Surname Kessel - Meaning and Origin
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Unravelling Viking Roots - An Enthralling iGENEA DNA Analysis of My Surname Kessel
Through iGENEA DNA analysis, I delved into my family history, discovering my Viking roots linked to my surname, Kessel. The fascinating journey stitched together fragments of my ancestry, offering a unique understanding of my heritage, identity, and family traditions.
R. Kessel
read moreKessel: What does the surname Kessel mean?
The last name Kessel is of German origin, and can be translated to mean “Cauldron” or “Kettle”. The surname is quite old, possibly dating back to the 12th century, when it was found in use in the Rhineland region of Germany. A number of other forms of the name exist, including Keso, Kessl, Kesseler, and Kesselhuth.
Kessel is strongly associated with the German language. It was originally used as a surname to identify someone as a professional metalworker, specifically a maker of kettles and cauldrons. This type of metalworking was common in the Middle Ages, particularly in rural settlements across Germany. Variants of this form of the name may also have arisen when different employers took on members of the Kessel family and gave them their own personalised version of the surname.
More recently, Kessel has been an uncommon name in Germany, though the name has spread across the world, largely due to German immigration - which has been a central feature of German life for centuries. Today, those who carry the name are mostly found in countries with ties to German history, such as America, Australia, Austria and France.
The name Kessel is a popular name, and a symbol of pride that connects those who carry it to their German origins. It continues to be used by families around the world who proudly honour their German heritage and the heritage of the Kessel name.
Order DNA origin analysisKessel: Where does the name Kessel come from?
The last name Kessel is most commonly found across Europe today. In Germany it is believed to be one of the 500 most common surnames, and it is also found throughout the Netherlands, Denmark, Switzerland, and Sweden. It can also be found in eastern European countries such as Hungary, Poland, and Ukraine as well as in France.
The surname Kessel is believed to have originated in central and western Europe. It comes from either the Middle High German word "kesse," meaning "pot" or "pan," or from the Low German prefix "Kessel," meaning "basket" or "basin." Both of these meanings likely evolved into being a last name, as it is believed to have originally meant someone who used or manufactured such items.
The surname is also believed to have Jewish roots in Germany, where it would have been used in the days of the Middle Ages to identify Jews living in an area. Throughout Europe, the last name Kessel is associated with nobility, as many people with this name were granted titles such as barons and counts throughout the years.
Today, Kessel is still a popular surname across Europe, particularly in countries such as Germany, the Netherlands, Hungary and France.
Variations of the surname Kessel
The surname Kessel is derived from the Middle Dutch word ‘kesel’, which means a cask or barrel. It often indicated that the original bearer of the surname worked as a cooper. Variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for Kessel include Kesselaar, Kassler, Kesler, Kesslar, Kesselman, Kesselring, Ketterer and Kessell.
Kesselaar is the Dutch version of the surname. It literally means ‘Kessel’, which means barrel-maker in Dutch. Kesslar is a Germanized version of the surname and is a variant of Kesseler. Kesselring is derived from the German element ‘ring’, which means district. This was used by a family from the same area, who could share the same name.
Kessler is a variant which is mostly found in Switzerland and Austria. It is a diminutive of Kesseler and this is often used in the spelling of Kasler. Ketterer is derived from the Germanic element ‘Kött’ which means ‘Kessel’ and ‘-rer’ which means a small number of related people. Kesselman is likely derived from the German word ‘mann’, which means man, and suggests the first bearer of the surname was the son of a barrel-maker.
Finally, Kessell is an English spelling of Kessel which is most common in the United States. All of these various surnames are derived from the same origin and refer to a person of barrel-making ancestry (or one who is related to a barrel-maker).
Famous people with the name Kessel
- Phil Kessel: An American professional ice hockey right winger currently playing for the Arizona Coyotes in the National Hockey League (NHL).
- Larry Kessel: An American former college basketball coach and athletic administrator.
- Marc Kessel: An American football coach and former professional player who was an assistant coach with the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League (CFL).
- Bill Kessel: An American former professional basketball player who played in the National Basketball League for the Washington Capitols in the 1948–1949 season.
- Pete Kessel: A former American professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League (NHL).
- Keith Kessel: An American former professional basketball player who played in the NBA and the American Basketball Association (ABA).
- Arthur Kessel: An American former professional basketball player who played in the NBA and the ABA.
- Diana Kessel: A former American professional cookware manufacturer and homemaker.
- Yan Kessel: An Israeli sprint canoer and Author.
- Weir Kessel: An American business executive.
- Paul Kessel: An American former professional basketball player who played in the NBA and the ABA.
- Theodore Kessel: An American meteorologist and mathematician.
- Meryl Kessel: A former American professional snowboarder.
- Bert Kessel: An American former college football coach.
- Henry Kessel: An American businessman and philanthropist.