Surname Kümmel - Meaning and Origin
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Discovering Ancestral Roots and Unraveling the Historic Background of the Surname Kümmel Through iGENEA DNA Analysis
Unraveling familial roots through a DNA analysis at iGENEA, I discovered a deep connection to my European Jewish ancestry and the origins behind the family name Kümmel. The revelations resonated profoundly, instilling a sense of pride and providing a much profound understanding of my heritage that anchors me to a rich human history.
E. Kümmel
read moreKümmel: What does the surname Kümmel mean?
The last name Kümmel is of German origin and is believed to derive from a term meaning “cumin.” It is thought that it was most likely originally a nickname for someone who sold or cooked with cumin and over time, it became a surname.
Kümmel is also a type of Clear, sweet liqueur, typically flavoured with caraway, cumin, and fennel. It is usually served as a digestif but can also be used in cocktails or as an ingredient in dishes. It originated from central and northern Europe and is popular in Germany, Latvia, the Netherlands, and Poland but is now also consumed in other parts of the world.
The modern Kümmel surname is relatively rare, especially outside of Germany and the surrounding countries. It is thought that one of the reasons for this is that many members of this name changed it into other surnames during the different waves of immigration over the centuries, such as Kummel, Kummell, and Kummele. Regardless, it continues to exist and is still used by many descendants today.
Order DNA origin analysisKümmel: Where does the name Kümmel come from?
The last name Kümmel is common today primarily in Central Europe, especially in German-speaking countries such as Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.
The name is a German or Dutch surname, which is derived from the word “Kümmel,” a German anise liqueur. Kümmel was first popularized as a last name in the 14th century, and since then, it has spread across Central Europe. One of the earliest records of the last name was in medieval records from Austria in the year 1345.
The prevalence of the last name Kümmel also correlates to the population of people with German or Dutch heritage. According to the 2020 world population review, Germany currently ranks as the 15th most populated country in the world, closely followed by Switzerland and Austria, both with low population densities so it must be assumed that a portion of the population in these countries originates from German or Dutch ancestry.
The last name Kümmel is a fairly common name and many modern families can trace their lineage back to medieval Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. The name is an important and historic part of Germanic culture, and the popularity of Kümmel as a last name today is proof of that.
Variations of the surname Kümmel
The surname Kümmel is derived from German and Dutch origins, and is found in both Europe and North America. Variants of the surname include Kummel, Kummeler, Kummell, Kummels, Kummeling, Kummele, and Kümmele. Spellings of the surname may also include Cumel, Comel, Cummel, Kümmell, Kümele, Kümmele, and Kümmell.
Kümmel is commonly an occupational surname, typically referring to someone who worked with cumin, a spice native to Southwest Asia used in the flavoring and preservation of food. Historically, Kümmel was also used in Germany to refer to someone who sold spices or herbal medicines.
Surnames with similar origins include Komel, Kommelling, Kumminger, Kumel, Kummlicher, Kummling, Gottschalk, Kumler, Kummli, and Kummerer. Of these, Kumel, Kummeling, Kummele, Cummel, and Kummler are all thought to have German and Dutch roots, while Komel, Kummlicher, Kummling and Kummerer are believed to be German-Jewish surnames. Gottschalk and Kummli are German surnames derived from the given name Gottfried.
The spelling or variant of Kümmel may have originally been chosen to indicate a person’s place of origin or former occupation. In some regions, the spelling and variations of Kümmel were also influenced by local dialects or sounds, similar to the way that other surnames, such as Schmidt and Smith, may vary according to language or dialect.
Famous people with the name Kümmel
- Reinhard Kümmel: German astronomer and astrophysicist.
- Carl Kümmel: German architect of the Art Nouveau style.
- Conrad Kümmel: German composer and music theorist.
- Otto Kümmel: German chemist who discovered the element hafnium.
- Fritz Kümmel: German photographer.
- Heinrich Kümmel: German architect and furniture designer.
- Wilhelm Kümmel: Austrian painter.
- Johann Kümmel: Austrian classical scholar.
- Rüdiger Kümmel: German physicist.
- Wolfgang Kümmel: German-born premie opera conductor.
- Konrad E. Kümmel: German physicist.
- Felix Kümmel: German neurologist.
- Alfred Kümmel: German botanist.
- Emil Kümmel: German physicist.
- Robert Kümmel: German-born film director.
- Wolfgang Kümmel: German scriptwriter and actor.
- Günther Kümmel: German gymnast.
- Ludwig Kümmel: German astronomer.
- Paul Kümmel: Norwegian humanoid robot designer.
- Justus Kümmel: Austrian botanist and poet.