Surname Wandel - Meaning and Origin
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Wandel: What does the surname Wandel mean?
The last name Wandel is of German origin, derived from the German word “wandeln,” meaning “to wander.” The surname was likely acquired by a pioneering family who wandered and migrated, settling in various areas. The Wandel surname is found in records since the early 14th century, and is still common today.
Wandel is thought to derive from the Middle High German word "wandeln" meaning "to travel." The surname may have been acquired by a migrant family of religious or political refugees, or a family who simply wandered from place to place, settling for a time where they could until moving on. The surname may have originated with a geographic feature, such as a pathway or road.
Wandel is also thought to be a variation of the German “Wendel,” which referred to a Wend, a Slavic tribe whose descendants lived in German-speaking areas in the Middle Ages. Additionally, the surname may have been adopted by non-German families to imply they fellowshiped with the German-speaking people living in their area or to mark a naturalization process, as was common in early medieval times.
Today, Wandel is found throughout Europe and its former colonies, but is most common in Germany and the United States. In Germany, the surname has likely been passed down thru generations of German families, reflecting one of the greatest movements of population around the world.
Order DNA origin analysisWandel: Where does the name Wandel come from?
The last name Wandel is found predominantly in Germany, Scandinavia, and other parts of Central Europe. It is believed to have originated in Germany and is derived from the German word 'wandel', meaning 'walker' or 'straggler'. The name can also be found in the United States, Australia, and Canada, though in significantly fewer numbers.
In Germany, Wandel is widely spread throughout the country and is common in larger cities such as Berlin, Hamburg, and Munich. It is also found across Central and Eastern Europe in countries such as Poland, the Czech Republic, Austria, Hungary, and Serbia. The majority of Wandel surnames have remained in Germany, although many families have migrated to the United States, Canada, Australia, and elsewhere too.
Closer to its place of origin, Wandel families are regarded as a part of society and there are, for example, several notable Wandel inhabitants in the Bavarian town of Baden-Baden. The surname may also take on alternate spellings such as Wändel, Van Dal, Vandel, and Van de Wal. From this it is clear to see that this surname has made an impact on a variety of cultures around the world.
Variations of the surname Wandel
Wandel is an occupational surname. It is derived from the German and Dutch word "wandel," meaning "walking," or someone who traveled in order to do business. The surname is most commonly found in England, but is also found in various other countries throughout Europe.
In English, the most common spellings are Wandel, Waundel, Wandall, and Wall. Variants of the surname in other languages include Wandley, Vandel, Wandling, Wanderlin, Waundell, Wundel, Vandell, and Vondel.
In Germany, Wandel is also spelled Wändel and Wändele. Spellings with the umlaut include Wändell, Wändellin, Wändelein, and Wändely.
In Dutch, Wandel is also spelled Vondel, Van der, Van de, Ver, and Vandele. Variants of the name with the prefix "ver-" include Verande, Verandel, Verand, and Veranda.
In Russia, the Wandel surname is transliterated as Vondel and found primarily in the regions of Ukraine and Belarus. In Poland, the Wandel surname is usually rendered as Wander or Vondel.
In Czech Republic and Slovakia, Wandel is also spelled Vondel, Vondla, or Vandl. In Hungary, Wandel is commonly spelled Vondel or Wander.
Finally, in Scandinavia, the surname Wandel appears as Vandels, Wanderls, Vandal, and Vondahl.
Famous people with the name Wandel
- Yoo Wandel: Dutch piano player, composer and arranger.
- Miko Wandel: Finnish ice hockey player.
- Adrian Wandel: Swedish character actor.
- Philipp von Walter Wandel: German scientific historian and professor.
- Lorenz Wandel: German politician and former president of the Thuringian State Parliament.
- Monika Wandel: Danish swimmer.
- George Wandel: Canadian contemporary abstract painter.
- Simon Wandel: Danish actor.
- Carl Friedrich Wandel: German zoologist, anatomist, and herpetologist.
- George Demetrios Wandel: Greek-born Canadian entrepreneur and philanthropist.