Surname Hinzel - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'H'
Hinzel: What does the surname Hinzel mean?
The German surname Hinzel is a toponymic name derived from a place, meaning someone who originally came from the town with the same name. The name is likely derived from an Old High German word "hinzo" that translates to something like "small between”.
Hinzel is an uncommon but old surname found in various parts of Germany. The name popped up in records from the Middle Ages, most often in the Rhineland area between France and Germany. During the 1500s, a Hinzel was recorded as a magistrate in Grevenmacher during an election period. During the following century, Hinzels headed the church parishes in the small towns of Worth and Becherbach.
The German surnames ending in "el" or "elm" usually derive from either personal characteristics or profession, possibly, a close relationship to hunting and nature. This indicates that the Hinzel family were likely farmers or professional hunters, or that they adopted this surname from given names such as Hinz or Hinkle.
Today, the Hinzel family is most commonly found in parts of Germany close to the Dutch and Belgian borders, specifically the Rhineland area as well as East Frisia. Although Hinzel is a more rare surname, it can be seen in different variations such as Hänselmayer, Heimzell, Henselmann, and Hintzem, which can all be traced back to the original Hinzel.
Order DNA origin analysisHinzel: Where does the name Hinzel come from?
Today, the last name Hinzel can be found in many countries around the world. In the United States, records show that the surname Hinzel is most commonly found in the states of California, New York, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania. More specifically, several branches of the Hinzel family can be found in the eastern portion of Pennsylvania throughout Schuylkill and Berks counties. Other Hinzel families have spread across the country to states such as Arizona, Florida, Michigan, and North Carolina.
Outside of the United States, Germany is believed to be the country with the highest concentration of Hinzel families. Records of the name have been found in the Rheinland-Pfalz region, Bavaria, Baden-Wurttemberg, and Hessen, along with records dated as far back as the early 1700's. The surname can also be found in Austria, Switzerland, The Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. Although most of the countries in which the name Hinzel can be found have dispersed the families throughout, they remain connected through record keeping, genealogical sites, and stories passed down from generation to generation.
Variations of the surname Hinzel
The surname Hinzel has many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. Common spellings of the surname include Heinczel, Heynzel, Hainzla, Hainzl, and Hainzli. These spellings and variants are all derived from the German word “henzel,” which means “dweller near a corner.” The surname Hinzel may also be spelled as Heintzel, Heinchel, Hainzel, Hainz, Heintzl, Hainzle, Heintzle, Heintzel, Heintzli, Heintzla, and Heinzla.
In some cases, the surname Hinzel can also be seen as a shortened form of other surnames. For instance, Heinzboy and Heintzby are both derived from the surnames Heintzberger and Heintzburger. Other surnames associated with Hinzel include Heintzberger, Heintzkirchner, Heintzelmann, Heintzmuller, Heintze, and Heintzesberger.
The Anglo-Saxon spelling of the surname is Heincel or Hinckell. Alternatively, it can appear as Hingsel, Hinsel, Hinsle, and Hintersle. The variant names for Hinzel are also found with the Dutch spelling Hinksel, Hinksl, Hintskens, and Hinkels.
In Scotland, the surnames known to be accompanied with the Hinzel surname include Hyncells, Hinzels, Heintzels, and Heintzells. In Poland, the spelling is known to be Hinczala, while in Hungary, the surname is seen as Hinczka. Lastly, in Switzerland, the spellings related to Hinzel range from Heintzli, Heintzler, Heintzley, Heitzli, Heintel, Heintzli, Heintzler, Henter, and Henteli.
Famous people with the name Hinzel
- Eric Hinzel: Famous German actor.
- Jonathan Hinzel: Professional comedian and actor from the US.
- Daniel Hinzel: Former professional American football player.
- Tal Hinzel: NFL defensive back and kick returner from Israel.
- David Hinzel: Award-winning graphic designer and illustrator from Germany.
- Louis Hinzel: Swiss Artist and Human Rights Activist.
- Thomas Hinzel: Noted saxophonist from Germany.
- Klaus Eberhard Hinzel: Renowned music professor, composer, and conductor from Germany.
- Paul Hinzel: Cello soloist from Germany.
- Johann Baptist Hinzel: Austrian Bolzano-born classical musician.
- Daría Hinzel: German novelist, dramatist, and feminist.
- Juliane Hinzel: Noted German singer/songwriter.
- Otto Hinzel: Noted German organist and choirmaster.
- Wilhelm Hinzel: Austrian mathematican and electrical engineer.
- Debbie Hinzel: Professional ice hockey player from Canada.
- Philipp Hinzel: Noted German composer, flutist, and conductor.
- Alex Hinzel: German writer specializing in screenplays and short stories.
- Alfons Hinzel: Noted German engineer and scientist.
- Deborah Hinzel: Professional classical flutist from the US.
- Erich Hinzel: German business executive.