Surname Heigel - Meaning and Origin
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Heigel: What does the surname Heigel mean?
The surname Heigel originates from central Europe, most notably Germany and Austria. It is believed to have come from the German verb heigel, which means "to be vigilant." Heigel can also be a variation of the surname Heugel meaning "little mountain." In some cases, Heigel is derived from a place name derived from the Middle High German Heyg, which connotated a clearing or open area in a forest. Heigel is also sometimes derived from the name of a mountain peak.
Since the ages of medieval times, the Heigel surname has been associated with people of nobility and living in larger, more prominent European cities like Vienna and Munich. Heigels were usually associated with the upper class elite and would have been involved in politics, business, and the church.
Today, the Heigel surname is still very common in countries like Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and France. Thousands of current members of the Heigel family can trace their ancestries directly back to the Middle Ages, showcasing an extended and impressive family tradition.
Order DNA origin analysisHeigel: Where does the name Heigel come from?
The last name Heigel is commonly found today in countries such as Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Poland, and the Czech Republic. However, it is also found in other countries such as the United States, Australia, Canada, and even the United Kingdom.
In the United States alone, Heigel is the 15,250th most common last name. This ranking is relatively low, but this only solidifies the fact that Heigel is not very commonly found in the United States as an individual's last name.
In Europe, on the other hand, the distribution is much more uneven. Heigel is most commonly found in Austria, where it is the 150th most common last name. Germany ranks second for Heigel’s, where it is the 1,039th most popular surname.
Other countries with a large number of Heigels include Switzerland (2,247th most common), the Czech Republic (4,052nd), and Poland (6,323rd). The Netherlands (14,654th), France (18,664th), and Italy (25,213th) round out the list of European countries with a significant population of Heigels.
In summation, the last name Heigel is not overly common in the United States and is actually relatively uncommon when compared to other European countries. It is most commonly found in Austria, followed by Germany and Switzerland. However, Heigel is also found in other European countries such as the Czech Republic, Poland, the Netherlands, France, and Italy.
Variations of the surname Heigel
The surname Heigel can be spelled in several ways, including Heegel, Hegle, Heigell, Heigel and Heugel, as these all derive from the same German origin. Historical records show that the surname Heigel is derived from the German words "hagen," meaning an enclosure or an area surrounded by a fence, and "ell," meaning a corner. Combined together, the meaning of the name is "corner of enclosure" or “dweller at the corner of an enclosure."
In German, the surname can also be found as Heigeled, Heigeler, Heigelman, Heirelle, Heigelmann and Hagel. The French variant is Heigller, and the Dutch form is Heijgel, as well as Heugel. Historical variations of the surname Heigel include Heigell, Heigelman and Heigelmann in the early 1700s, with the spelling gradually shifting more to Heigel over the years.
In the U.S., the surname Heigel can be found in records from the 19th and 20th centuries, with some branches of the family taking on the spelling of Heigle. Some documented variants of the name Heigle are Heegele and Heegel. There is also an early spelling of Heigel found in Virginia records, at the beginning of the 1800s.
Alternatively, some Heigel family members changed their surname to Heidle, Heydele or Heidel, which is based on the German word "heitel," meaning nobleman or heathland.
Overall, although the surname Heigel has a few variations, they all have the same origin, meaning "corner of enclosure." Whether spelled Heegel, Hegle, Heigell, Heinninger (a variation found in Ohio in the 19th century) or Heidel; all of the spellings of the surname are connected to the same location and the same German heritage.
Famous people with the name Heigel
- Katherine Heigl: American actress
- David Heigel: American blues singer-songwriter
- John Heigel: American broadcaster and public speaker
- John Heigel Jr.: American actor
- Rob Heigel: American actor
- Masika Heigel: Swiss actress
- Overton Heigel: American writer
- Johny Heigel- American musician
- Helga Heigel: Austrian opera singer
- Daniel Heigel: German-Brazilian musician
- Donald Heigel: American psychologist
- Dianne Heigel: American writer
- Robert Heigel: American public relations specialist
- Nicholas Heigel: American college basketball player
- Raymond Heigel: American artist and entrepreneur
- Lisa Heigel: American yoga instructor
- Cliff Heigel: American machinist
- Jacob Heigel: American football player
- Jeff Heigel: Canadian hockey player
- Bobby Heigel: American businessman