Surname Kügel - Meaning and Origin
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Kügel: What does the surname Kügel mean?
The last name Kügel is of German origin and is a habitational name that refers to those who lived in a town or village called Kügel. The word Kügel is derived from a word meaning “sphere,” “round,” or “ball.” In Old German, the term was also used to refer to an individual who lived on a rounded hill.
The earliest record of the name appears in the Prümer Urkundenbuch, a book of charters and documents from the eleventh and twelfth centuries in the Lahn Valley. The earliest record of the name can be found in 1188 AD in Obernburg, Germany.
The Kügel name also appears in the Ortssippenbuch, which is a book that records the genealogies and family histories of villages in Germany. The Kügel family appears in the villages of Rauchleinstetten, Staudernheim, and Westerloh, all of which were located in the county of Prüm, Germany.
Other variants of the surname Kügel include Kügler, Kugeler, Kugele, and Kugelmann. The name is still relatively common in Germany today, though rarer outside of the country such as in the United States.
Order DNA origin analysisKügel: Where does the name Kügel come from?
The last name Kügel is most commonly found in Germany today. According to historical data, the German surname Kügel is derived from an old Germanic root meaning "crooked." This likely alludes to the unusual bent middle syllable in the name - "üg."
This surname is unique for several reasons, one being the number of distinct spellings associated with it. For example, the original spelling of Kügel might also be spelled Kēgel, Kögel, Köggell, Kögels, Küggell, Kügell, or Kügelmann.
Given these multiple spellings, Kügel can have different regional concentrations. In Germany, it functions as a more regional surname, and is most commonly found in the south. Meanwhile, regions with a more direct connection with Germany, such as Switzerland, Austria, and Luxemburg also have a significant population of Kügel. Additionally, some individuals with the Kügel surname have also migrated to North America and other parts of the world.
Overall, research shows an interesting history that can help explain the prevalence of Kügel in Germany today. It stands as a testament to the wealth of clues that surname analysis can provide.
Variations of the surname Kügel
Kügel is an uncommon German surname that can be spelled a few different ways, including Kuegel, Kugel, Kuegle, Kuigle, Kugle and Kuguel. In some cases, the German umlaut ü is often replaced with an ue to create the spelling Kuegel.
Kügel is thought to be derived from the German word Kugel, meaning ball, globe or sphere. Given that it is thought to be an occupational surname, it is likely that it began as a surname for someone associated with a trade that made or sold balls or globes. This could include anyone from a bowling alley owner to a silversmith who crafted spheres to an antique dealer that sold globes.
Variants of Kügel can also be found in other countries. In Sweden and Finland, the surname Kugelberg can be found while in Switzerland, the surname Kugelmann is fairly common. In the Netherlands, Kogel is the most popular spelling of the surname.
In the United States, Kügel is not an especially common surname, though there are a few family branches that emigrated from Germany in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Spelling variations, such as Kuegel, can also be seen in families that are more recent immigrants to the US.
It should also be noted that Kügel can be observed as an alternate spelling of the more common German surname Kögel. As a result, anyone searching for members of their family tree with the Kügel surname should also consider researching the surname Kögel.
Famous people with the name Kügel
- Florian Kügel: German actor and director.
- Franziska Kügel: German television presenter.
- Paul Kügel: German designer and sculptor.
- Klaus Kügel: German actor.
- Ulrich Kügel: German actor and voice actor.
- Christoph Kügel: German philatelist and businessman.
- Johann Kügel: German sculptor.
- Karl Kügel: German composer and conductor.
- Uwe Kügel: German poet and philosopher.
- Pauline Kügel: German actress.
- Sebastian Kügel: German actor.
- Dirk Kügel: German politician and lawyer.
- Gunter Kügel: German sculptor and artist.
- Samuel Kügel: German musician and composer.
- Ernst Kügel: German art historian and curator.