Surname Wickl - Meaning and Origin
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Wickl: What does the surname Wickl mean?
The last name Wickl is of German and Jewish origin. It is likely derived from a German occupational name for someone who presses fabrics, a fulling miller, from the Middle High German 'wickel' referring to the act of fulling, squeezing, and pressing wet fabrics. Alternately, it may be derived from the Middle High German 'wichel' for a small stream or brook.
In the United States, Wickl is most commonly found among Jewish families descending from Eastern European immigrants, as it is an alternate spelling of the common Ashkenazi Jewish surname Vigler. Interestingly, the geographic distribution of Wickl is unique, with high concentrations of the surname appearing in Ohio, New York and Pennsylvania. This is in contrast to Vigler, which is primarily found in New York and New Jersey.
The Wickl surname can also be found in England, with a small number of individuals bearing the name appearing mainly in the areas of Lancashire and Cumberland. Many of these people can trace their origin to Germany via the Palatines, a group of 18th century refugees who arrived in the Thames Valley following the religious persecutions in the Rhineland.
Most Wickl’s are proud of their heritage and enjoy researching their unique family surnames. For those who are searching for more information about their relatives, there are various records available, including baptism, immigration, marriage, and military records. This data can be a valuable resource in helping to uncover past family members, trace ancestry and build family trees.
Order DNA origin analysisWickl: Where does the name Wickl come from?
The last name Wickl is most commonly found in Germany and Austria today. It is often found in areas of Bavaria, particularly near Munich, and also in northern Austria. It is believed to have begun in the 17th century, and records of individuals bearing the name have been found in various government papers as far back as 1713.
The etymology of the name Wickl is uncertain, however, some have hypothesized that it is derived from two German words meaning "bend" and "meadow" which may suggest that the originators of the name once owned substantial amounts of land near rolling hills or bend-like landscape features.
Today, those bearing the Wickl name are often believed to be descendants of nobility, artisans, and farmers that immigrated to the area in the mid-1700s, as records show the Wickl surname was spread over a wide area around the same time.
The Wickl name is sometimes linked to popular customs of the region, such as the Bavarian costumes of Dirndl and Lederhosen. Indeed, many contemporary members of the Wickl family can be found taking part in traditional music, dances and customs that have been passed down through the generations.
Regardless of the original source of the Wickl name, it is clear that it continues to thrive in Germany and Austria and is an integral part of the local culture.
Variations of the surname Wickl
The surname Wickl is a variant of two different surnames. The first is the English surname Wickles, surname found to be concentrated in Cumbria, with an alternate spelling of Wickles. The nickname for Wickles is Wickl, aften used in the 13th century.
The second surname related to Wickl is an Ashkenazic Jewish surname, the German and Yiddish surname Wickel. This surname in its language of origin has various spellings such as Wickl, Wikl, Vikl, Wiegel and Wikel. It originated in central and western Europe, and its roots can be traced to the German verb ‘wickeln’ which means to wrap.
Sometimes, the surnames Wickles and Wickel were merged together to form Wickl, while other times, Wickles and Wickl were confused. Consequently, in some cases the surname Wickles came to be written as Wickl.
The variants to the surname Wickl include Wickles, Wickel, Wikl, Vikl, Wiegel and Wikel. The surnames connected to Wickl include both Wickles and Wickel. In some cases, there were interchanges between Wickles and Wickl, while in other cases surnames came to be written as Wickl in place of Wickles.
Famous people with the name Wickl
- Dannielle Wickl, professional actress.
- Sam Wickl, world renowned pet psychologist.
- David Wickl, Grammy-winning musician.
- Micki Wickl, retired Olympic gold medalist.
- Betty Wickl, professional chef.
- Helen Wickl, American Nobel Prize winning scientist.
- Tom Wickl, champion golfer who's won multiple Masters.
- Barbara Wickl, fashion designer and entrepreneur.
- Robert Wickl, pro football player and Hall of Fame inductee.
- Flora Wickl, world renowned artist.