Surname Tömel - Meaning and Origin
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Tömel: What does the surname Tömel mean?
The last name Tömel is of German and Jewish origin, meaning “Quaking Ash Tree.” It is a topographic name, indicating a physical feature or location that was associated with the family’s ancestors. During the Medieval period in Germany, a person's surname usually indicated their home, occupation, or even physical features of the landscape. This last name is an example of a German “Tree Name,” with many families across the country having surnames to denote the trees related to them.
Tömel, which is pronounced “TOE-mal”, is thought to be derived from the German word “tamel”, meaning an ash tree, or the palm tree. It is a variant of the name Tamm, which is derived from the Ash tree, as well as other tree-related words such as Tannen (fir) or Tanne (pinetree). Over time, the family adopted the form "Tömel", likely to signify their connection to an ash tree.
The Tömel surname is quite common in Germany, with over 3,000 families having the last name. It is also found in other countries such as Austria, Switzerland, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic. Many Tömel families in America are likely descendants of immigrants who made the journey from Europe in the 1800s and 1900s, and set up families there.
The last name Tömel is quite unique, and serves as a reminder of the family’s connection to nature and the landscape. At the same time, its origin also serves as a reminder of those who came before us, and the meaning behind their names.
Order DNA origin analysisTömel: Where does the name Tömel come from?
The last name Tömel is most common throughout Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. It is also seen in small numbers in America. Tömel is a Germanic name derived from "tume" which means "valley".
In Germany, Tömel is primarily found in the western part of the country, especially in the states of North Rhine-Westphalia, Bavaria, and Baden-Wurttemberg. It is also seen in smaller numbers in the Thuringia region.
In Austria, the last name Tömel is particularly associated with the states of Vienna and Tyrol. Additionally, Tömel is found in small numbers throughout Lower Austria and Styria as well.
In America, Tömel is most prominent in Pennsylvania and Texas. It is also seen in smaller numbers in California, Michigan, New York, Illinois, Florida, and Arizona.
Overall, the last name Tömel is most prevalent throughout Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, though it is found in small numbers in America as well.
Variations of the surname Tömel
Tömel is an uncommon surname and has several variants and other spellings stemming from its original form. The surnames Tömel, Toemel, Toemele, Toemeler, Toemler, Toemeler, and Toemler all originate from the German surname Tömel, which is derived from the Middle High German Toemely. The name could have originally been derived from the Old High German 'toeman', meaning 'follower'.
The surnames associated with Tömel are likely derived from place-names such as Tömel, located in the medieval region of Brandenburg in Germany. This type of surname is not uncommon, and indicated that the bearer of the name originated from the area.
Variations of the surname are found in many countries, including the United States, England, Czech Republic, France, Austria, Austria, Switzerland, and Poland. In the United States, for example, Tömel is sometimes found spelled as Toemal or Toemel, and is sometimes hyphenated with another name, such as Toemel-Lang (Lang being a German name derived from the Old High German word 'longa', or 'long').
In the Czech Republic, a variant of Tömel is Töml, resulting from the phonetic transformation of the Czech language. The surname Tömller is a derivative of this variation.
In France, the surname is sometimes spelled ‘Toemelle’, with the ‘lle’ being a regional French variant of the German ‘l’. Similarly, in Switzerland the name is sometimes spelled 'Toemeller'.
In short, the surnames derived from Tömel, and their variants, are quite numerous and scattered throughout the world. Despite the numerous variations of the name, they all undoubtedly point back to the original German surname.
Famous people with the name Tömel
- Johannes Tömel, Austrian gendarmerie general
- Fritz Tömel, Austrian bobsledder
- Hugo Tömel, German athlete
- Hubert Tömel, Austrian theologian
- Hans Tömel, Austrian artist
- Helmut Tömel, Swiss aerobic athlete
- Peter Tömel, German chess master
- Peter-Michael Tömel, German television presenter
- Felix Tömel, German entrepreneur
- Karl Tömel, Austrian composer