Surname Knuttel - Meaning and Origin

Knuttel: What does the surname Knuttel mean?

The last name Knuttel is of Dutch origin. It is derived from the Dutch word “knut” which means small, plain knot, or simply knot. In German it can also be found as “Knutel”. It is believed that the name was first used as a nickname for a person who either tied knots in a particularly skillful way, making it a nickname for someone with strong manual dexterity, or someone who was of a small, compact size, making it a nickname for “small knot”. In both cases, the name was derived to be used as a last name and applied to families with such characteristics.

The Knutels are historically native to Germany, Netherlands, and Belgium. They are a small but tight-knit family of primarily farmers with roots traced back to several generations before the 16th century.

Outside the Netherlands, the Knuttel name has also spread to other nearby countries over the years. In particular, members of the Knuttel family have become well-known within the real estate and land-owning industries in Germany and Belgium.

The Knuttel family is usually very close and supportive of one another, and its members often stay in contact regardless of how far they are from eachother. The name is believed to bear no special significance beyond being a possible nickname.

Knuttel: Where does the name Knuttel come from?

The last name Knuttel appears to be most common in Germany today. People with this surname are thought to have originated from northern Germany, probably between the regions of Schleswig-Holstein and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. Immigration, particularly to the United States, has caused the name to become more widespread, but the majority of Knuttels still reside in Germany.

The name could have originated from several different sources, including their location or job. The first part of the name is derived from the Low German term "knutte", meaning a small hill. This could be indicative of the area that the first Knuttel family lived on, for instance a hill that belonged to them. The ending was likely added to distinguish the family from others in the same region with the same first part of the name.

However, the name could also have been derived from a common medieval profession. The German word "knuddel", meaning a metal worker or blacksmith, fits this description. This term could refer to the family's profession, as members of the Knuttel family may have been blacksmiths at a certain point in time.

Regardless of the origin, the name Knuttel is still common today, primarily in Germany, and continues to bring to mind its possible roots.

Variations of the surname Knuttel

Knuttel (or Knüttel) is a German surname of probable Dutch origin. The typical spelling of the surname is Knuttel, but various spellings and variants of the surname exist, including Knuttel, Knüttel, Knöttel, Knutel, Knöttel, Knuetel, Nuttel, and Knudel.

The German forms of the surname may be derived from the Dutch name Knuddele, which is composed of two elements. The first element, "Knud," is most likely diminutive of the given name "Knut," which itself could be a shortened form of "Konrad." The second element of the name, "-dele," is a hypocoristic suffix indicating endearment.

In addition to German spellings of Knuttel, there are also numerous other surnames of similar origin, including Kudel, Kudella and Kudelka. These surnames can be found in Germany, Austria and Central and Eastern Europe, including Poland, Slovenia and Slovakia.

Knuttel (or Knüttel) is also a common Jewish surname, coming from the Yiddish "Knutel/Knotel," which means "dumpling." Those bearing the name often originate from Lithuania and Poland but eventually settled throughout Central and Eastern Europe.

In North America, various spellings of Knuttel, including Knudel, Knudels and Knudeles, can be found in both the United States and Canada. Variants in the United States are mainly found in New York and Pennsylvania, while Canadians have settled mainly in Ontario.

Famous people with the name Knuttel

• Johannes Cornelis Knuttel: Dutch painter, printmaker and art collector.
• Maarten Knuttel: Dutch photographer, notable for his images of everyday Dutch life.
• André Knuttel: Dutch singer, songwriter and producer.
• Willem Knuttel: Dutch actor and director.
• Liz Knuttel: American art curator, author and art historian.
• Marinus Knuttel: Dutch engineer and inventor, known for being the founder of the Hispano-Suiza automobile company.
• Willem Knuttel: Dutch mathematician and astronomer.
• Joram Knuttel: Dutch painter and printmaker.
• G.C. Knuttel: Dutch engraver, publisher and bookseller.
• Michael Knuttel: Irish physicist and optical engineer.

Other surnames

KnuttalKnütter