Surname Guentzel - Meaning and Origin
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Guentzel: What does the surname Guentzel mean?
The last name Guentzel is most likely a German name deriving from the Old High German “gwinnaz”, meaning “victory”. This surname originated from tribal rulers or warriors who were known for their dominance on the battlefield and ultimately claimed victory in their battles. It was likely given to those who exhibited strength and bravery.
Over time, variations of the last name have developed, and numerous spelling variations are found including Guentzel, Guental, Gwental, Gewendel, Gwenzel, and Guentzel. This surname has spread over multiple countries, and it is believed that many of the modern Guentzel families descended from the early medieval rulers of Bavaria, and further emigrated to France, Belgium, Switzerland, Austria, East Germany, the United States, and other countries.
Today this unique last name has become associated with several notable figures such as Jake Guentzel, a world-class professional ice hockey player known for his successes with the Pittsburgh Penguins and the American Hockey League. The name also belongs to Fritz Guentzel, the Austrian mountaineer behind the first ascent of the Bakhor Pass in the Hindu Kush mountains.
This is a surname that is steeped in meaningful history and a proud legacy that has been passed down for centuries. For those with the last name of Guentzel, they carry the timeless reminder to never give up on their dreams and to persevere through any challenge they may face.
Order DNA origin analysisGuentzel: Where does the name Guentzel come from?
The last name Guentzel can be found all over the world today. In North America, it is most commonly found in the United States and Canada. The earliest known Guentzel was a 19th century German politician, Friedrich Eugen Guentzel. Since then, the family name has spread to many countries around the world.
Places with a large Guentzel population today include the United States, Germany, Canada, France, the United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, Austria, Poland, and Switzerland. In the United States, the most populous states with Guentzels are Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Minnesota.
In Germany, the Guentzel family line is still relatively prominent and there are numerous families in the country today. Large populations of German Guentzels can be found in many states that made up the old East German territory. In France, a noteworthy branch of the family are the Guentzels of Saint-Rémy-en-Bouzemont, a town in the Oise department who trace their unfortunate to a 16th-century homestead that still stands today.
In Spain, the Guentzels have been in the country since at least the 19th century. The Basque town of Bilbao is home to a large number of Guentzels who trace their roots back to the mid-1800s. The largest concentration of Spanish Guentzels is in the Andalusian province of Almeria.
Today, people with the surname Guentzel can be found in many different countries around the world, particularly in areas with German or Spanish settlers.
Variations of the surname Guentzel
The Guentzel surname is a German variant of the surname Gunzels, ‘gunzel’ being a derivative of the German word ‘gunz’, meaning ‘ability’. The further spelling variants for Guentzel are Gunzee, Guntzels, Guntzal, Guntzl, Gunzal, and Gunzel, as well as Goentzel, Goenzl, Goenzal, Goentzal, Goentzels, and Goenzels. Though these spellings are common amongst all countries of Germany, slight variations are seen in Sweden, Denmark and countries near the Netherlands.
The surnames derived from the same origin are Gantz, Geantzel, Geantichel, and Ganzleitner. In the United States, Canadians and British citizens generally use the spelling Guentzel as their go-to surname.
The origin of the surname can be traced back to medieval times, with its roots being related to nobility and landed gentry. It was often used by lawyers and members of the higher diplomatic service to make certain they were always respected and perceived to be of a higher stature than the common man.
Other variants have been passed down through generations in the family tree. Records indicate that the spellings used by family members in the past, such as Guntzler, Goentzeler, Goentz, Goenzl and Gantzl, have all been used in modern times as part of the variation of the family name.
Many Guentzels still exist across all countries of Germany, primarily in Bavaria, where the family is known to originate from. The families in this region are still known to live in traditional farming areas, which have served as the family home since their ancestors land holdings were granted in Medieval times.
Famous people with the name Guentzel
- Jake Guentzel: Jake Guentzel is an American professional hockey player for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was drafted in the 3rd round of the 2013 NHL Entry Draft.
- Mike Guentzel: Mike Guentzel is an American collegiate ice hockey coach and former player. He is currently the associate head coach of the Minnesota Golden Gophers men’s ice hockey team.
- Scott Guentzel: Scott Guentzel is an American ice hockey coach and a former player. He is currently the head coach of the University of Minnesota’s men’s ice hockey team.
- Matthew Guentzel: Matthew Guentzel is an American ice hockey player who currently plays for the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League (AHL).
- Jessica Guentzel: Jessica Guentzel is an American diver who currently competes for Northwestern University. She was the 2016 NCAA 1-meter diving champion.
- Craig Guentzel: Craig Guentzel is an American coach and former ice hockey player. He currently serves as the head coach of the Minnesota State Mavericks men’s ice hockey team.
- Lee Guentzel: Lee Guentzel is an American former professional ice hockey player and current coach. He is currently the head coach of the men’s ice hockey team at Concordia University-St. Paul.
- George Guentzel: George Guentzel is an American former professional ice hockey player and current scout. He currently serves as the Minnesota Wild’s senior scout for the Midwest region.