Surname Zeppel - Meaning and Origin
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Zeppel: What does the surname Zeppel mean?
The surname Zeppel originates from the German word Zeppelin, meaning a type of rigid airship used in the early 20th century. The Zeppelin was invented in Germany by the Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin in the 1900s. The Count was a German General and aircraft pioneer who is credited with developing and bringing the airship to mass production. The Zeppelin was a great feat of engineering for the time, used initially for military surveillance and military aircrafts and eventually proving their commercial viability with transatlantic passenger flights.
The surname Zeppel is derived from the Count's name and originates from Germany. It is a rare name today, perhaps because of its close association with German militarism. However, in the early 20th century it was prestigious to bear the title of Zeppel. The surname Zeppel is most commonly found in areas of German-speaking Europe, such as Switzerland, Luxembourg and Germany.
In North America, the Zeppel surname is most commonly found among German-American families who migrated to America from Europe in the 19th and 20th centuries. It can also be found among people of German-Jewish descent, as many early German Jews adopted the Zeppel surname when their families were faced with increasing religious persecution in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
The origin of the last name Zeppel is a reminder of the remarkable and enduring contributions made by Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin to aviation and to the history of mankind.
Order DNA origin analysisZeppel: Where does the name Zeppel come from?
The last name Zeppel can be found all over the world today. People with this surname can be found in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, Germany, Austria, and a few other countries.
In Germany, Zeppel is a relatively common last name. The surname is most often found in Bavaria, where a few villages named Zeppel exist. It is also common in nearby Swabian areas, such as around Stuttgart.
In the United States, Zeppel is primarily found in the Midwest and in the eastern states near the Atlantic coast. The states with the highest population of people with the last name Zeppel include Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Michigan.
In the United Kingdom, most people with the surname Zeppel can be found in the south of England, particularly in London, Essex, and the surrounding region.
In Canada, the surname is most often found in the provinces of Ontario and British Columbia. The city of Toronto also has a few Zeppels living there.
In Australia, the surname is also quite common. Most of those with the surname Zeppel can be found in the cities of Melbourne, Sydney, and Perth.
Overall, the surname Zeppel can be found in many places, although its most common is Germany. The surname has a long history, likely deriving from early German populations. Its origins may stem back to a region now located in Bavaria, where several villages were founded with the Zeppel name.
Variations of the surname Zeppel
Zeppel is a German surname, deriving from the Old High German zaipedia meaning ‘Father’s inheritance’. It is commonly used as a surname in Germany, as well as parts of Eastern Europe, where it is sometimes spelled ‘Cepel’ or ‘Tsepel’.
Variants of Zeppel include ‘Zepel’, ‘Zebel’, ‘Ziepel’, ‘Ziebell’, ‘Cobeil’, and ‘Cobbil’. Similarly, the spelling can vary as Zepple, Zeppel, Zepell, and Zeppill.
Many German-speaking countries spell the surname differently. In Austria, it is spelled ‘Tsippel’ or ‘Tschippel’, while in Switzerland ‘Tsippel’ or ‘Tsippille’ is common.
Surnames derived from Zeppel include ‘Zappel’, ‘Zippel’, ‘Zable’, ‘Zebell’, ‘Sappel’, ‘Seppel’, ‘Sepple’, ‘Sipple’, ‘Sippel’, ‘Trippel’, ‘Tripple’, ‘Trippell’, ‘Tsebbel’, ‘Tseppel’, ‘Tsepless’, and ‘Tzippel’.
In Jewish families, the name has been recorded as ‘Tsippel’ and ‘Zsysman’. In German records, the surname has also been found as ‘Zempel’ and ‘Zippel’.
Most variations of the name are ultimately derivatives of Zeppel, however there are some exceptions. For instance, in Denmark, ‘Saepel’ is used instead, which probably originates from the old word ‘seysa’, which means ‘safe’. In Poland, ‘Cebula’, ‘Cebele’, and ‘Ceble’ have been recorded, which could have its origin from the German word 'zweibbl', which means ‘a pair’.
Famous people with the name Zeppel
- Karl Ferdinand von Zeppelin (1838–1917), German general and airship inventor
- Peter Zeppelin (1737–1795), German cloth merchant
- Paul Von Zeppelin (1893–1972), German journalist and television producer
- Daniela Zeppelin (1932–2011), German novelist
- Ferdinand Adolf Heinrich August von Zeppelin (1871–1918), German airship inventor, grandson of Karl Ferdinand
- Ludwig Dede Zeppelin (1824–1892), German engineer, inventor and builder
- Edmund von Zeppelin (1856–1938), German industrialist
- Heinrich von Zeppelin (1838–1917), German officer in the Prussian Army
- Bernd von Zeppelin (1901–1944), German World War II Luftwaffe General
- Katarina von Zeppelin (born 1966), German singer-songwriter