Surname Kargel - Meaning and Origin
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Kargel: What does the surname Kargel mean?
The last name Kargel is of German origin and is thought to have been primarily found in the south-western region of the country. It is thought that the name likely derived from the Middle High German word Karg, meaning "patrimony". This could be someone who came from a family of reasonable status and wealth, whose ancestors had built a substantial legacy.
The family name could also have derived from the German "Kar", meaning "rock", and "Gebirge", meaning "mountain chain". In this case, a Kargel may have been someone who lived in or near a mountain region, or had ancestors who did.
As the Kargel surname has been around since at least the 17th century, it is likely that many descendants of this surname have remained in Germany, while others have gone abroad. Those families with the Kargel surname that have left Germany since then can be found commonly in Australia, Canada, and the United States.
Order DNA origin analysisKargel: Where does the name Kargel come from?
The last name Kargel is not particularly common today, but is still found in pockets around the world. In Europe, it is most commonly found in Germany, Croatia, and the Czech Republic. In the United States, the last name is scattered throughout the country, with the highest concentration being in the Midwest. In particular, there is a relatively high concentration of Kargel in the states of Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and Pennsylvania.
In other parts of the world, the last name Kargel can be found in countries such as Australia, New Zealand, Canada, South Africa, and the Philippines. There is also a notable presence of Kargel in South America, specifically Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, and Chile.
The origin of the last name Kargel is German and derives from an old medieval German word meaning “Knight” or “Official”. It is believed that the emergence of the name originated in the region between the 14th and 16th centuries and was born out of a desire to distinguish oneself from others through bearing a moniker associated with nobility.
Today, it is estimated that there are roughly 2,000-3,000 people in the world bearing the last name Kargel. While this number may be small in comparison to some of the most popular surnames in the world (e.g., Smith, Johnson, and Williams), it still represents a noteworthy population of individuals who all share the same family name.
Variations of the surname Kargel
The surname Kargel is an old German family name and has multiple variations, spellings and surnames of the same origin.
Kargel and its variants can be spelled Kergel, Karágel, Kýrghel, Kàrghel, Kàrkel, Kùrghèl, Kùrkol, Kàrgio, Kàrgiel and Kergio. Variants with the same linguistic origin include the Italian variants Caragallo and Carico and the Spanish Gárgillon.
Alternative surnames include Kårgle, Kàrgel, Kàrgie, Kàrkhel, Kàrgle, Kùrgle, Kàrgin, Kàrgel, Kårgel, Kårgle, Kårkol, Kùrgolo, Kàrkin, Kårgiel, Kårgue and Kàrkie.
The origin of Kargel is believed to be from the German word ‘Kar’, which translates to ‘strength’ or ‘might’, and ‘gel’ which translates to ‘bright’ and suggests a bright and strong lineage. It is believed to have initially been a patronymic surname, in that it was derived from a person's given name, which likely meant it was commonly passed down from generation to generation.
Kargel is still a relatively common German surname and can be found most commonly in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and the United States.
Famous people with the name Kargel
- Stefan Kargel: Former vice-chancellor of Austria
- Tony Kargel: U.S. archer who represented the United States in the 2016 Summer Olympics
- Anna Kargel: Paralympic gold medalist in skiing
- Jens Kargel: German former ski jumper
- Reto Kargel: Swiss biathlete
- Max Kargel: German cross-country skier
- Katharina Kargel: Professional German beach volleyball player
- Mathias Kargel: German mountain biker
- Eduard Kargel: Estonian short track speed skater
- Franz Kargel: Austrian bobsledder
- Arne Kargel: Another German cross-country skier
- Dominik Kargel: Professional German golfer
- Karin Kargel: Austrian astrologer
- Friedrich Kargel: Austrian actor
- Claus Kargel: German swimmer