Surname Wetzel - Meaning and Origin

Wetzel: What does the surname Wetzel mean?

The surname Wetzel is of German origin. It is derived from the Middle High German word "wetzil", meaning "sharply pointed tool" or "axe", and was likely initially an occupational name for someone who made, sold or used tools like axes or arrows.

The surname is found mainly throughout southern Germany, and in the 18th century, many Wetzel families immigrated to America and settled in Pennsylvania. The earliest recorded Wetzel in America was Johannes Wetzell, born in Germany in 1717.

Since then, it has become a fairly widespread surname. Today there are many variations of Wetzel including Wetzell, Weitzel, Wetsel, Widzil and Wetzelberger. In addition to German speaking countries, Wetzel is also found in Austria, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Sweden.

Overall, the surname Wetzel is linked to many eras in history. It speaks to a time of skilled trades in the Middle Ages, then to the immigration of the 1700s from Europe to America. In modern times, the Wetzel name has remained strong and is still in use with many variations throughout the world.

Wetzel: Where does the name Wetzel come from?

The Wetzel surname is believed to have originated from countries in Central and Eastern Europe. Today, it is most common in countries like Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. It is also found in many other countries, including the United States, France, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. In the U.S., it is found mostly in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, New York, and Ohio.

The Wetzel surname was most often used by people of German ancestry, as it has Germanic roots and was originally a spelling of the word "wetzler". The name is derived from watzal, which was an old German word for hunter.

It has also been suggested that the Wetzel name could have been derived from an ancient German settlement, in what is now the Saarland region of Germany. There are records of the name dating back to the late 1400s, when it was used in the south of Germany in areas such as Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg.

According to the latest figures from the US Census, there are over 20,000 people in the United States with the last name Wetzel. This puts it in the top 500 last names in the country. Whilst it may not be one of the most common last names, its global distribution and enduring legacy make it one of the more recognizable last names.

Variations of the surname Wetzel

The surname Wetzel is an ancient German name based on the word 'Water', which is found in several variations and spellings across Europe. In Germany, the usual forms of the surname are Wetzel, Wetzell, Wetzels, and Wetzeler; in Switzerland, the forms are Wetzel, Wetzl, Wetzle, and Wetzeler; in Austria, it is spelled Wetzl or Wetzeler; in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, the surname is commonly spelled Večel; in Hungary, it is spelled Veczlay; in Poland, it is spelled Weciel; and in France, the variants are Vezal and Vesalle.

The name Wetzel is also common in the United States, with many different spellings, including: Wetzel, Wetzell, Weitzel, Wetsel, Wetzal and Wetzeler. Other variants include Vetzel, Vetsell, Weissel, Vetzal, Wetsla, Wetzele, and Wetsler. Some of the family names associated with Wetzel are Windisch-Wetzel, Wetzel-Mayer, Wetzel-Fiedler, Wetzel-Brzoska, Wetzel-Ledel, Wetzel-Ruettinger, Wetzel-Ludwig, Wetzel-Beckert, Wetzel-Gross, and Wetzel-Wuttke.

In addition, some Wetzel families have adopted other surnames derived from Wetzel such as: Wetzelmann, Wetzelyn, Wetzellor, and Wetzeler. Some Wetzel families have even taken on unique names of their own such as Wetzelburn, Wetzelheimer, and Wetzeckel.

In conclusion, the surname Wetzel is an ancient German name with many variations, spellings, and descendants around the world. Some of these variants are widely found, others have been adopted by certain Wetzel families over time, and still others have evolved organically through years of use.

Famous people with the name Wetzel

• Mark Wetzel: Mark Wetzel is an American Artist from the Pacific Northwest. He is known for his brightly colored abstract oil paintings that often incorporate natural elements.
• Jeff Wetzel: Jeff Wetzel is an American professional golfer. He won the NCAA Divison I Individual National Championship in 2006 and finished runner-up at the 2008 U.S. Mid-Amateur.
• Terry Wetzel: Terry Wetzel is an American Talk Radio producer and long-time host of The Terry Wetzel Show. He has interviewed newsmakers from all corners of the globe including politicians, celebrities, military veterans and spiritual teachers and healers.
• Joe Wetzel: Joe Wetzel is a former professional American Football player. He was a tight end in the National Football League from 1973 to 1982 and played his entire career for the Los Angeles Rams.
• Dina Wetzel: Dina Wetzel is an American actress, best known for her role as Layla in the television show Cold Case.
• Monica Wetzel: Monica Wetzel is an award-winning American film producer, most notably for her work on the 2012 drama film, I am Not a Hipster.
• Dan Wetzel: Dan Wetzel is an award-winning American sportswriter at Yahoo Sports. He covers the NFL along with sports newsmakers, power brokers, sports legal issues and the court of public opinion.
• Bill Wetzel: Bill Wetzel is an American major league baseball player who played for the Seattle Mariners in the early 2000s.
• Don Wetzel: Don Wetzel was an American professional golfer who was part of the first wave of golfers to join the Champions Tour, now known as the PGA Tour Champions.
• Nick Wetzel: Nick Wetzel is an American professional mixed martial artist and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner. He is a former Ring of Combat Lightweight Champion and has competed for Bellator MMA and the UFC.

Other surnames

WetzellWetzelsWetzelt