Surname Henßel - Meaning and Origin
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Henßel: What does the surname Henßel mean?
The surname Henßel is a German name. It is thought to originate from the Middle High German word hansil, which refers to a small storage building or a shed. In the Middle Ages, it was sometimes used as an occupational name for someone who built such structures or worked in them.
In modern-day Germany, the Henßel name is quite common. It is usually spelled with two ß characters, which is the proper way to spell the name. It has various spellings, including Henssl, Hensel, and Hanßel. It can also refer to the location Chemnitz, which was formerly known as “Hanssel”.
An interesting fact about the Henßel surname is that it has two distinct branches. One branch, which uses the same spelling of the name, is found in East Prussia while the other branch, which uses the alternate spellings, is found in the western states such as North Rhine-Westphalia.
The Henßel surname is associated with many successful people, ranging from musicians such as Johann Gottlieb Henßel and sportspeople such as Leon Henßel, to politicians such as Gustav Henßel. It is also associated with several businesses, such as the high-end fashion brand Henßel, Corporación Henßel, and Banggood, an electronics manufacturer.
In short, the last name Henßel has a long and proud history. It is associated with a range of successful people, businesses, and locations, and its spelling varies according to regional origin.
Order DNA origin analysisHenßel: Where does the name Henßel come from?
The last name Henßel is a German surname that is still commonly found in and around Germany, particularly in the states of Bavaria, Brandenburg, and Saxony. It could also still be found in some areas of eastern Europe and the Netherlands. The original spelling of the name was Hensel, the letter 'ß' (also known as Eszett) was added to the spelling in the late 19th century when Germany adopted the first rules of orthography.
In German, Henßel is derived from the Middle High German word hendel, meaning a hook or crook, so the surname likely refers to someone who was a maker of such tools. It could also have originally referred to someone who lived near by a person who was a maker of such tools. It is considered to be a fairly common name, with over 34,000 people with the last name living in Germany alone as of the year 2020.
Outside of Germany, the surname Henßel could be found, though more rarely, in areas of the Netherlands, Austria, Switzerland, and Russia. It could also be found in the US and other countries where people have migrated from German-speaking lands. In the US, it is most commonly found in the states that were historically popular settlement areas for German-speaking people, such as Pennsylvania, Ohio, Illinois, and more recently, Texas and California.
Though the surname Henßel may not be found everywhere, it is still commonly and widely found in the regions of its origin.
Variations of the surname Henßel
The variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin for the surname Henßel are:
Hentzel/Hentzell/Hentsell - This variant of the surname Henßel is most commonly found in German immigrants who settled in the United States, especially Pennsylvania. It is derived from the Middle High German word "hetzin", meaning "responsible".
Hentschel/Hentschel/Hentshcel/Hentshill/Hentshill - This variant of the surname Henßel is most commonly found in German immigrants of the same region of the United States as mentioned previously. It is derived from the Middle High German word "hentsen", meaning "ready".
Henz/Henze/Heinz/Heinze/Heinzle - This variant of the surname Henßel is most commonly found in those with ancestral roots in Bavaria and Prussia. It is derived from the Middle High German word "hence", meaning "home".
Henschel/Henschell/Henshcel/Henshil/Henshill - This variant of the surname Henßel is most commonly found in German immigrants residing primarily in Pennsylvania as well as Virginia. It is derived from the Middle High German word "henschel", which denotes a covering made from bird feathers.
Henzl/Henzel/Henzell - This variant of the surname Henßel is most commonly found in people of German descent who settled in the United States. It is derived from the Middle High German word "hentzel", which means "responsible".
In summary, the variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin for the surname Henßel are Hentzel/Hentzell/Hentsell, Hentschel/Hentschel/Hentshcel/Hentshill/Hentshill, Henz/Henze/Heinz/Heinze/Heinzle, Henschel/Henschell/Henshcel/Henshil/Henshill, and Henzl/Henzel/Henzell. Each one is derived from a different Middle High German word that conveys a purpose or characteristic associated with the surname's original bearer.
Famous people with the name Henßel
- Jakub Hensel: Włocławek-born Polish professional cyclist
- Eric Hensel: American professional basketball player
- Mathilde Hensel: German composer and music critic
- Julian Hensel: German skeleton racer
- August T. Hensel: German-American publisher and newspaper publisher
- Sandor Hensel: Hungarian footballer
- Gordon Henssel: Canadian artist
- Hensel Alfred: German entrepreneur
- David Hensel: Nigerian singer and songwriter
- Henri Hensel: German theologian and benedictine