Surname Mehl - Meaning and Origin
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Unraveling Ancestral Ties: My Experience with the iGENEA DNA Test and the 'Mehl' Lineage
The iGENEA DNA test opened new horizons for me and helped me trace my surname, 'Mehl,' back to its German origins. The test allowed me to connect with a community of Mehl surnames, sparking fascinating exchanges and bonding over a shared heritage.
X. Mehl
read moreMehl: What does the surname Mehl mean?
The last name Mehl is of German origin and is derived from the Middle High German word “mehle,” meaning “miller.” This likely refers to an occupational name for someone who worked in a mill. The name could have also been given to someone who lived in a house by a mill, or a person who owned a mill.
The Mehl name is most common in areas where German language and culture has been highly influential, such as parts of Germany, Austria, Czech Republic, Switzerland and Liechtenstein. It is estimated that there are approximately 1,800 people carrying the Mehl name in the United States today.
The Mehl last name can be found in German genealogy records dating as far back as the early 1500s. The earliest recorded German instances of this surname were from the regions of Bavaria and Franconia.
Generally, the Mehl surname is very rare. It is, therefore, unlikely that a person with the name is related to their fellow Mehls unless they are from the same locality. It is quite possible that the Mehl name is spread out across multiple countries with multiple original spellings.
The meaning of the Mehl name is still very much alive in Germany and other German-speaking countries. It is a reminder of their heritage and history and also of past generations of Mehls who lived in Germany before emigrating to other countries.
Order DNA origin analysisMehl: Where does the name Mehl come from?
The last name Mehl is most commonly found in Germany, Austria and the French region of Alsace. It is also scattered throughout other parts of Europe, and can be found in an increased concentration in some regions of Spain, Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine.
Outside Europe, there are also pockets of the Mehl surname in South Africa, Jamaica, Mexico, and the United States.
Historically, Mehl is thought to be an occupational surname derived from the Middle High German "mêl," meaning miller or millwright, referring to someone who worked with flour, grain or some other grain-related industry. During the 1700s, several families known as Mehls settled in the Rhineland of what was then Prussia.
Today, Mehl is not a particularly common last name; however, it is often found in small, rural communities near old milling sites, most often in Germany. In the United States, it is most common in Pennsylvania, New York, and California; though it can be found in many other states. Even still, it is not one of the most frequently occurring surnames in America.
Variations of the surname Mehl
The surname Mehl has several variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. These include Mehle, Mehl, Mehls, Möhl, Möhle, Möhls, Mehlhöfer, Möhlhöfer, and Mehlhorn.
Mehl is an occupational surname of German origin. It is derived from the Old High German word "mahal", meaning mill. It was most likely used to refer to someone who lived or worked in a mill. It is derived from the same root as the modern German word "mahlsen", which means to grind or mill grain.
In addition, "Mehl" is also a form of the Middle Low German surname "Mahlen", which derived from a diminutive of the given name “Mahal”.
Variants of the surname Mehl, such as Mehle and Möhl, are found in several parts of Germany, France, and other parts of Central Europe. The spelling Mehlhöfer is derived from "Mehl" as well as the suffix "höfer", meaning farmer or landowner. The surname Mehlhorn is a combination of the name Mehl and the suffix "horn", meaning somebody who lived near a horn-shaped hill or hilltop.
Mehls is a less common form of the surname likely derived from a misspelling of “Mehl”, although it can also be a form of the rare Middle High German surname “Möhls”, which is derived from the Middle High German term “möhle”, meaning mill.
Overall, the surname Mehl is derived from a person's occupation or location, and its variants, spellings, and related surnames are found in Germany, France, and other central European countries.
Famous people with the name Mehl
- Seth Mehl: stand-up comedian and television writer
- Ryan Mehl: American former professional ice hockey player
- Becky Mehl: American actress, writer, and director
- Jimmy Mehl: American singer-songwriter
- Dave Mehl: American former race car driver
- Jordan Mehl: American basketball player
- Chris Mehl: American former professional baseball player
- Steve Mehl: American former professional baseball player
- James Mehl: American former professional basketball player
- Gene Mehl: American track and field athlete
- Dave Mehlhaff: American former professional basketball player
- William Mehl: German artist
- Joseph Mehl: German pioneer in organic chemistry
- Johannes Mehl: German politician
- Fritz Mehl: German chess master
- Paul Mehl: German actor and theater director
- Christoph Mehl: German philologist
- Philip Mehl: German architect
- Lars Mehl: Danish journalist and writer on LGBT+ issues
- Marius Mehl: Norwegian composer and musicologist