Surname Gänsel - Meaning and Origin
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Gänsel: What does the surname Gänsel mean?
The last name Gänsel is of German origin, with the literal translation of 'Goose'. Historically, this name was associated with people who worked in the poultry industry, or who kept geese as part of their farm animals. It could also be used as a nickname for someone who was considered immature, or who was constantly on the move.
Historically, the word gänsel was used in Germany to refer to an idle person, or someone who wandered from place to place without purpose. This could be a reflection of the migratory nature of geese. It is possible that those with this last name may have come from a family of nomads or travelers.
The name Gänsel is still found today, mostly in areas of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. There are also a few Gänsel families in the United States. It is estimated that there are approximately 450 people in the world with the Gänsel surname.
The coat of arms for the Gänsel family is described as a silver goose, facing the left, on top of a green field. The crest of the coat of arms is a white rose, and the motto is 'In Omnem Eventu' which translates as 'in all events' or 'at all times.'
In summary, although the exact origin of the last name Gänsel is unknown, it likely refers to someone who worked in the poultry industry, is considered immature or travels often. It is still a fairly uncommon surname with no more than 450 people in the world having it. The coat of arms associated with the surname is a silver goose on top of a green field with a white rose and the motto 'In Omnem Eventu'.
Order DNA origin analysisGänsel: Where does the name Gänsel come from?
The last name Gänsel is most common in the Germany today. It is also found in Austria, Luxembourg and a few other smaller nations in Central Europe.
The exact origin of the name is not certain but it is thought to have its roots in the Germanic word for goose. In many parts of Germany there are stories passed down through the generations of a family called Gänsl or Gänsler being the first to own a particular area of land.
Gänsel is most widely distributed in the German state of Schleswig-Holstein and in the surrounding former "Prussian provinces", as well as in the states of Bavaria and Thuringia.
It is also quite common in Austria, and is one of the top 40 most common last names in the country. In Vienna, Gangele is the number 19 most frequent name.
In Luxembourg, Günsel is the 4th most common name. The Census of 1911 listed 1,248 people with this name in the country.
It is not likely to be as common outside of these main areas as emigration records don't show that many people with the Gänsel surname left Germany or Austria in the past centuries.
Variations of the surname Gänsel
The surname Gänsel is a German surname with multiple variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. All of these are derived from the Middle High German "Gans", which means "goose", and is a nickname for someone with goose-like characteristics or someone who kept goats, granting protection and aid to them. The most common variants of Gänsel are Ganser, Ganzer, Gänsche, Gauner, and Gaunser.
Ganser is the most common variant of the name Gänsel and is found in Germany, Switzerland, and Austria. It is derived from the Middle High German word “ganser” meaning “goose” or “goatu” and was used as a nickname for someone with a wild or erratic character.
Ganzer is another variant of the name Gänsel and is found in Germany and Austria. This form of the name is also derived from the Middle High German word “ganser”, but with a more regionalized spelling.
Gänsche is a variant of the name Gänsel that is found in Germany and Austria. This variant is derived from the Middle High German word “ganß” and is probably an occupational name for someone who took care of livestock, such as goats.
Gauner and Gaunser are both variants of Gänsel and are found mainly in Germany, Austria, and Hungary. These forms of the name are derived from the Middle High German word “gauner”, which means “bandit”. This variant was likely used as a nickname for someone with a wild or reckless personality.
In conclusion, Gänsel is a German surname with multiple variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. These variants include Ganser, Ganzer, Gänsche, Gauner, and Gaunser, and all of them are derived from the Middle High German word “gans” or “ganser”, meaning “goose” or “goatu”.
Famous people with the name Gänsel
- Richard Gänsel: a prolific German historian, author and research professor.
- Aron Gänsel: an Estonian footballer and manager.
- Joachim Gänsel: a German rower who won Olympic and World Championship medals in the coxless four.
- Wilhelm Gänsel: a prominent 19th-century German general.
- Julius Gänsel: a German classical scholar who wrote extensively on Greek and Latin literature.
- Johan Gänsel: a Swedish rower who won an Olympic bronze medal at the 1912 Summer Olympics in Stockholm.
- Friedrich Gänsel: a German classical philologist and archaeologist.
- Adelheid Gänsel: an East German athlete who competed primarily in the shot put.
- Christoph Gänsel: a German philosopher who is best known for his 1984 book Die moderne Revision der Metaphysik.
- Wilhelm Gänsel: a German military officer and explorer during the Second World War.