Surname Sickel - Meaning and Origin
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Sickel: What does the surname Sickel mean?
The last name Sickel has Germanic origins, and is thought to have originally been derived from the Germanic personal name Sikko, a nickname for someone who was thought to be skilful or clever. This in turn was derived from the Germanic word “segan” meaning “to reason” or “to think”.
Sickel is a very old last name and was likely used for the first time in the 13th century, although in a different form. It is thought to have been derived from the short form of the personal name Siegfried which was Sigel. It is believed to have become Sickel in later centuries.
Today, Sickel is relatively common as a surname across German-speaking countries such as Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. In America, Sickel is found most frequently among German-American families.
The name Sickel has a strong connection to skill and cleverness, likely because of its connection to the personal name Sikko. It is also a reminder of the importance of thinking and reasoning, which demonstrates the family’s connection to wisdom and intelligence.
Order DNA origin analysisSickel: Where does the name Sickel come from?
The last name Sickel is most commonly found in the United States today. According to Ancestry.com, this surname is most prevalent in Illinois, followed by Wisconsin, Iowa, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Florida, and other Northeastern states.
Due to immigration patterns in the 19th and 20th centuries, Sickel is not an especially abundant surname today. In 1890, Sickel was the 1087th most common surname in the United States. In 2000, it had dropped to a rank of 20,787 out of 88,799 total surnames. That same year, the United States Census Bureau estimated that there were fewer than 2,700 people with the last name Sickel in the United States.
Most people with this last name are likely to be of German decent. Sickel, or Sichel, is a German phrase meaning "sickle" and likely originated as an occupational surname given to people who worked with the curved blade often used to harvest crops.
It is possible that the Sickel surname is more common today in other parts of the world, such as Germany or Eastern Europe, due to immigration patterns set in motion by World War II and communist rule in the region. Today, some of the most popular spelling variants of the name include Sickel, Sichel, Siegle, and Siegl.
Variations of the surname Sickel
The surname Sickel is derived from the German word "sickel" which translates to "crescent." This surname can also be written and spelt in other forms, such as Sickle, Sikel, Sikle, Sikell, Sikkel and Syckel.
Variants of Sickel could be Sickle and Sikel. Sickle is an Anglicization of the German name Sickel, while Sikel is the Dutch version of the name. These two spellings of the surname are more commonly found in the United States.
Sikell is an English variant of the name. It is often found in the British Isles, Australia, and New Zealand.
Sikkel is a variant of the name found in Germany, Denmark, and the Netherlands.
Syckel is the Danish spelling of the surname.
There are also variations of the surname which have mutated over time. These variations include Sichl, Sichel, Sicher, Siker, Sikkle, Sikker, Sychel, Syechl, Sykel, and Sykkel.
The meaning of the surname remains the same, regardless of how it is spelled or pronounced. It is derived from the German word "sickel," which translates to "crescent." This reference refers to the crescent shape of a scythe, which is a tool used to harvest crops. It was used as a sign of status by ancient Germanic people, and is likely where the surname originates from.
The surname can also be found in various forms in countries around the world, including Germany, Denmark, the Netherlands, the United States, Australia, New Zealand, and Britain.
Famous people with the name Sickel
- Burton Hersh: American investigative journalist and historian.
- Janice Sickel Molnar: an American statistician and professor of public policy with expertise in poverty, disadvantaged populations, and public program evaluation.
- Henry Sickel: A promoter of chamber of commerce.
- Georgia McDade-Sickel: American former college basketball player.
- Philip Sickel: Professional ice hockey player for the Detroit Red Wings.
- Joe Sickel: Former professional bodybuilder and powerlifter from the United States.
- Ursula Sickel: A German World War I fighter ace credited with 6 aerial victories.
- Jenny Sickel: CEO and artist of Sickel Studios.
- William Sickel: United States representative from Indiana.
- Ernest Sickel: A former Austrian professional football player.