Surname Voepel - Meaning and Origin
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Voepel: What does the surname Voepel mean?
The surname Voepel is of German origin and is derived from the Middle High German word ‘vopel’, meaning ‘free man’. This could refer to either a peasant who was granted their emancipation or its opposite, a member of the elite with personal autonomy.
Historically, many variations of this name are found throughout Germany. The most common versions are Vepel, Vöpel, Vöppel, Vöppel and Voepel.
In Germany, the Voepel surname is believed to have originated in various small villages in Lower Saxony and Schleswig Holstein, where the name is particularly well-represented. Records of the surname in Germany date back all the way to 1504.
In the US, the Voepel surname first appears in Ohio in the nineteenth century, where a certain Johanne Voepel arrived from with a group of German settlers.
Today, the Voepel name remains relatively uncommon. Although its meaning has been reduced to the bare family name, its rich history of influence on its bearer remains.
Order DNA origin analysisVoepel: Where does the name Voepel come from?
The last name Voepel is most commonly found in Germany, especially in the north-western states of North Rhine-Westphalia and Lower Saxony. This is also where the surname originated, as evidenced by records dating back to the 1600s when the Voepel family first settled in the city of Minden.
The surname is also occasionally found in other European countries, such as Poland and Belgium, owing to its spread by emigrants during the 1900s. More recently, due to a large influx of immigrants from Germany in the twentieth century, the name has been found in North and South American countries such as the United States and Brazil.
The Voepel name is not extremely common today, but still has a presence in Germany and a handful of other countries. Given its longevity in German culture, it is likely that it will remain in circulation for many years to come.
Variations of the surname Voepel
The surname Voepel is derived from an Old German name referring to a person who was an inhabitant from the area of Veipel (now known as Veipel). This name has been recorded in various spellings and forms throughout the centuries, such as Vepel, Voipel, Voepel, Voeppl, Vuopel, Vuoeppel, Vöppel, Vöppeler and Vöppler.
In the United States, the earliest recorded version of the name appeared in 1821 in Pennsylvania, with the spelling of Voepel. Other American records between the 1820s and the 1880s have Voepel variants such as Veple, Voeple, Voepple, and Vopple.
In Germany, Veipel is a form recorded as far back as the 13th century, with related forms of Voepel and Voeppel appearing between the 17th and 19th centuries.
In England, the surname is rare and has likely been established only in the past couple of centuries referencing a descendant of German immigrants. The earliest instance where the surname is recorded is in the 1840s with a spelling of Voepel.
Variant and surnames derived from the original German name of Voepel, are Grillenvoepel, Barbknecht, Erdmann, Görling, and Möhlendick.
Famous people with the name Voepel
- Steven Voepel: Steven Voepel is an American about baseball writer who has reported for the San Diego Union-Tribune since 1975. He is also a member of several baseball Halls of Fame.
- Philippe Voepel: Philippe Voepel is a French architect and urban planner who specializes in sustainable urban development. He is also the founder of Ph.Voepel & Associate.
- Jim Voepel: Jim Voepel is a former American football and baseball player who played college football at University of Michigan from 1969 to 1972. He was also an assistant basketball coach at Michigan from 1977 to 1981.
- Robert Voepel: Robert Voepel was a German World War II prisoner of war who served in the Wehrmacht's 116th Panzer Division. He was captured in 1945 and liberated in 1947.
- Frank Voepel: Frank Voepel is an American football coach who served as the Alabama Crimson Tide's running backs coach from 1998 to 1999.
- Leigh Voepel: Leigh Voepel is a 1998 Australian Olympic swimmer. She won a silver medal for the 200m freestyle at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta and was a four-time Australian National Champion.
- Max Voepel: Max Voepel is a German classical concert pianist and recording artist. His style is described as Romantic and lyrical and he has performed and recorded with various orchestras around Europe.
- Stephan Voepel: Stephan Voepel is a German athletics coach who coached the world record holder for the women's javelin throw, Barbel Wockel. He has also coached the World Indoor Champions in the javelin event.
- Albrecht Voepel: Albrecht Voepel is a former German national basketball team player. He helped his team win the German Basketball Championship in 1999 and is a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame.
- Anne Voepel: Anne Voepel is a former American figure skater. She competed in the 1990 U.S. Figure Skating Championships and won a bronze medal.