Surname Kerkel - Meaning and Origin
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Kerkel: What does the surname Kerkel mean?
The last name Kerkel is of German origin, and is derived from the name of a village in the Alsace region of Eastern France. According to records dating back to the 13th century, the German spelling of the village name was Kerkel or Kerken. The meaning of Kerkel is thought to be derived from the German words 'kerk', which translates to 'church', and 'el', which translates to a surname designation.
The Kerkel family is believed to be one of the oldest in Germany, with villagers from the original Kerkel village in the Alsace region. Over the years, the family name has been found in a number of other countries. The family has also been associated with trade and business ownership in Germany, Central Europe, Russia, and the United States.
Today, individuals with the Kerkel surname continue to trace their roots back to the original village in the Alsace region. This name is still common today, particularly in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and France. It is also quite common in the United States, where immigrants from other European countries have continued to use the Kerkel surname. Other variations of the name, such as Kerkle, Kerkles, and Kercken, are also found in less common countries.
Order DNA origin analysisKerkel: Where does the name Kerkel come from?
The last name Kerkel is primarily of German origin, and appears to be an occupational surname for a church organist. Today, the surname is most common in Germany and in German-speaking communities around the world, such as Eastern Europe and North America.
In German-speaking Europe, the last name Kerkel may have been used in regions with strong Catholic or Lutheran populations due to its roots in church music. According to HomeToGo, a search engine for vacation rental properties, the Kerkel surname is most commonly found in the German state of Rhineland-Palatinate, followed by Cologne, Berlin, Bavaria, and Hamburg.
In North America, the Kerkel surname can be found in areas that were previously settled by German immigrants. The U.S. Census Bureau counts the Kerkel surname among the three hundred most common surnames in the United States, but it is most popular in states like Pennsylvania, Ohio, and New York, which have historically large German American populations. The same is true of the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Manitoba, where German-speaking immigrants have had a significant impact on settlement patterns.
There are also some countries in Latin America where the Kerkel name can be found. Venezuelan records show a few individuals bearing the Kerkel surname, and a few more in Mexico, Argentina, and Chile.
Overall, the Kerkel surname is still most common in German-speaking Europe, especially in Germany. However, due to immigration patterns over the past hundred years, the surname has also spread beyond traditional German-speaking countries to areas of North America, Latin America, and elsewhere.
Variations of the surname Kerkel
The surname Kerkel may be spelled in several different variations, such as Kerkle, Kerkel, Kercklee, Kerklee, Kerkley, and Kerkleye. It is also sometimes spelled Kürkle or Cirkle, with the ü or c replacing the usual k.
Kerkel is generally of German origin, and very old, records of it can be found as far back as the 13th century. It is believed to have started as a nickname for a person from a place called “Kerke” in the Rhineland area of Germany. It is also possible that the name originated in the Netherlands, where Kerk is a Dutch word meaning “church".
The Kerkel surname also has alternate spelling variants such as Kerckli, Kettel, Kettels, Kirtle, Kirtles, Kercler, Kirtler, Kirtleser, Kirschler, Kleyer, Klemmer, Kremers and Kremer. Other surnames that can be found to have similar origins are Curley and Corley.
Kerkel is not usually found with many spelling variations outside of Germany, however, in the United States, spelling variations have been recorded as Carkel, Kercle, Kercker, Kerkhil, Kerklin, Kerkelink and Kerklann. Thus, the Kerkel surname is rather Variable in spelling, and it has evolved with time.
Famous people with the name Kerkel
- Hélene Kerkel: Hélene Kerkel is a German Olympic track cyclist. She competed in the 2012 Summer Olympics in the Women's points race.
- Robin Kerkel: Robin Kerkel is a fairy tale writer, actor, and speaker who has written and performed many of his own works for family and stage.
- Roy Kerkel: Roy Kerkel is a Canadian professional hockey player who played for the Estonian teams of Saaremaa Haabersti Spurs, Narva II Rangers and SM Liiga team Narvik Hockey.
- Steve Kerkel: Steve Kerkel is an American rockabilly and rhythm and blues singer-songwriter. He and two of his friends released an album under the name The Mountaineers, and a second, unrecorded, album under the name The Roosters.
- Richard Kerkel: Richard Kerkel was an American football and basketball coach and college athletics administrator. He served as the head football coach at Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota from 1958 to 1972, compiling a record of 99–53–2.
- Dieter Kerkel: Dieter Kerkel is a German dermatologist, aviator and writer. He has written numerous papers on the subject of skin cancer and is well known in Germany for his advocacy for skin protection.
- Kurt Kerkel: Kurt Kerkel is a German television writer and producer. He is most known for writing and producing the successful programs such as Der Westen live!, ARD Extra and ARD Auto 26.
- Louis Kerkel: Louis Kerkel is an American politician and a former member of the Minnesota House of Representatives. Elected in 2008, he represented District 32A, which included portions of Douglas and Otter Tail counties in the northwestern part of the state.