Surname Köppl - Meaning and Origin
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Köppl: What does the surname Köppl mean?
The last name Köppl is a German surname. It is derived from the German verb “köppeln,” which means “to trade” or “to barter.” The name most likely originates from an occupational name given to various traders in medieval Germany who sold various goods. Alternatively, the name may have originated from a nickname given to someone who exchanged goods or services with others.
The Köppl surname has etymological roots in the Middle High German verb “köppelen” and the Middle Low German word “koppe.” These terms both meant “to exchange” or “to barter,” which were activities that were necessary in that period of time. Thus, the Köppl surname functions as a symbol of the trader or barterman of the Middle Ages.
The Köppl surname is fairly widespread throughout Germany, and is believed to have been used in the surrounding countries such as Austria, Switzerland, and other German-speaking areas. It is also found in various spellings within Germany, such as Koppl, Küppl, Küppel, Kueppel, Koepel, Kuebbel, Kuebble, Köbel, Köbels, Köbles, and Kueble.
Today, the surname Köppl has multiple spellings, which may have developed due to immigration. The spelling differing in various countries, depending on the time period in which the family moved. Thus, the Köppl name has transitioned over time while still maintaining its original meaning.
Order DNA origin analysisKöppl: Where does the name Köppl come from?
The last name Köppl is most commonly used in Germany today. Köppl is an occupational name meaning 'brewer', which is a common name for those who brewed beer for a living throughout parts of Germany. It is still used by the descendants of those original brewers.
The highest concentration of people with the last name Köppl is in Lower Bavaria, particularly around the city of Passau. Other popular areas of German that use the surname Köppl include Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Lower Saxony, Thuringia, and Saxony-Anhalt.
Köppl is also a popular surname in parts of Austria, although it is used less frequently there than in Germany.
While not as widespread as it was in the past, the surname Köppl is still quite common in many parts of Germany and Austria, a testament to the successful families of brewers who were the source of the name all those centuries ago.
Variations of the surname Köppl
The surname Köppl is a Germanic surname that has existed in many variants since the medieval period. The most commonly encountered variations in spelling of this surname are Köppel, Köpfel, Köppelmann, Köppelhoff and Köppllein.
Köppl is derived from the Middle High German word ‘koeppel’, which means ‘small hill’. It was a popular medieval toponymic name, given to a person who lived on or near a small hill. This name has continued to be used as a surname by people living in areas of Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
The earliest recorded variant of the name is Köppel, which is found in documents dating from 1554. This spelling eventually evolved into Köppl, which is now the most commonly encountered variant.
Other surnames derived from Köppl include Köpplinger, Köpplicker, Köpplingerhoff and Köpplin. These are mostly found in the Austrian and Swiss regions.
The spelling Kepley is also another variant of the Germanic Köppl. This variant arose from English immigrant whitemen in the late 1800s who adopted the phonetic spelling used in America, such as in the states of Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia.
The surname Köppl is also linked to Jewish surnames such as Köphl, Keppler, Köpelmanson, Köpflin and Köpff. The original given name associated with these variants is likely to have been related to the Middle High German word ‘köppel’, such as Köpplin meaning ‘son of the small hill’.
In conclusion, over the centuries the surname Köppl has evolved in many directions, creating a number of spelling variations and different surnames of the same origin.
Famous people with the name Köppl
- Kurt Köppl: Austrian ski jumping specialist and trainer
- Konrad Köppl: Austrian tenor opera singer
- Franz Köppl: German World War I ace pilot
- Markus Köppl: Austrian composer and music educator
- Michael Köppl: Austrian poet and writer
- Johannes Köppl: German former member of the National People's Party
- Robert Köppl: Austrian ice hockey player
- Claudia Köppl: Canadian artist and illustrator
- Hartmut Köppl: German philosopher, theologian andelliologist
- Heidi Köppl: Austrian artist and printmaker