Surname Seckel - Meaning and Origin
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Seckel: What does the surname Seckel mean?
The last name Seckel is German in origin and is likely derived from the Middle High German word "seckel", meaning "small cup". This likely indicates that the progenitor of the Seckel family was a craftsman of some variety. It could also be derived from the Middle High German word "sakegel", meaning "wooden vessel". This could suggest that the original Seckel was a merchant or trader, as wooden vessels of various sorts were often used to transport goods in the Middle Ages.
Seckel is an uncommon surname and is documented as far back as the 16th century. It is found in the former German Duchy of Nassau from at least 1568 and may have originated from a region in Sauerland, Germany.
Seckel is also a fairly common Jewish surname. This suggests that the Seckels of Jewish heritage may have origin in the region of Prussia. The Jewish Seckels probably took the name upon their conversion to Christianity when they immigrated to Prussia in the 1700s.
Today, Seckel is a widely distributed surname, with members of the Seckel family found in various countries across Europe and the United States.
Order DNA origin analysisSeckel: Where does the name Seckel come from?
The surname Seckel is most prevalent in Germany and the United States. In Germany, the surname is especially common in the east, especially in the states of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Saxony, and Saxony-Anhalt. In the United States, it is most common in Pennsylvania, but is also found in other states such as Illinois and New Jersey. The name is also relatively common in Canada and Australia.
Seckel is thought to have originated with the ancient Germanic personal name Askal, which evolved into the Dutch personal name Zeckel. This name went on to form the surname Seckel. From the Middle Ages onward, the surname was mostly found in the western part of the Holy Roman Empire. During the 19th century, many members of the Seckel family migrated to the United States.
The name is shared by many famous personalities, most famously psychology professor Adolf Seckel, who developed theories on perception and gestalt psychology, and fashion designer Barbara Torode-Seckel, who designed pieces for the likes of Chanel and Dior. In addition, the name is also popular in art and literature. John Seckel was a renowned photographer in the mid-20th century whose work was featured in a 2014 show at the National Portrait Gallery in London.
Variations of the surname Seckel
Surnames of the same origin as Seckel are spelled differently in different regions. These variations are mainly due to the phonetic transformation of the name over time and the language or area of origin. Some of these variants include Sackle, Seckle, Sacklel, Sackal, Sekal, Sekkel, Sackl, Seckill, and Sekiel.
Sackle and Sacklel are variations of the surname Seckel mainly found in Germany. These spellings are thought to originate from a phonetic transformation of the low German word 'sacken', meaning 'to sink'.
Another variation of the Seckel surname, Seckle, is often found in Poland and is derived from the Polish word 'sekly', meaning 'to saw'. Seckill is a variant of Seckel found in Scandinavian countries. This could be derived from the Old Norse word 'sikl', meaning 'saw'.
Sekal is a variant of Seckel found mainly in countries of the former Austro-Hungarian Empire. This spelling of Seckel is believed to be the most closely related to the original spelling of the surname. Sekkel is a slightly altered form of Sekal and is used in Austria, Germany, and Poland.
The English spelling of Seckel is Sackl or Sackal. This spelling shape was adopted into English during the 18th and 19th centuries from immigrants of German and Czech origin.
Finally, Sekiel is a variant of Seckel mainly found in Slovakia and is thought to be derived from the Slovak word 'sekiel', meaning 'scorpion'.
In conclusion, there are numerous variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Seckel. These include Sackle, Seckle, Sacklel, Sackal, Sekal, Sekkel, Sackl, Seckill, and Sekiel. The language and origin of these variants vary significantly, with some having Germanic origins and some more Slavic. Each variant of Seckel is thought to hold its own meaning or translation, leading to its specific origin and spelling of the surname.
Famous people with the name Seckel
- Ed Seckel: Former college basketball coach and collegiate athletic administrator at the University of California, Irvine and Iowa State University
- Schmuel Seckel: Award-winning Jewish songwriter
- Adam Seckel: Assistant director of the Harvard Project Zero for over 30 years
- Jonas Seckel: Traditional Chinese medicine doctor and founder of the holistic wellness center Golden Cabinet
- Jay Seckel: Emmy Award-winning editor, best known for his work on the TV drama The Sopranos
- Gernot Seckel: German researcher and professor at the Technische Universitaet Dresden specializing in aerodynamics and aerospace engineering
- Kenneth Seckel: Award-winning American painter
- Samuel Seckel: Pulitzer Prize-winning American journalist and editor for The New York Times
- Gerhard Seckel: German industrial designer, sculptor, and inventor
- Michel Seckel: French wine expert, author of several books on wine, and the recipient of the award for Best Sommelier in France