Surname Schnepel - Meaning and Origin

Schnepel: What does the surname Schnepel mean?

The last name Schnepel is of German origin. It is derived from the Middle High German word "schnepfel", meaning scrap or clippings of fur or wool. The name likely originally referred to a worker in the fur or wool trade, such as a tanner, carder, or tailor. Alternatively, it might also refer to a dealer in scrap, fur, or wool.

The earliest documented use of the Schnepel surname is from 15th century Bavaria. Records indicate a certain Johannes Schnepfel is cited as living in the Bohemian cities of Cheb and Most in 1477.

By the 17th century, the Schnepels had expanded into the region of East Prussia and beyond. During this time, they developed a number of variants of the name, including Schneple, Schnepeler, Schnepelmann, and Schnepen. These variants can still be found among German-speaking populations today.

Today, the majority of bearers of the surname Schnepel can be found in Germany, Poland, Austria, and the Czech Republic. In the United States and Canada, the name is most prominently found in areas with high German immigration, such as Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Ontario.

Given its German origins, the surname Schnepel is typically of Catholic or Protestant faith. It may also be associated with occupational or regional names, as it was often assumed by those in the fur and wool trade.

Schnepel: Where does the name Schnepel come from?

Today, the last name Schnepel is most common in Germany, as census data from the last five years shows it to be the 1312th most common surname in the country. It is also quite common throughout the German-speaking world, particularly in Austria and Switzerland. There are also significant numbers of people bearing this name in the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, and France.

The majority of the people who carry the last name Schnepel are of German descent, with many tracing their roots to the Schleswig-Holstein, the northernmost state in Germany, or other northern German states. It is likely that the surname originated in northern Germany, and it could also have been brought to the United States by settlers from German-speaking areas in the 19th century.

The name itself could have originated from a variety of different sources. It could be a topographical name derived from the word "Schnepflingen" for a small area of marshy land, or it could have derived from a personal name. It could also be derived from who or what people did for a living or where they lived in the past.

Regardless of its origin, the last name Schnepel is still quite common today, with many people bearing this name throughout the German-speaking world and elsewhere.

Variations of the surname Schnepel

The surname Schnepel is an occupational surname derived from the German word "Schnepfe", which means snipe. It is most common among people of German descent who live predominantly in northern Germany, but also in Austria and Switzerland.

Variants and spelling variants of the surname Schnepel include Schnebel, Schneppel, Schnepelmann, Schnippel, Schnaibel, Schaepel, Schnabel, Schneeble, Schnahbel, Schneekel, Schnepf, Schneepl, Schnippel, Schnepfel, Schnueple, and Schneple.

Some of the singular forms of the surname Schnepel have also been recorded, such as Schnepley, Schnepply, Schnepply, Schnepple, and Schneebele.

Schnepel can also be seen as a surname variant to Schnieder, Schneppbele, Schnieder, Schnyder, Schneider, and Schneider.

From the Low German and Low Saxon, Schnepel derives to Schnebel, and to the Dutch and Dutch-speaking regions, it was also at one time derived to the looks of the Dutch name “Schnabel”.

In some cases, the surname Schnepel has also been found in areas of France, most notably in the Alsace region.

The original surname Schnepel is a patronymic surname (meaning that it is derived from the name of a father or ancestor) and often times the literal translation of the German words Schnepfe or Schnabel (snipe) was taken into Latin by the Catholic church when forming the Latinised form of the name.

In some cases a surname such as “van der Schnabel” may also refer to the origin of people from a place called “Schnabel”.

Famous people with the name Schnepel

• Benjamin Schnepel: German-American artist and designer.
• Emily Schnepel: American professional female snowboarder, qualified for the 1998 Winter Olympics.
• Ingo Schnepel: German television director.
• Georg Schnepel: German diplomat and politician.
• Norbert Schnepel: German zoologist and entomologist.
• Judith Schnepel: German musician and composer.
• Terry Schnepel: American game developer and computer scientist.
• Nina Schnepel: German actress.
• Sebastian Schnepel: German sculptor and installation artist.
• Eva Schnepel: German entrepreneur and businesswoman.
• Scott Schnepel: American politician and attorney.
• Johann Friedrich Schnepel: German architect.
• Paul Schnepel: German photographer and photojournalist.
• John Schnepel: American professional baseball player.
• Mike Schnepel: American professional bowler.
• Tobias Schnepel: German entrepreneur and business executive.
• Hans Schnepel: German electrical engineer.
• Johann Schnepel: German minister and theologian.
• Erica Schnepel: American film producer and screenwriter.
• Wilhelm Heinrich Schnepel: German botanist and zoologist.

Other surnames

Schneppel