Surname Kiessel - Meaning and Origin
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Kiessel: What does the surname Kiessel mean?
Kiessel is a German surname derived from the word “kiesel” which means “pebble”. It likely originated as an occupational surname for someone who quarried pebbles for use in road construction, and it was especially common in the state of Rhineland-Palatinate in south-western Germany. In the feudal system of the Middle Ages, Kiessel was often a hereditary name.
In the United States, the Kiessel surname has been around since the mid-1700s, when many German immigrants – many of whom were named Kiessel - settled in Pennsylvania. Since then, the surname has spread all over the United States, with some branches of the family also found in Canada, Mexico, and Australia.
The Kiessel surname is commonly associated with traits such as determination, resilience, and loyalty. Kiessel families are known for their strength of character and loyalty to their heritage and traditions. People named Kiessel are often described as courageous, strong-willed, and determined. They're often seen as loyal and reliable, and are often seen as good leaders.
Despite its Germanic origins, the Kiessel surname is found in many parts of the world and among many different cultures. It’s a reminder of the strength, resilience, and determination of those who bear its name.
Order DNA origin analysisKiessel: Where does the name Kiessel come from?
The last name Kiessel is most common today in Germany and Switzerland. Kiessel is a patronymic surname, which evolved from the Christian name Kiessel, as people took the name of their father in order to provide an additional form of identification.
The earliest known example of the Kiessel family is from the German region of Schonbach, where, in the year 1499, Jorg Kiessel was born. By the 1800s, the Kiessel family had spread into Switzerland and Austria, but had also spread out across Europe.
By the start of the 20th century, the Kiessel family could be found in the United States, where Bacon Kiessel arrived around 1820. The Kiessel family name is now quite common in the United States, although it can be found in many other countries including Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
Kiessel is still a widespread surname across Europe today, with the most common concentrations being in Germany and Switzerland. In Germany, the Kiessel surname is most commonly found in the states of Hamburg, Lower Saxony, and Bavaria, while in Switzerland, it is most common in the cantons of Bern and Zurich.
Several German and Swiss Kiessels have become notable, including Leo Kiessel, a 19th century artist and painter, and Willi Kiessel, a Swiss doctor who was on hand to care for one of the victims of the 1905 Block Experimental Flying Machine crash in Frankfurt, Germany.
Variations of the surname Kiessel
The surname Kiessel is of German origin and has many variants, spellings, and surnames with the same root. The most common Kiessel surnames are Keisel, Kiesel, Kiezle, Kiezell, Kiesle, and Kissel. It is thought to have originated in the Old High German word “keizal,” which means “small pebble,” suggesting that the surname was likely derived from the occupation of a stone mason or stonecutter.
Kissling is another form of Kiessel that is valuable to research, as it is an Old Swiss name. The prefix “Kiss-” is derived from the Old High German “kieseling,” or "small pebble," making it closely related to the Kiessel surname. Kissel is another popular variation of Kiessel, and is commonly used in the United States. It is presumed to be of German origin, and is derived from the same root as Kiessel.
The spelling of Kiesel is also used to refer to the same German surname. It is thought to have originated in the Old High German word “keizel,” meaning "stone," which may suggest a similarly close connection to the occupation of a stone mason or stonecutter.
Keisel is another variation of the Kiessel surname, and originates from the Old High German “keizal” or “keizel,” which also means “stone.” Kiezle is another variation that has also been used, and is derived from the German term “kiesels,” which means "pebble." Kiezell is an additional form of the Kiessel surname, and is likely a variation of the German word “kiesels," meaning "pebble."
The surname Kiesle is yet another variant of the Kiessel surname, derived from the Middle High German term “kiese” or “kiesel,” which means "pebble." Lastly, the spelling Kissel is another frequent form, and is commonly used in the United States. It is likely derived from the same root as the other surnames listed here.
Famous people with the name Kiessel
- Henry Kiessel: a German film producer, actor, and director, most known for producing his self-directed films Der Wunsch and Isoldes Liebestod.
- Uwe Kiessel: a German football coach, currently managing the 3. Liga-side VfL Waldkraiburg.
- David Kiessel: an American sculptor and photographer who has exhibited throughout the United States and Europe.
- Niclas Kiessel: a German biologist and professor of Zoology at the University of Duisburg-Essen.
- Hans Wilhelm Kiessel: a German novelist and playwright best known for his play Der Kontrabass, which was adapted into the Academy Award-nominated 1973 film The Pedestrian.
- Johannes Kiessel: a German abstract expressionist painter and sculptor.
- Max Kiessel: a German track cyclist from the 1960s who competed in the individual pursuit and points race at the 1964 Summer Olympics.
- Michael Kiessel: a German cyclist who won the 2015 and 2016 National Road Race championships.
- Albert Kiessel: a German-born Austrian composer most known for his operas, particularly his 1896 opera Die Seeschlacht.
- Wilhelm Kiessel: a German composer known for composing works such as Sonata Rigaudon and Eine Kleine Nachtmusik.