Surname Heitzel - Meaning and Origin
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Heitzel: What does the surname Heitzel mean?
The last name Heitzel is of German origin and is derived from the German word "heitz," which means "heat." The name likely originated as a nickname for someone who worked with or was associated with fire and heat. It is most likely a topographical surname, given to people who lived near hills or open fields, since the term "Heitz" is also an old German word for a field. The name may have also originally been used to describe someone's physical appearance, since Heitz in the original German is also related to "heathenish," which means "uncivilized."
Throughout history, the Heitzel family has been spread across Europe, with a particular concentration in the German-speaking countries. In the 1700s, the Heitzel family appears to have been established in the village of Schernau in the Austrian state of Tyrol. Several branches of the Heitzel family were also documented in the German-speaking countries of Griffenhagen and Einen.
Today, those bearing the surname Heitzel are scattered around the world, with the greatest concentration still in Europe and the Americas. In the United States, the most common name variants are Heitz and Heitzel, both of which have been established in Pennsylvania since the mid-19th century. In Canada, the name is more commonly spelled Heitzler.
Order DNA origin analysisHeitzel: Where does the name Heitzel come from?
Heitzel is a surname of Germanic origin. It is believed to have first appeared in Bavaria, which is situated in modern southern Germany. Today, surnames ending in "-el" or "-eil" are commonly found in parts of Germany, Austria, Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia, and throughout the United States.
In the United States, Heitzel is found primarily in Pennsylvania and Ohio. It is one of the more common names in Berks County, Pennsylvania. Lancaster County, Pennsylvania is also noted as having a significant population of Heitzel descendants and Lancaster County is home to the Heitzel Family Association.
In addition to Pennsylvania and Ohio, Heitzel is also found in the states of Texas, Arizona, Wisconsin, Indiana, Minnesota, and New York. Heitzel family historians can trace their roots back to the 1700s when some of the first members of the family immigrated to Pennsylvania and Cincinnati, Ohio.
Heitzel is a fairly distinctive surname and both the frequency and concentration of Heitzel families can be found within certain regions. It is likely that the density of the name in areas such as Pennsylvania can be attributed to German immigrants who settled in these regions in the 1700s and 1800s bringing with them the name Heitzel. A noteworthy difference can be seen between the United States and Europe in terms of the concentration of this surname, however, as it is much more common and widespread in the United States than in its countries of origin.
Variations of the surname Heitzel
The surname Heitzel is of Bavarian origin and is believed to have derived from a placename, from which the original bearer of the name hailed. Variants and spellings of this surname include Hetzele, Hetzel, Heizle, Hezzo and Hitzel.
The surname may also be found with numerous other spellings around the world, especially in countries such as Germany, Austria, Switzerland and the United States. Alternate spellings of Heitzel include Heizel, Hayzel, Heitzell, Hayzell, Haytzel, Heytzel, Heetzel, Heitzle, Heutzel and Hatzel, as well as many others.
This surname may also be found with other surnames that have similar origins, such as Hetzler, Heitler, Heitler, Heitman, Heitzman, Heytzler, Hilda, Heytman and Hiltz.
Heitzel is most common in countries such as Germany, Switzerland, Austria, and the United States. It originated from Bavaria and the popularity of the surname spread due to the migration of individuals from Bavaria to other countries.
Additionally, many different spellings of the Heitzel surname may be found in other languages, such as Hitzel in German and Helcel or Helzel in English.
In conclusion, the surname Heitzel has many variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. This spread of the surname was due to migration from Bavaria and the different languages that each individual moved to, which changed the surname to fit the phonetic sounds of their respective language.
Famous people with the name Heitzel
- Ryan Heitzel: Professional MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) fighter.
- Talia Heitzel: Professional Overwatch video game player.
- Peter Heitzel: Professional soccer player from Germany.
- Sophie Heitzel: American YouTube star and influencer.
- Samuel Heitzel: Swiss figure skater.
- Tim Heitzel: American former Major League baseball player.
- Robert Heitzel: German-American painter and sculptor.
- Kordula Heitzel: German-American physicist.
- Nick Heitzel: American country singer and songwriter.
- Reinhold Heitzel: German equestrian rider.