Surname Richel - Meaning and Origin
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Richel: What does the surname Richel mean?
The last name Richel is of German origin, and it is usually derived from the personal name Richard. The Old German term for Richard is Richelmair, and this was modified to Richel in the 16th century. The name is thought to mean "strong power", derived from the Old German word "ric", meaning "power", and "helm", meaning "helmet" or "protection".
The Richel surname has been linked to the House of Celje, a noble house in Central Europe which included the counts of Celje, in what is now modern day Slovenia. Count Herman of Celje, the last powerful member of the House of Celje, had the nickname "Richel" because he was known for his strength.
Today, Richel is a common surname in Europe. In Germany, it is mainly found in Brandenburg, Westfalen, Hessia, and Saxonia. It is also found throughout Belgium, France, and the Netherlands. In the United States, the greatest concentration of Richels is in the states of Illinois and Wisconsin.
The Richel name is pretty uncommon in the English-speaking world. Those that do bear the name, however, may take some pride in the heritage of strength and nobility behind it.
Order DNA origin analysisRichel: Where does the name Richel come from?
The last name Richel is most commonly found today in France, where it is believed to have originated from. According to genealogists, the surname Richel is of French origin and is believed to derive from an Old French form of 'riche', which meant 'noble'. In France, the name is most often found in the north central region of Champagne-Ardenne. In other parts of Europe, the last name is found more infrequently but still appears to be quite popular in some of the Germanic countries, including Belgium, Austria, Switzerland, and the Netherlands. It is also present in some parts of Italy, Spain, and Portugal.
In the United States, the Richel surname is most commonly found among those who are of French-Canadian descent. It is also very popular among the French population in Louisiana. In the United Kingdom, it is a rarer last name, only being found sporadically around England, such as in the south west.
In more recent years, Richel has seen a notable increase in usage throughout the Americas, particularly in Canada and the United States. This is likely due to increased immigration to these countries in the past few decades.
Overall, the surname Richel is most common today in European countries, particularly France and Belgium, as well as in Canada and the United States. As the name continues to gain popularity in these locations, it is likely to become even more widely used in the years to come.
Variations of the surname Richel
The surname Richel has many variations, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. Variants of the surname include Richal, Ritcher, Richele, Richle, Ritcherl, Richelis, Richl, Richile, Richalie, Richell, Ritcherly, Richin, Richter, Richtman, Richtmann, Richwina, Richwine, Richman, Richmann, Richtert, Riklea, and Rikel.
The German spelling of Richel is often spelled Richl or Richle. Other spellings of the surname Richel include Richal, Ritcher, Richele, Richler, Richtman, Richtmann, Richwina, Richwine, Richman, Richmann, Richtert, Riklea, and Rikel.
The Dutch surnames Rikkel and Riklea are also derived from Richel. The form Richell is mostly found in the United States and can be variant of the name Richel or short form of the Germanic name Richard.
Richin, Richter, and Richin are derived from either an Old Germanic name beginning with "ric" meaning "the ruler" or from a shortened form of the name Ritchard. This Old Germanic name is derived from the German words "ric" (meaning ruler) and "hild" (meaning battle), making it to mean "battle ruler" or "warrior".
The spelling Richter is often found in Austria and is derived from the Old Germanic name Richlind, which is a combination of the words “rich” (meaning powerful or ruler) and “lind” (meaning soft or gentle).
Richtman or Richtmann is a German occupational name for an estate manager from the Middle Ages. The variation Ritcherly is an English variation of the surname Ritcher.
The surname Richel has many variations, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. Spellings of the surname Richel include Richal, Ritcher, Richele, Richle, Ritcherl, Richelis, Richl, Richile, Richalie, Richell, Ritcherly, Richin, Richter, Richtman, Richtmann, Richwina, Richwine, Richman, Richmann, Richtert, Riklea, and Rikel.
Famous people with the name Richel
- Christophe Richel: French actor best known for his role in the Radio-Canada television series Le Banquier.
- Jérôme Richel: French cyclist, competed in the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney and in the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens.
- Jean-Claude Richel: French adman, known for his work on high-profile campaigns for famous brands.
- Gerard Richel: Dutch swimmer competed in the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo and event the 1966 European Aquatics Championships.
- Yves Olivier-Richel: French entrepreneur and former GTE executive who founded the business incubator in Paris.
- Pierre-Alexis Richel: French academic, director-general of the National Library of France and first director of the Bibliothèque de France.
- Jean-Philippe Richel: Belgian footballer who played as defender for several clubs.
- Marlène Richel: French radio executive, served as president of Radio Classique and Radio Notre Dame.
- Phyllis Richel: American fashion designer with forty years of experience in the industry.
- Micheline Richel: Belgian skater who competed in ladies' singles events.