Surname Holzappel - Meaning and Origin
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Holzappel: What does the surname Holzappel mean?
The last name Holzappel holds German origins, and is derived from the combination of two words, “hohl,” meaning hollow, and “zapfen,” referring to a wedge or peg. Thus, translated literally, the name means “hollow peg” or “hollow tap.” In the Middle Ages, this type of pegs were often used to fasten separate pieces of wood together in shipbuilding.
The Holzappel surname can also refer to someone who lived in an area where many such wedges were in use. In such cases, the name became a descriptor, denoting a person who was associated with the production of, or could be found near, those pegs. Alternatively, the Holzappel name could have been adopted as an occupational name for a worker in such a trade.
By the mid-14th century, nomenclature was becoming increasingly widespread among European culture. As such, the Holzappel name began appearing in Germany and the areas of the Low Countries during this period, particularly in urban areas as the trade developed.
Today, some of the locations associated with the Holzappel surname are Germany, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Eastern France, Northern Switzerland, and Poland. In the United States, the Holzappel name is also seen in all states, as the name has been in this country since the 1840s.
Order DNA origin analysisHolzappel: Where does the name Holzappel come from?
The last name Holzappel is most common in areas along the Rhine River in central Europe, particularly Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. The name originated in Flanders, a region in the Low Countries of northwest Europe, before spreading throughout western Europe in the 13th century.
In 2019, the surname Holzappel was most popular in Germany, with approximately 6,303 people bearing the surname in the country. In Switzerland, 348 people had the name, and it was found in the top 20,000 most common surnames in Austria, with 312 people bearing the name. People with the Holzappel surname can also be found in Belgium, the Netherlands, France, and various other countries in Europe.
Holzappel is a topographical name, meaning someone who lived on an area of land covered in wooden posts, such as a fence. This name could refer to both a property boundary and a line of trees for protection.
Outside of Europe, the Holzappel surname is found in small numbers in the United States. Between 1880 and 2019, the name Holzappel was found in 11 U.S. states, with people bearing the name most common in the states of New York and Pennsylvania.
The Holzappel surname is also found in Canada, most likely due to migration from Europe to the country. Canadian records from between 1891 and 2019 show that 20 people with the last name Holzappel have lived in Canada, concentrated in Ontario and British Columbia.
Thus, the last name Holzappel is concentrated in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and other countries along the Rhine River in Europe, although it is found in small numbers in the United States and Canada.
Variations of the surname Holzappel
The variant spellings for the surname Holzappel include Holsapple, Holsappel, Holdsapple and Holdsappel. These are all surnames of German origin meaning “wood apple” or “wood apple tree.” The surnames are derived from the Middle High German words “holzapfel” and “holstapel” which refer to the treelike shape of an apple tree.
The variant surnames are often found in the same German regions, namely Bavaria, Franken and Pfalz. In the United States, these surnames may be found concentrated in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Maryland, as many German immigrants settled there in the 18th century. It is also possible to find some of the family names with slight spelling variations in other states and regions, as various Holzappel families migrated throughout the country over the years.
The surnames bearing a similar origin to Holzappel include Holtzapple, Holtzappel, Holtzappeler, Holtzapple, Holtzapfel and Holtzappell. Additionally, other families may have modified the spelling of the surname to be something related to the original spelling, such as Holzapfel, Holtzfel, Holtzfelder, Holtzfeller, Haltzapple, Haltzapfel, Haltzfel and Holtzefel.
In summary, the surname Holzappel has many variants, spellings and surnames of similar origin. They are all derived from the German words “holzapfel” and “holstapel” and may be found in regions such as Bavaria, Franken and Pfalz, as well as some US states such as Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Maryland. The other surnames related to Holzappel include Holtzapple, Holtzappel, Holtzappeler, Holtzapple, Holtzapfel, Holtzappell and various altered spellings.
Famous people with the name Holzappel
- Jens Holzappel: German economist and professor, specializing in monetary and economic policy.
- Bernd Holzappel: German politician and member of the North Rhine-Westphalia state parliament from the Free Democratic Party (FDP).
- Albrecht Holzappel: German tennis player who competed in the 1931 Wimbledon Championships.
- Joseph Holzappel: German sculptor known for his bronze figurines, busts, and monumental figures.
- Ernst Holzappel: German Olympic fencer who participated in the 1932 Summer Olympics.
- Nikolaus Holzappel: German equestrian and participant in the 1936 Berlin Olympics.
- Alexander Holzappel: German ice hockey player who played for the Berliner Schlittschuhclub and represented Germany at the World Championships in 1940.
- Paul Holzappel: German rower who competed at the 1960 Rome Olympics.
- Christian Holzappel: German footballer who played for both the 1. FC Köln and Hertha BSC.
- Kristina Holzappel: German handball player and coach who most recently served as head coach of VfL Oldenburg.