Surname Wickel - Meaning and Origin
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Wickel: What does the surname Wickel mean?
The last name Wickel is a name of Germanic origin derived from the Middle High German phrase "wichel,” which translates to "twister." Wickel likely referred to an occupation, as “twister” is thought to have been used in the 15th century to describe an artisan who twisted cords, rope, or thread into finished products. It may also have referred to someone who untangled rope or snarled threads.
The surname may also have been derived from the Middle High German word "wikel,” which means "tether" or "halter" and described the profession of someone who made and maintained tethers used to secure horses and other animals.
In the 2000 United States Census, a total of 523 people were recorded as having the Wickel surname. The greatest concentration of Wickels were found in New York, although the Wickel name is widespread throughout the United States.
The Wickel family name has likely been passed down for generations, and the exact meaning of the name likely has been forgotten over time. Regardless of how the family name began, it is certain that the name has likely been an important part of the Wickel family identity for centuries.
Order DNA origin analysisWickel: Where does the name Wickel come from?
The last name Wickel is mainly concentrated throughout Germany, with one of the highest concentrations in the east German state of Brandenburg. Additionally, the name appears more frequently in Austria and to a lesser extent, the United States as well.
The origin of the name can be traced back to the German word "wickeln", which means to tie or roll up. This suggests the name began as a nickname for a person who had an occupation or habit of tying and wrapping things. Evidence from old German records suggests that the nickname was more widely known in the 1300s and eventually beginning to transition towards a family surname by the 1400s.
Today, the Wickel surname is a fairly uncommon one. While its historical ties in Germany, Austria, and the United States are strong, records of people bearing the name are rare. As mentioned before, the highest concentrations of the name are located in Germany, primarily in the states of Brandenburg and Thuringia. Elsewhere, small populations of Wickel's can be found in Austria and the United States.
Variations of the surname Wickel
The surname Wickel is derived from the Germanic language and can have several variants, spellings and surnames depending on the region of origin.
Common variants of Wickel include Wigle, Wickelmann, Wickelt, Wickels, Wickelmeir, Wyckel, Wiccells, Wikell, Wikkel, Wikel, Wikal, Wickle, Wikkel, Wiegel, and Weigle.
The surname originated in Northern and Central Germany and is derived from the name of a profession or an attribute, possibly a form of the German word 'Wickel'. It is possible that it is an occupational surname based on the Medieval German word 'Wickel', meaning a 'wrapper' or 'band'. It could also refer to those who originally produced clothing items such as trousers, sleeves or other items.
The surname could have also originated from the German word 'Wickel' meaning coil or twine used to bind hay or straw.
In other parts of Europe, the surname Wickel is found with slight variations. In Poland, the surname is mainly found as Wickelicz, and in Austria as Wickelweiser. In Lithuania, it is found as Vikul, and in Hungary it is recorded as Vigli. In the Netherlands it is found as Wiegle, while Wigels is a found surname in Scandinavia. In Ireland, the surname is mainly found in the anglicized form of Winkle.
In the United States and Canada, the Wickel surname is mainly found as Wiggins, Wigle, Wyatt or Wykle. Today the surname Wickel is also found in Israel in the form of Vigel.
Famous people with the name Wickel
- Margaret Wickel: An American swimmer who won a silver medal at the 1990 Goodwill Games.
- John Wickel: A former Minnesota state legislator who served from 2011 to 2019.
- Florian Wickel: An Austrian musician and composer who plays the Violin.
- Sandy Wickel: An American professional tennis player who won two singles and eight doubles titles on the WTA tour between 1984 and 1988.
- Charles Wickel: An American politician who served in the Virginia House of Delegates from 2006 to 2008.
- Martin Wickel: A German musician and composer who is particularly known for producing works in multiple styles.
- Shannon Wickel: An American basketball player who played at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.
- Jeff Wickel: An American former ice hockey player who played collegiate hockey at Michigan State University.
- Greg Wickel: An American sportscaster who was a radio announcer for the Murdock Sports Network.
- Chris Wickel: An American actor who appeared in multiple television shows, including Theadapted George Lopez Show.