Surname Jockel - Meaning and Origin
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Jockel: What does the surname Jockel mean?
The last name Jockel is of German origin and is a variant on Jakl or Jakkel, which are both pet forms of Jacob. Jacob is a Hebrew given name which translates to “supplanter” and is derived from the Hebrew word "akev," meaning "heel." It is associated with the biblical story where Jacob, the son of Isaac, successfully tricked his older brother out of his birthright.
Due to its origin, the name Jockel could be interpreted as “the small Jacob.” It may have been used in Germany as a way to differentiate between individuals with the same given name. Beginning in the 1600s, last names became more prevalent and could be used to denote a person’s origin and occupation as well. This might have been the case for individuals with the surname Jockel, as it suggested they were descendants of the Jacob line.
As time passed, the Jockel surname spread across Germany and into the surrounding countries, and it is now common across Europe and North America. Individuals with the name Jockel are believed to be survivors, responsible, and trustworthy. They are often independent and hard-working, and they use their clever minds to find creative solutions to their problems.
Order DNA origin analysisJockel: Where does the name Jockel come from?
The last name Jockel is most commonly found in German-speaking countries today. Germany, Austria, and Switzerland are known to have some of the highest concentrations of individuals with this surname. In Germany, it is known to be most popular in the northern and central parts of the country. According to MyHeritage.com’s analysis of surnames, the most frequently used form of the surname in Germany is Jöckel.
Outside of German-speaking countries, Jockel can be found in the Czech Republic, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. In the UK, the variation Jockle is quite common and is often a variation of Jockel used by German immigrants. In the US, Jockel can be found throughout all parts of the country, although the highest concentration of people with the surname can be found in the Midwest states.
When considering the etymology of Jockel, it is believed to come from the two Middle High German words "gockel" meaning “rooster” and “guckel” meaning “yokel.” This suggests that Jockel originates as a descriptive nickname for someone who maybe was loud or dressed ostentatiously. It also suggests that people with the surname were most likely farmers or laborers.
Overall, the last name Jockel is quite popular today and can be found in Europe and North America, although it is most common in German-speaking countries.
Variations of the surname Jockel
The surname Jockel has a number of variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. Some of the most common variants are Jockell, Jockelle, Jockle, Jockl, Jöckel, Jökel, Jökelle, Jöckl, Yakkel, Jakkel, Yakkle, and Yockel. In some cases, some of these variants may be considered to have a slightly different meaning. For instance, Yakkel may indicate that the individual having this name is from a Jewish or Eastern European origin.
In other cases, the surnames with an "ö" are representative of the surname from a Germany-based origin. As a result, those individuals deriving from Germany may have a slight variation of these surnames to reflect the German spelling of the name.
Other variants to include Jakobsen, Jacobsen, Jakobs, Jakobson, Jacobse, and Jakobszoon. All of these surnames have the same root, with some adaptations of spelling to reflect the different languages or cultures of origin.
Due to its extensive range of spelling, the surname Jockel is considered a common one throughout many parts of Europe, the United States, and Canada. The origin of the surname is likely to be from a central Germanic root, or a northern Germanic root.
Famous people with the name Jockel
- Ralf Jockel: German journalist, author, and publicist.
- Günter Jockel: German former footballer who played as a goalkeeper.
- Heinz Jockel: German footballer who played as a goalkeeper in the 1950s and 1960s.
- Fritz Jockel: Former German professional football player who played for clubs in the 1950s and 1960s.
- Heinz Jockel-Lang: German former footballer who played as an attacking midfielder.
- Horst Jockel: German axle manufacturer and former race car driver.
- Werner Jockel: German former cyclist who won multiple medals at the 1932 and 1936 Olympic Games.
- Edmond Jockel: French artist known for his animal sculptures.
- Fritz Jockel: Austrian actor and Honorary President of the Austrian film academy
- Franz Jockel: Austrian former cyclist and mountain climber.