Surname Knipel - Meaning and Origin

Knipel: What does the surname Knipel mean?

The surname Knipel is an occupational name derived from the old German word "knifeler," which translates to "one who works with knives." It is generally thought to have originated from a particular trade or profession of knife-making or sharpening, though now it can be found all across Europe and the United States.

In the United States, the Knipel surname was first brought over by German immigrants in the early 1800s. Some of the earliest known settlers include Johannes Knipel, who came to Baltimore in 1820, and Maria Knipel, who settled in New York State in 1837.

The spelling of the name has varied over time, with some popular variations including Knippel, Knipfel, Kneppel, and Knifel. There is also a Dutch variant of the name, Kneppelhoute, which translates to "Kneppel woods".

Though records for the name don't reveal any type of unified clan or specific origin, the name may have once been used primarily by knife-makers from Germany, or residents of the Kneppel woods.

The name Knipel can still be found today in many parts of the world, with some descendants likely tracing their roots back to the original German immigrants of the 1800s. Many of its wearers may be proud of their heritage and of the achievements of its earliest bearers, who courageously left their homes in pursuit of a new life in the United States.

Knipel: Where does the name Knipel come from?

The last name Knipel is most commonly found amongst Ashkenazi Jewish families living in Eastern Europe, particularly amongst those of German, Czech, or Polish descent. It is estimated that this surname is present in around 1000 families located throughout the region, and is one of the more traditional Jewish surnames in the area.

Most present-day families with the surname Knipel are believed to be descendants of the Silesian Knipel family, who originated in the area between the 14th and 15th centuries. The name can also be found in Prussia, Saxony, Bavaria, and Parts of Austria as well, with some records indicating that the family moved to Israel after World War II.

Outside of Eastern Europe, the name Knipel is much less common - though there are some families of German Jewish descent who have adopted the surname. It can also be found amongst some communities in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, South Africa, and Australia.

Although the name Knipel is not as well-known now as some other Eastern European surnames, it still exists in many places and is testament to the persistence of the Jewish people who survived centuries of persecution in Europe.

Variations of the surname Knipel

The surname Knipel has a variety of variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. A few of these include Knippel, Knippele, Knippes, Knipfel, Knippeler, Knypel, Knipels, Knuppel, and Knupell. All of these alternative surnames are derived from the more commonly known German version of the name Knipel, and thus share the same root.

The less common forms of the surname Knipel occur when the original version of the name is altered or adapted due to language, cultural, or immigration influences. One such variant is the Dutch version of the name, Knipsel. This form of the surname likely emerged when Dutch settlers travelling from Germany to the New World adopted it. Similarly, Knippes is a variation that arose when German dialects changed the pronunciation of the original version of the name.

The longer version of the name, Knippeler, was formed when the prefix '-er' was added to indicate either "the son of Knipel" or simply to give an emphasis or flair to the name. The shortened version of the name, Knupell, is likely derived from the original version, though its exact source cannot be definitively determined.

The most common variant of the name is Knypel, which originally hails from Germany's Bavarian region and is popular among those with Dutch and Dutch-American roots. All of these variants, spellings and surnames of Knipel share the same root but have been either shortened, adapted or otherwise altered through language, cultural or immigration influences.

Famous people with the name Knipel

• Hans Knipel: a German actor who is known for his role as Hans Brandhoff in the film Schloβ Gripsholm (1960).
• Almuth Knipel: a German artist and landscape painter.
• Gustav Knipel, Sr.: a well-known German author from the early 20th century, most famous for his masterpiece Die Weihnachtsgeschichte.
• Holger Knipel: a contemporary German author who has written several best-selling novels.
• Werner Knipel: a German businessman, founder of the Knipel GmbH company.
• Gottfried Knipel: a German film composer, most noted for his work on the controversial movie Deruneben (1970).
• Friedrich Knipel: a German opera singer known for his leading roles in Don Giovanni and The Magic Flute.
• Guy Knipel: an American entrepreneur and philanthropist. He is the founder of The Knipel Foundation, which provides scholarships to disadvantaged students.
• Knipel Sisters: a show business musical group consists of three sisters: Hildegarde, Ingeborg, and Magda.
• Earl Knipel: an American politician who served as the Mayor of Buffalo, New York from 1938 to 1941.

Other surnames

Knipe