Surname Völkel - Meaning and Origin
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Tracing Ancestry Through DNA: A Personal Revelation of a Völkel Lineage
Born into a diverse cultural backdrop, tracing my lineage was always a challenging task. The recent DNA test at iGENEA has not only provided substantial insight into my ancestors' paths but revolutionized personal understanding of my surname, Völkel. The unexpected revelations significantly changed the way I perceive my place in the world.
A. Völkel
read moreVölkel: What does the surname Völkel mean?
The last name Völkel, sometimes also spelled either Voelkel or Voelkle, is a German last name. It is derived from the old German word Volk, meaning "people" or "tribe." Thus, in a literal sense Völkel could be translated to mean “tribe of the believers” or “people’s tribe.” Historically, the Völkel name has likely been given to individuals or families that were part of groups of people who lived together and formed alliances or clans.
The name could also be derived from the German word "völkisch," which is a political term often associated with National Socialism, or fascism. Although this last interpretation is unlikely, as Völkel is centuries-old and does not have political overtones.
In the 1900s and beyond, the Völkel name has spread throughout many parts of Europe, and can now be found in countries such as the United States, Canada, and Australia.
The Völkels of today are largely seen as a traditionally German family name that speaks to its connection with the past, when large families and even larger tribes were commonplace. As a result, the name Völkel typically comes with a sense of pride and patriotism, as those who bear the name often consider themselves to be descendants of a particular group or tribe that had a distinct and important identity.
Order DNA origin analysisVölkel: Where does the name Völkel come from?
The last name Völkel is most commonly found in German-speaking countries like Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and parts of the former Czechoslovakia. It is also found in other parts of Europe, including France and the former Soviet Union, as well as Brazil and other parts of Latin America.
Völkel is a German-language surname derived from the word "Vögel" meaning "little bird". It is believed to have originated in the Middle Ages when many families took a surname that was related to their trade or occupation. During this time, people who had the nickname "Vögel" were probably employed caring for birds. This nickname then became a family name, leading to the emergence of the name Völkel.
In German-speaking countries, the family name Völkel is most commonly found in the states of Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, and Rhineland-Palatinate. It is also found in neighbouring countries like Austria, Switzerland, and parts of the Former Czechoslovakia.
In Germany, the family name Völkel is ranked as the 408th most common name. There is also a village in Bavaria, where about 200 people with the name Völkel live today.
Worldwide, the surname Völkel is reported in 35 countries, including the United States, where it reached maximum growth in the late 19th century. People with the name Völkel currently live in all major countries, primarily Europe and the Americas, but also in some parts of Africa and Asia.
Variations of the surname Völkel
Völkel is a Germanic surname, originating from the medieval personal name ‘Volke’, which is derived from the Proto-Germanic root, “fulka”, meaning ‘people’. Throughout Germany, several spellings and variants exist for the surname, including; Fölkel, Foelkel, Foelkle, Foelklein, Foelck, Foelcke, Voelkel, Voelkele, Voelklein, Voelck, Voelcke, Voehlkel,Voehlkele, Voehlklein, Voehlck, Voehlcke, Vöhlkel, Vöhlkele, Vöhlck, and Vöhlcke.
The majority of these variants can be found throughout Germany, although a few of them are specific to certain areas. For example, variants such as Foelkel, Foelkle, Foelklein, Foelck, and Foelcke are often found in the Mosel region; whereas Vöhlkele, Vöhlklein, Vöhlck, and Vöhlcke are found specifically in the region of Westphalia.
In addition to these German variants, the surname has also been adopted by other nations throughout Europe, including countries such as the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia and the Netherlands. In these countries, the spelling of the surname tends to follow the local conventions, resulting in different surnames such Volek in the Czech Republic, Völkös in Hungary, and Volkel in the Netherlands.
In conclusion, the German surname Völkel has a range of variations and surnames in other European countries. However, all of the variants can be traced back to the same medieval personal name, “Volke”, derived from the Proto-Germanic root, “fulka”, which means ‘people’.
Famous people with the name Völkel
- Anton Völkel (1908-2020): German veterinarian and professor of animal nutrition.
- Jürgen Völkel (born 1932): German condensed matter physicist and former president of the Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research.
- Helmut Völkel (1937–1986): German ice hockey player and Olympic medalist.
- Tilmann Völkel (born 1978): German physicist and professor of quantum optical engineering.
- Alexander Völkel (born 1954): German historian and professor of Bavarian history.
- Mathias Völkel (born 1953): German theologist, liturgical reformer and professor of liturgy.
- Ricarda Völkel (born 1961): German model, fashion designer and founder of her own fashion label.
- André Völkel (born 1964): German football player and coach.
- Jan Völkel (born 1973): German swimmer and Olympic medalist.
- Werner Völkel (born 1951): German astrophysicist, professor of astronomy and current director of the Landessternwarte Heidelberg-Königstuhl.