Surname Karel - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'K'
Karel: What does the surname Karel mean?
The surname Karel is of Czech origin and it is a variant of the personal name "Karl," synonymous with the English name "Charles." In ancient German, the name Karl or Charles means "free man" or "man of free status," originally signifying a warrior or someone belonging to a noble lineage. It was a popular name among various European royal families, including the Normans. Furthermore, the name was made illustrious by a number of historical holy figures such as St. Charles Borromeo and renowned public figures like Charles the Great (Charlemagne). However, as a surname, Karel may not necessarily indicate a direct lineage connection with these figures, but rather it could have been adopted by someone who was a servant in a Charles household or someone who lived near the landmarks named after a Charles.
Order DNA origin analysisKarel: Where does the name Karel come from?
The surname Karel is of Slavic origin. It is derived from the male personal name "Karel", which is the Czech and Slovak form of "Charles", meaning "man". The surname is common in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, and also found in surrounding countries influenced by Slavic culture.
Over the years, emigration has also spread the surname to other parts of the world, including the United States and other places with historically large immigrant populations from these areas.
The surname Karel may be less common than other surnames due to natural population distribution and immigration patterns, but it signifies strong roots in Slavic culture and history.
Variations of the surname Karel
The surname Karel is of Czech origin and it is the Czech variant of the English name Charles. This surname has several variants and spellings which may include: Karl, Karello, Carrell, Correll, Karlos, Kerel, Carol, Karol, Carel, and Kariel. It may be even be adorned with diacritical signs, resulting in versions like Kárel or Kärél. It may also take gender-specific versions in some cultures, such as "Karela" for women.
Alternative surnames with ties to the same geographic origins or with similar linguistic roots may include Korbel, Karelson, Krasa, Karlov, Karas, or Karle.
Variations of the name Karel can also be found in several other languages, reflecting the cultural exchange and migration of people over time. For example, Charles (English), Carlo (Italian), Carlos (Spanish), Karl (German), Karol (Polish), Carolus (Latin), and Carl (Swedish).
However, it's important to note that the meaning and the usage of the name or surname can slightly differ in different cultures and regions. It's always good to conduct specific genealogical or historical research for accurate connections.
Famous people with the name Karel
- Gustav Karel: A Czech actor known for his work in various films.
- Karel Abraham: A professional motorcycle road racer from the Czech Republic who participates in MotoGP.
- Karel Ančerl: He was a leading Czech conductor, renowned especially for his interpretations of contemporary music and his recordings of the symphonies of Mahler and Tchaikovsky.
- Karel Appel: A Dutch painter and sculptor, co-founder of the CoBrA movement.
- Charles Karel Bouley II (also known as Karel): An American radio host, DJ, and columnist.
- Karel Roden: A famous Czech actor known for his roles in many Hollywood movies and video games.
- Karel Schwarzenberg: Former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Czech Republic and a member of the House of Schwarzenberg, a historic Czech-Austrian nobility.
- Karel Čapek: A famous Czech writer, known for his works in science fiction and his play R.U.R., which introduced the word robot.
- Karel Gott: He was one of the most successful male singers in Germany and the Czech Republic, known as the Sinatra of the East.
- Karel Reisz: He was a British filmmaker associated with the Free Cinema movement who directed several hallmark films of the British New Wave. Note that some of these individuals use "Karel" as their first name, due to the limitation in finding famous people with "Karel" as their last name.