Surname Weickel - Meaning and Origin

Weickel: What does the surname Weickel mean?

The surname Weickel is of German origin. It is an occupational surname, referring to someone who manufactured or used a weickel, a large, two-handed saw used for cutting trees into manageable lengths. In the Middle Ages, it was an important tool for timber harvesting. As an occupational name, it reflects the journey of Jewish ancestry from Germany to the United States, where many of the earliest Weickel families emigrated.

The Weickels emerged as a family name in the early 19th century. The people who adopted the Weickel surname probably lived in a rural environment and were likely involved in lumbering as an occupation. Over time, the surname may have changed slightly in spelling, particularly when families moved to different parts of the world.

The Weickels proved to be tenacious as an immigrant family. They worked hard in the New World to become successful, often in the face of significant political, religious and cultural discrimination. They advanced in many different professions, including law, education and the medical field.

Today, the meaning of the surname Weickel has largely been lost. Instead, the surname represents the legacy of a hardworking people who helped build an immigrant-driven society and economy of the United States.

Weickel: Where does the name Weickel come from?

Weickel is a German-origin surname which is very common in Germany today. The name is found throughout much of the country, though is particularly common in the north. This includes states such as Lower Saxony, Schleswig-Holstein, and Hamburg, as well as to a lesser extent in Brandenburg and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.

The surname is particularly numerous in Bavaria, where it is in the top 5,000 names. Other German-speaking countries, like Austria, also have common occurrences of the name.

In the United States, Weickel is a relatively uncommon name. However, it still appears in some American states including Nebraska, Arizona, Kentucky, and New Jersey.

In other countries, the name is not particularly common. Italy and France have a few occurrences, while the same can be said for the United Kingdom. Weickel was rare in countries with a much smaller German-speaking population, such as Sweden, Portugal, and Finland.

Overall, Weickel is a mostly German-origin surname which has managed to survive over several generations, and is still a relatively common name in some countries today.

Variations of the surname Weickel

Weickel is a German surnames of uncertain origin. It is believed to have originated from ancient Germanic or Saxon culture of Europe, and is derived from "Wigg", meaning “one who wrestles”. Over time, spellings of the name have varied as immigration has dispersed people loosing the original dialects spoken in old Germany, while others have also adopted different letters or expanded letters due to language change. Spellings and variants of this name include Weigel, Wigle, Wicke, Wichl, Wickl, Wyhl, Wykl, Weykel, Weikel, Weycel, Weicheal, Weichel, Weickel, Veygel, Vigle, Vykel, Veykel, Vikel, Vietzel, Vinkel, Vinkl, Vigle, Veichel, Veigele, and Wiggel.

The name has also been confused for and adopted as Weikel, Wegield, and Weigel as a common surname in the United States, as well as Welzel, Welz, and Veltzel in parts of Europe and Central and South America. It is also sometimes confused with the surname Wickliff, which is derived from Old Norse, Viking, and/or Anglo-Saxon origins.

The spelling Weickel is still commonly used in Germany today, as well as some parts of Europe. It is also used in the US, with the other spellings and variants being more widely used.

Famous people with the name Weickel

• Kyle Weickel: Professional Basketball Player; former And latin School and Westmont College athlete.
• Ted Weickel: American College Football Player; former University of Central Florida and Florida International University quarterback.
• Rachel Weickel: American Figure Skater; 2013 World Junior Champions bronze medalist.
• Bruce Weickel: American Actor; appeared in the sitcom “Frasier”, “Hot in Cleveland” and “Young & the Restless”.
• Joe Weickel: Former Major League Baseball Player; pitched for the Minnesota Twins and Texas Rangers in the 1960s.
• Leigh Weickel: Actress; appeared in the television series “Major Crimes” and “Psych”.
• John Weickel: American Musician; co-founded the record label “Mekka Records” and is currently the bassist of the jazz/fusion duo “Weickel Wisdom”.
• Mary Weickel: Artist; Specializes in oil and acrylic paintings as well as digital art. Her awards include the 2015 President's Award from International Society of Acrylic Painters.
• Pat Weickel: Retired American Football Player; former NFL defensive tackle who played for the San Diego Chargers.
• Dave Weickel: Television Producer; worked on projects such as “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” and “The Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan.”

Other surnames

WeickWeickardtWeickartWeickeWeickeltWeickenWeickerWeickertWeickgenanntWeickhardtWeickhartWeickhmannWeicklWeickmann