Surname Knippel - Meaning and Origin

Knippel: What does the surname Knippel mean?

The last name Knippel is of German origin and is derived from the Middle High German word “knippil”, which means “small” or “little one.” It is typically an occupational surname, meaning it was originally used to describe a person who was a tailor or cutter of clothing, from the Old German word “knippen” meaning “to cut” or “to clip.” The origin of the name was once an occupational job title for a tradesman, but over time, it became a reference to one's appearance, especially for people of a small stature or with a small build.

The Knippels are a German family known to have been living in what is now Germany since the 18th century. They are known to have been members of the Lutheran religion as well as farmers, tradesmen, and artisans. Records indicate that the Knippels owned land around the Lich area as early as 1790. The main trades that the Knippels were involved in were those related to agriculture and farming as well as cooperatives, tailoring, and other trades.

The Knippels are a well-known family in Germany and have spread to other countries over the centuries. The name is quite uncommon however, and continues to be concentrated in the areas where they originally lived. Throughout its history, the Knippel name pays homage to the family’s history as tradesmen and a small and humble group of people.

Knippel: Where does the name Knippel come from?

The last name Knippel is most common today in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. According to German surname distribution research, it is most densely populated in Germany, with the highest concentration of Knippels in the state of Bavaria, near Munich and Nürnberg. In Austria, the name is concentrated mainly in the provinces of Styria and Salzburg. It is also found in many other European countries including Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, and Croatia.

In the United States, the surname Knippel is found mainly in states which were originally settled by German immigrants, such as in Wisconsin, Iowa, and Illinois. Descendants of the original Knippel immigrants are now found mainly in large metropolitan areas such as Chicago, IL and Milwaukee, WI.

The German surname Knippel is thought to derive from the old German word "knipp" meaning clip. It is likely that early Knippel ancestors may have been tailors, scissor makers, tanners, or any profession that relied on scissors or cutting tools.

Another theory suggests that Knippel is derived from an older German gentlemen's title of "von Knipel", which originally meant a "knight of the spear".

Overall, the surname Knippel is associated with many different regions in Germany, Austria, and the United States, demonstrating the growth and evolution of the family name over the past few centuries.

Variations of the surname Knippel

Knippel is a German surname and its variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin are Knypel, Knüppel, Kneppel, Knippell, Knipfel, Knippe, Kneipfel, Kniepfel, and Knepel.

The surname Knippel is derived from the Middle High German phrase “knipfen”, which facilitates the English term “to clip”. Unsurprisingly, the literal translation of this German phrase indicates the profession or characteristic of the original bearer of the name Knippel, likely being the practice of snipping or trimming hair, wool, or fur. Thus in the Middle Ages, the surname Knippel denoted a person who was a barber, shearer or furrier by trade.

Subsequent spelling variations, including Knypel, Knüppel, and Kneppel, are believed to have arisen due to the same phonetic processes that caused other German surnames to take on a myriad of forms.

The alternate spellings Knippell, Knipfel, Knippe, Kneipfel, Kniepfel and Knepel may have been caused by the Germanic linguistic practice of replacing the letter “K” with the letter “C” or vice versa. Ergo, the Knippel last name might have evolved into the variants Knipel and Knipelm when migrating to more distant countries.

It is also possible that foreign spellings such as Knipfel, Knippe, Kneipfel, Kniepfel and Knepel are derived from a combination of the 16th century terms “Knippe”, which was used to identify a man’s hat, and “Fel”, which was used to refer to a fur-trimmed coat. Consequently, the Knippel surname could be indicating a line of persons who were hat-makers or fur-trimmers in the distant past.

Torriently, the surname Knippel and its variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin reflect the deep Germanic name-lore and its roots in various professions.

Famous people with the name Knippel

• Joe Knippel: Professional baseball pitcher who has played for various teams such as the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Tampa Bay Rays, and Cincinnati Reds.
• Tom Knippel: A former NCAA basketball player and the current assistant coach of the Michigan Wolverines.
• Aiden Knippel: An Entertainment YouTuber with over 500,000 subscribers.
• Joe Knippel Jr.: A former Major League Baseball player who had professional playing experience with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Milwaukee Brewers, and Philadelphia Phillies.
• Jessi Knippel: A professional Triathlete and Duathlete, ranked among the top ten in the nation.
• Joey Knippel: A former professional ice hockey player who played for teams such as the Detroit Red Wings and Atlanta Thrashers.
• Greg Knippel: Award-winning marine biologist and former Chief Scientist at the University of Washington.
• Judy Knippel: Co-host of the long-running television show “Good Day New York”.
• David Knippel: A professor of biology at the St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Philadelphia.
• Tracy Knippel: Famous astrophysicist and professor of astronomy at the University of Arizona’s Steward Observatory.

Other surnames

KnippKnippl