Surname Happel - Meaning and Origin
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Happel: What does the surname Happel mean?
The last name Happel is of German origin. It is derived from the Middle High German words 'hapel' and 'happen', meaning 'lover of horses'. This name was once typically used to describe an owner or a breeder of horses.
The last name Happel can be seen in records as far back as the 15th century in the German state of Bavaria. It has also been found in other regions in Germany such as Brandenburg, Prussia, and Saxony.
Since that time, many families bearing the Happel name have emigrated to countries around the world. For instance, some members of the Happel family have settled in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
The family coat of arms for Happel displays three black horses on a field that is divided in two – silver on the top and red on the bottom. This symbolizes the name's equestrian roots and refers to the family's pride in and love for horses.
The Happel name is a proud one and evokes a love for horses and a strong heritage of horsemanship in its bearer. It is a reminder of the family's time-honored connection with animals, and a symbol of the family's common past.
Order DNA origin analysisHappel: Where does the name Happel come from?
The last name Happel is most common in Germany and Austria. According to the 2005 Romanian Census, this last name has its highest population in Romania. It becomes especially common along the Transylvanian Alps, and in the Banat and the village of Hobita, which is located in Caraș-Severin County, Romania.
Other places where the surname Happel can be found include Alsace-Lorraine, a region along the border between France and Germany, as well as parts of Liechtenstein and Switzerland.
Happel is also a popular last name in South Africa, primarily among German-speaking Afrikaans and Boer communities. It is also common among Czech and Slovak immigrants who settled in the United States after World War I.
Today, the last name Happel is most likely to be found in Europe and, to a lesser extent, in North America. Most people with the surname Happel probably have some connection to the Germanic language, suggesting a historical link to Central and Northern Europe.
Variations of the surname Happel
The surname Happel is derived from the German/Dutch word ‘happen’, which means ‘to seize or capture’. Happel is a patronymic surname, meaning it is derived from the given name of the paternal ancestor. Variants of the surname Happel can be found in all countries in which German/Dutch is spoken. Variants of Happel include Habell, Habehl, Happell, Happle, Happell, Habell, Haibel, Habbel, Haubel, Habble, Habblet, Hopel, and Hewel.
The spelling of the surname Happel has varied throughout history, with versions of the surname such as Happle, Habble, Habile, Habella, Habee, and Habel. These spellings of the surname have been used by families or individuals in various locations, so it’s possible that a particular surname can have more than one spelling variation.
In some cases, different surnames developed by individuals or families from the same location and the same or similar surname. For example, the variants Happle, Happle, Habell, Happell, Habble, Habile, Habella, and Habee developed from a root name of Happel in Germany. Similarly, Haibel, Habbel, Habblet, and Hopel developed from Happel in the Netherlands. In some locations, the surname Happel may have also been changed to Hewel over time.
In conclusion, the various surnames derived from a common ancestor often have different spellings and variants associated with them. The various spellings of the surname Happel are Habell, Habehl, Happell, Happle, Happell, Habell, Haibel, Habbel, Haubel, Habble, Habblet, Hopel, and Hewel.
Famous people with the name Happel
- Johannes Happel- Johannes Happel was a 17th century German theologian, historiographer, and poet.
- Jovica Happel- Jovica Happel was an accomplished Serbian concert pianist, composer, and professor at the Department of Piano at Megatrend University.
- Margaret Happel- Margaret Happel was an Irish actress who appeared on stage in the United States and Britain during the 19th century.
- Dee Happel- Dee Happel was a Los Angeles-based musician and one of the founding members of the legendary punk band, The Screamers.
- Eddie Happel- Eddie Happel was an American actor best known for his roles in classic Hollywood films such as “The Picture of Dorian Gray” (1945) and “Please Murder Me” (1956).
- Gustav Happel- Gustav Happel was a German-born artist who specialized in portraiture and landscape painting in the Netherlands and United States.
- Hans Jorg Happel- Hans Jorg Happel was an Austrian modernist architect who designed a large number of public and private buildings in his career.
- Marlies Happel- Marlies Happel was an Austrian actress who made her debut in the year 2000. She’s had success in both film and television series.
- Jurgen Happel- Jurgen Happel was the Austrian-born manager of the Singapore national football team from 2009 to 2013.
- Uwe Happel- Uwe Happel is a German former professional soccer player who is now a successful coach.