Surname Wendle - Meaning and Origin
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Wendle: What does the surname Wendle mean?
The surname Wendle is of German origin and has multiple meanings behind it. It could be derived from a personal name ending in “-walt,” meaning “the ruler,” or it could refer to a place where the clan once lived. Additionally, scholars believe it could be derived from a word meaning “going around,” a term used by settlers who moved around the region in search of better land.
The alternate spelling of the name is Wendel, and it’s thought to have come from the Old High German word, “wandal” meaning “people of Wends,” which refers to a tribe in northern Europe. The Wendles were likely one of the earliest tribes to settle in the area of modern-day Germany.
The surname was recorded for the first time in the Middle Ages in the records of the Imperial Abbey of Corvey, a church near the town of Hamelin in the German valley of Werra. It is believed to have been most prominent in the area of Thuringia (Thüringen).
In the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, the Wendle name spread around the world, particularly due to emigration to the United States. Today, Wendle families can be found around the globe, with the largest concentrations in Germany, the United States, and Canada.
Whichever origin story is true for the Wendle surname, it is a reminder of a proud yet quite ancient heritage. It is a lasting tribute to the settlers of long ago who forged connections and helped expand our understanding of both the world and human history.
Order DNA origin analysisWendle: Where does the name Wendle come from?
The last name Wendle is most common in Germany, where it is the 59,221st most common family name. It's also among the top 200 most popular family names in Austria and Switzerland, tightly linked to the border of Baden-Württemberg. The Wendle surname is of German origin and is an occupational name for a weaver of cloth, from the Middle German Wendele, which means to turn, or to twist.
In more youthful regions like the United States, Wendle is still a relatively uncommon name. As of 2019, the Census Bureau estimated that there are only 2,000 Wendles living in the US. The Wendles that are found in the US today came from German ancestry, making their way to the US primarily through Ellis Island immigration between the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Many Wendles in the US are concentrated in Pennsylvania, with Texas, New York, and California as the next most populous states with Wendles.
The Wendle name is also found in Canada, where the family first appeared in Ontario, in the late 1800s. Other regions with Wendles include the Netherlands, France, and Poland. Overall, the Wendle name is far more common in Europe compared to the US and Canada.
Variations of the surname Wendle
The surname Wendle has a variety of spellings and variants, some of which include Wendel, Windle, Windel, Windell, Windle, and Wintle. It is generally believed that the origin of this surname lies in Germany, most likely in the region of Bavaria. The name is derived from the Germanic personal name "Wendel," and is thought to have originated as a nickname for someone with a bright or white complexion.
Wendle is often found as a patronymic surname, meaning that it indicates someone was the son of a Wendel. For example, the surname Windle may refer to a son of "Wendel", while Wendel may mean "son of Wendel." There are also many regional variations, which may include Wandle, Wengle, Wingle, and Winkle.
In records from the 1600s, Wendle is typically found as Windel, Windl, Windell, Wintle, and Wyndle, while in later records from the 1800s, it is more common to find Wendel or Windle. Some other surnames which are believed to have derived from Wendle include Winder, Winters, and Winters.
As more families migrated to the United States in the 19th and 20th centuries, spelling variants such as Windle and Wyndle became more common. Some Wendles in the United States adopted the more Americanized spelling of Windle.
Overall, the various spellings of Wendle are often interchangeable, and may be used in the same family. However, they all indicate an individual's origin in the Wendel region of Germany.
Famous people with the name Wendle
- Blake Wendle: Award-winning American screenwriter and producer best known for his work on television shows such as Fringe, Heroes, and Firefly.
- Joanne Wendle: English actress of stage and screen, beginning her career in the late 1960s.
- Jeff Wendle: Retired American professional ice hockey player who played a total of 249 games in the National Hockey League (NHL).
- Ken Wendle: Retired American professional baseball player who played for the Cleveland Indians, Boston Red Sox, and Kansas City Athletics.
- Tonio Wendle: Award-winning German film and television producer who has worked on projects such as Schimanski, The Tunnel, and The Wrong Mans.
- David Wendle: Music producer and engineer who has worked with artists like Taylor Swift, Metallica, and Maroon 5.
- Christine Wendle: Spanish actress best known for her roles in films like Tú, yo, nosotros and TV series such as El Internado.
- Alan Wendle: American football player who played for the Arizona Cardinals in the NFL.
- Mike Wendle: Former American major league baseball player who played for the Houston Astros and Seattle Mariners.
- Janice Wendle: Broadway composer and musical director known for her work on musicals such as Paint Your Wagon and Dear World.