Surname Rinkel - Meaning and Origin
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Rinkel: What does the surname Rinkel mean?
The last name Rinkel is of Germanic origin and is derived from the Old German personal name Rinkel. This name is a short form of the name "Rüdiger" or "Rutger", composed of the elements "hrod" meaning "renown" and "geri" meaning "spear". The name was quite popular in areas of Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
Rinkel is an occupational surname, derived from the old German word "rinkelmoere" meaning "spinner". This occupation involved spinning wool or other fiber materials, either by hand or using a spinning wheel. The name was adopted by people who performed this job and their families.
Today, the name Rinkel is quite rare. People bearing this name are dispersed throughout parts of Europe, the United States, Canada and Australia, although most are concentrated in historic German regions.
Overall, Rinkel is a unique name with a proud history. It is a reminder of the hardworking and industrious people who created and maintained communities through their trade and labor.
Order DNA origin analysisRinkel: Where does the name Rinkel come from?
The Rinkel surname is most common today in the Netherlands. It is a Dutch toponymic surname, meaning it is derived from a geographical location, possibly in low German or Dutch. The name may refer to someone who comes from places named Rinkel, Rinkeldam or Rinkenbergh, all of which are located in the Netherlands.
The Dutch commonly used toponymic surnames as far back as the 16th century, and there is evidence of people with the Rinkel surname from 1508. There are also records suggesting the Rinkel surname was used in areas previously under Dutch control, such as East Friesland.
Today, the Rinkel surname is found primarily in the Netherlands. It is in the top ten of most common surnames, with over 30,000 people in the country having the name. It is not as widely distributed outside of the Netherlands, however there are some small pockets of Dutch citizens who have emigrated with the surnames Rinkel, Rinkle or Rinkeldam.
The Rinkel surname is also found in the United States, mostly in Pennsylvania, Indiana and Ohio, although in much smaller numbers. These are likely to be descendants of Dutch immigrants who traveled to the area in the 19th and 20th centuries.
Variations of the surname Rinkel
The surname Rinkel has multiple origins and derives from a number of different countries, and as such, a number of different variants, spellings and surnames come from the same origin.
In Germany, the surname is spelled Reinckels, while in the Netherlands, it is spelled Rienkels, Rinkels and Rinkle. In Belgium, it is spelled Rincken, while in England it is spelled Ranckle, as well as Rinkles and Rinkel. In Denmark, it is spelled Rinkler, while in Scotland it is spelled Rankill.
The surname is also spelled Rankle and Ranklin, as well as Rankling. Other spelling variations of the surname include Ranckel and Rankels. In addition, variants of the surname include Ranklinge, Rankle, Rindkele, Rinckelle, Rankel, Reinckel, Rynkel and Rounce.
The surname is also found in other countries such as France, where it is spelled Renckel, and Austria, where it is spelled Rankkel. Some of the spellings and variants of the surname are also found in Lithuania, Latvia, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland, Ireland, New Zealand, Australia, Canada and the United States.
No matter how the surname is spelled, it is believed to be derived from the name of the Rijn River in the Netherlands, as well as from the personal name, Reinhold.
Famous people with the name Rinkel
- Jacob Rinkel (c. 1771–1845), Dutch Dutch merchant, associated with the Jewish community at Amsterdam
- Harry Rinkel, (1891-1944), German-American sculptor and portrait painter
- Leone Louise (Rinkel) Piccard, aviator
- Elisabeth Rinkel-Grosse, German fashion designer and couturier
- Hilmar Rinkel, German modern pentathlete
- Louis Rinkel (1837–1922), American physician and civil war veteran
- Arnold Rinkel (1895–1963), Dutch lawyer and Deputy Prime Minister
- Jeffrey Rinkel (1888–1963), leading Dutch surgeon, professor at the University of Amsterdam.
- Oscar Emanuel Rinkel (1850–1911), Dutch Minister for War
- Joanne Rinkel, an Indigenous Australian teacher who received the Medal of the Order of Australia