Surname Winckel - Meaning and Origin
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Winckel: What does the surname Winckel mean?
The last name Winckel is derived from a Germanic or Dutch word meaning "meadow with a corner". The name is considered a topographical name, which generally means that it is related to the physical environment. It likely originated as a localized toponym, or name of a place, and people who lived near that place eventually adopted it as their surnames.
The element “winckel” often referred to a corner and is related to the Old English “wicce” and the Middle Dutch “winkel,” both meaning “corner.” Thus, one’s implications from the name is that of a meadow with a corner, often surrounded by trees, bushes, or shrubs.
The name is also present in many surnames from other regions including Scandinavia and England. Collins English Dictionary suggests that in some instances, the name may come from the Old English “wiht” meaning “enclosure” and “hege” meaning “hedgerow.”
The name may have originated as a place name identifying the presence of a plot of land with a corner enclosed by a hedgerow or other natural enclosure. It is also possible that the name originated as the nickname for someone who lived near a corner or meadow with a corner, or perhaps it began as a descriptive nickname for someone tending to or living near the corner of the meadow.
No matter the origin of the last name Winckel, it is clear that it is an old Germanic or Dutch surname that likely began as a topological name. The name is still found today all throughout many European countries, including Germany, France, and Belgium.
Order DNA origin analysisWinckel: Where does the name Winckel come from?
The last name Winckel is most commonly found today in the Netherlands. Although it is not a particularly common surname in the country, it can still be found in a number of locations. In 2019 the Central Bureau of Statistics reported that the Winckel family name was shared by approximately 4,000 Dutch households.
The name is believed to be of Germanic origin, deriving from the personal name Winkelmann or Wolchere. It is likely that the name was first adopted by Dutch settlers during the Middle Ages who had previously lived in Germany.
In modern times, the family name can be found in a variety of cities along the entire length of the Netherlands from Maastricht to Groningen. It is most commonly associated with the provinces of Noord-Holland, Zeeland, and Overijssel.
The name is also shared by a number of immigrant families who have moved to the Netherlands in recent decades, including from Indonesia, Curacao, and Suriname.
In terms of occupational backgrounds, the majority of Dutch Winckels work in professional industries such as finance and business. It is also common for members of the family to occupy academic posts in many of the country’s leading universities.
Variations of the surname Winckel
The surname Winckel is of German-Frisian origin and is sometimes known as Winkel, Winkelhock, Winkelman, Winkle, and Winkels. It came from the personal name Winkel, which meant “corner” or “angle.” It was used to describe someone who lived near a corner or in a corner of an estate. People with this surname usually lived in the Hanover region of Lower Saxony.
There are a few variants of this name, such as Winckelmann, Winklen, Winkelmann, and Winkler. The names Winckler, Winkels, Winkle, Winkler, and Winckler are all derived from the original name.
The other spellings of the name include Winckles, Winkeles, Winkelers, Vinkel, Wincklese, Winckless, and Vinkle. Some people with this name may have also used the Frisian spelling of Wienk.
Surnames of a similar origin include Zwink, Vink, Winkleman, Weink, Zinke, Winck, Zinck, and Zinckmann.
The name can also be found in Dutch records as well. This name was used for many Dutch immigrants in the United States.
In conclusion, the surname Winckel is of German-Frisian origin and can also be found spelled Winkel, Winkelman, Winkle, Winkels, Winckelmann, Winklen, Winkelmann, Winkler, Winckler, Winkels, Winkle, Winkler, Winckler, Winckles, Winkeles, Winkelers, Vinkel, Wincklese, Winckless, Vinkle, Zwink, Vink, Winkleman, Weink, Zinke, Winck, Zinck, and Zinckmann. This name can also be found in Dutch records.
Famous people with the name Winckel
- Meikel Winckel: German modern pentathlete, competed in the 2012 London Olympics.
- Tyrone Winckel: a professional rugby league footballer who played for the London Broncos and Leigh Centurions in the English Super League competition.
- Pieter August Winckel: a Dutch painter active in the 18th century who worked in portraiture and genre painting.
- Cornelis de Winckel: an 18th-century Dutch art collector and art dealer.
- Kees Winckel: a Dutch football coach who was an assistant coach of the Netherlands national football team from 2010 to 2016.
- Catharina Wilhelmina Louisa de Winckel: a Dutch mathematician who is best known for her research on splines and numerical analysis.
- Jan Hendrik Winckel: a Dutch composer and pianist, active from the late 19th to mid-20th century.
- Wout Winckel: a Dutch-American avant-garde pianist, composer, and librettist.
- Clemens Winckel: a Dutch singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer.
- Thomas Antonius Winckel: a Dutch theologian and professor at the University of Utrecht.