Surname Maerkel - Meaning and Origin
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Maerkel: What does the surname Maerkel mean?
The surname Maerkel is a German name derived from the Middle High German word "marc" which means “horse keeper”. The name likely originated from someone in the Middle Ages who either owned or trained horses.
The name Maerkel is relatively rare and is mostly found in the German-speaking regions of Europe, such as Germany, Austria and Switzerland. The name can also be found in areas where German immigrants have lived, such as the United States and Canada.
According to records, the earliest known person to bear the Maerkel surname was a Heinrich Maerkel, who was born in 1533 in Graevenhage, Netherlands. He was most likely the first person in the Maerkel family tree.
Additionally, records show that the surname Maerkel appears in various hamlets in the Harz region of Germany. Those bearing the Maerkel name may have connections to that region, as some German Maerkel families have remained in the Harz area for many generations.
Overall, the Maerkel surname suggests a connection to the Middle Ages and German-speaking regions in areas such as Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and countries where German immigrants have lived. The Harz region of Germany may be the fatherland for some who bear the Maerkel name.
Order DNA origin analysisMaerkel: Where does the name Maerkel come from?
The last name Maerkel is primarily associated with states in central Europe, particularly Germany and Austria. It is a relatively common name in these regions, and is even more popular in some neighboring countries like the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, and the Netherlands.
German surnames originated from the Middle Ages, when a local lord would give the people he protected the same last name to easily identify the loyal servants who had sworn their fealty. Over time, these surnames became hereditary and gained geographic importance, since families tended to stay in one place.
The German state of Berlin is the origin of the name Maerkel, and it is thought to be derived from the entire city name. The meaning of the name is not known for certain, but it is thought to be related to the old German word for mayor or leader.
Today, Maerkel is a relatively common name in states of central Europe, especially in Germany, Austria, and the Netherlands. There are also people with the surname Maerkel living in the United States and Canada, likely due to immigration. It is likely that the highest concentration of people with the surname Maerkel still resides in the central European countries, however, showing that this surname has maintained its regional popularity.
Variations of the surname Maerkel
The surname Maerkel is an occupational name which originated in Germany, where it is most prominently seen today. The spelling variants of Maerkel include Maerker, Maerckl, Maerckle, Maercklin, Maerkl, and Markel, while there are a wide variety of less popular spellings. Additionally, surnames with similar roots are Markelle, Maerzke, Marzke, Meircklein, Marckle, and Merckle.
Maerkel is derived from the old German word ‘mark’, meaning ‘border’ or ‘boundary’; the root of the name was likely used to denote a person from a particular area or border. As such, the name was largely used as an ethnic identifier, and an indication of a person’s location of origin. Later variations and derivatives of the name are thought to have been created due to differences in pronunciation and local dialects. Maerkel and its variants were originally used to denote a successful trader, or merchant, who operated near a border or on the edge of a town. These days, the name is thought to refer to a person who works or trades in exotic, or foreign, cultures or markets.
The variants and derivatives of Maerkel have spread far and wide over the centuries, and feature regularly in records outside of Germany and Europe. Commonly seen surnames today derived from the Maerkel root include Merkley, Merkle, Merkley and Markle. All of these spellings and surnames are derived from the same base, but evolved in different regions, and under different rules and regulations.
Famous people with the name Maerkel
- Angela Merkel: Angela Dorothea Merkel is a German politician serving as Chancellor of Germany since 2005.
- John Maerke: John Maerke is an American actor and producer, best known for his work on the films Beauty and the Beast, Saving Private Ryan, Human Centipede 2, and Tremors 4.
- Franz Maerkel: Franz Maerkel was a German entrepreneur and financier.
- Götz Maerkel: Götz Maerkel is an Austrian digital artist and photographer.
- Karl Maerkel: Karl Maerkel was a German chemist and pioneer in the development of industrial chemistry in the 19th century.
- Ursula Maerkel: Ursula Maerkel is a German physicist and professor at the Institute for Photographic Chemistry at the University of Konstanz.
- Louis Maerkel: Louis Maerkel was a German-American real estate entrepreneur who served as the president of the Maerkel Construction Company.
- Sybilla Maerkel: Sybilla Maerkel was a German sculptor who specialized in portrait sculpture mainly of children.
- Franz J Maerkel: Franz J Maerkel was a Catholic priest in New York, USA, and the author of two books on religion.
- Peter Maerkel: Peter Maerkel is an American freelance creative director, working on collaborations with noteworthy artists.