Surname Wissell - Meaning and Origin

Wissell: What does the surname Wissell mean?

The last name Wissell is thought to have originated in the Netherlands in the 16th century. The name is derived from Wisker, a common Dutch first name. This name is thought to have been derived from the German word Wischer, which in English translates to “sweeper.” Thus, along with the other common Dutch surnames of Wissel and Wissing, Wissel is a toponymic surname and originally referred to someone from a place named with this word.

Throughout the 19th century, Wissel was an extremely common name in the Netherlands, likely due to its connection to the garment business, which has been a large industry in the Netherlands since at least the 16th century. In naming their offspring, parents often named them after a trade or industry related to their current profession. The name Wissel could also have represented a person engaged in the sale of cloths from an earlier era.

Today, Wissel is still a relatively common name in the Netherlands and is also found among Dutch diasporas in America, Canada, England and Australasia. Despite this global variation, the meaning of the last name Wissel remains the same—derived from the German word ‘wischer’ –sweeper—and has most likely remained unchanged since its 15th-century origins.

Wissell: Where does the name Wissell come from?

The last name Wissell is most commonly found in German-speaking countries, particularly in Germany and Switzerland. However, people with this name have migrated to many other locations around the world. For example, Wissell is an uncommon surname in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.

In Germany, this surname is especially popular in the South-Central part of the country. In fact, Wissell is among the fifty most common Germanic surnames. It is mainly concentrated in Bavaria, Baden-Wurttemberg, and Thuringia.

In Switzerland, it is most commonly found in the Canton of Zurich, followed by the adjacent Ticino Canton. The Swiss also bear this name in the Basel-Stadt and Glarus Cantons.

Wissell is known as a patronymic surname, which suggests it derived from a father’s name. Its progenitor is thought to be the Old High German personal name Wido, which first appeared in the 10th century. A form of this name may have been imported into Switzerland and Germany by settlers from the Germanic Alpine regions.

Today, the Wissell surname remains present in many countries, although a large population lives in German-speaking countries. It is common in the UK, Canada, and the United States, but rarer in other places.

Variations of the surname Wissell

The surname Wissell is a Germanic variant of the surname Vissel, derived from the Middle High German words “vis” and “sel” which mean “viscous” and “sail”, respectively. Wissell is the more prevalent spelling of Vissel, and has been in use since at least the 16th century.

This surname is found in various variants, including: Wissel, Vissle, Visssell, Vyssel, Wisell, Vyssell, Wyssel, Wyssell, Wissele, and Wyssele. All of these variations pronounce the same, with the only difference being in spelling.

The Wissell surname has been found in several countries around the world, including Germany, Austria, Netherlands, England, and the United States. In the United States, the Wissell surname is most commonly found in Pennsylvania.

In some cases, Wissell can be a shortened form of other surnames. For example, the surname Wiesselmann can be shortened to Wisselmann, and then further shortened to Wissell.

The Wissell surname has also been borne by various prominent people, including John Wissell, an English poet and courtier who lived in the 16th century, and Erich Wissell, a German painter and sculptor active in the 17th century.

Famous people with the name Wissell

• John Wissell: a retired English footballer who played for clubs like Wimbledon, Chelsea and Reading.
• Bernd Wissell: a German painter known for his symbolic abstract works.
• Ute Wissell: a German artist who is one of the founding members of the artist group 'M43'.
• Pia Wissell: a Swedish artist and sculptor who works in stone, bronze and wood.
• Gretchen Wissell: an American author, columnist and radio personality.
• Kari Wührer: an American actress, singer and comedian who was originally named Karen Wührer-Wissell.
• Janina Wissell: a German actress, known for roles in 'Tatort’, 'Rote Rosen’ and 'Verbotene Liebe’.
• Tony Wissell: an American musician and composer associated with the genres funk, jazz and soul.
• Pomp Wissell: a Dutch environmental activist, most known for his revolutionary tree-planting initiative in his hometown.
• Albert Wissell: a Swiss businessman who served as the CEO of Credit Suisse from 1973 to 1986.

Other surnames

Wisset