unique origin story. Although the most common spellings can be found in Germanic and Iberian countries, it is possible to find its variants in other language groups around the world.
Famous people with the name Gimpel
- Elkan Nathan Gimpel: an Austrian-born, American photographer, art collector, and writer from New York
- Herbert Gimpel: a German classical violinist
- Charles Gimpel: a British sculptor and animalier
- Guillaume Gimpel: a French diplomat and consul general in London
- Jules Gimpel: a German painter
- Carl Gimpel: a German pianist
- Fritz Gimpel: a German actor and cabaret artist
- Albert Gimpel: a German sculptor and carver
- Raphael Gimpel: an Austrian composer and conductor
- Christian Gimpel: a German pastor, publicist, and politician
- Catherine Gimpel: a French sculptress
- Charles Gimpel: a French composer and author