Surname Rummel - Meaning and Origin

Peeling Back Time: Rediscovering my Rummel Heritage Through iGENEA DNA Test

Discover how my experience with the iGENEA DNA test led me on an enriching journey into my Rummel lineage, uncovering fascinating historical connections, and establishing bonds with fellow Rummels from across the globe.

Y. Rummel

Rummel: What does the surname Rummel mean?

The surname Rummel originated from Germany. It is believed to be derived from the Middle High German word "rummeln" or "rumeln" which means "to make a noise" or "to create a disturbance". Therefore, it might have been initially used as a nickname for a noisy or disruptive individual. It might also have been possibly used to name people living in a particularly noisy or busy area. The surname could also be locational, associated with places called Rummel in Germany. Surnames were often created based on an individual’s occupation, characteristics, or location, allowing for easier identification in a community. Like many surnames, Rummel has several variations such as Rummell, Rumel, Rummle, among others. Hence, the surname Rummel holds historical significance, providing a glimpse into the socio-cultural context of the time it was first used.

Rummel: Where does the name Rummel come from?

The last name Rummel is geographically dispersed throughout Europe and the United States. In Germany, the Rummel surname is most commonly found in Bavaria, the region that borders Austria, Switzerland, and Czechia. In the United States, the Rummel surname is most commonly found in the states of Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Wisconsin. In each location, the surname Rummel is known to have different spellings, variations, and accents in certain areas.

In recent years, the Rummel surname has spread to other parts of the world, such as Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. According to FamilyTreeDNA, the highest concentration of the surname Rummel is found around the states of Washington, Oregon, and California in the United States, but the surname is also found in states like Florida, Texas, and Indiana.

In Germany, the Rummel surname is documented in records dating back as early as the 13th century. In more recent years, it has seen a much wider distribution due to migration. The same is true for the United States where the Rummel family name was likely brought to the country by German immigrants in the 1800s.

Today, the name Rummel proudly carries with it a history of resilience and adaptability, with members of the Rummel family spread throughout the world.

Variations of the surname Rummel

The surname Rummel, also spelled as Rumel, Rummele, Rummell, Rumble, Rumbel, and Rumbell, is of German origin. The Rummel surname is derived from a name for a "person from Rumeln," a village located on the Rhine River, near the German-Dutch border.

The Rumel spelling is primarily found in Germany, the Netherlands, and other German-speaking countries, while the Rummel spelling is more widely distributed in other countries. However, both spellings are found in the United States, where immigrants and their descendants from both Rumeln and German-speaking countries adopted the surname as their family name centuries ago.

Variations on the Rummel surname such as Rumel, Rummele, Rummell, Rumble, Rumbel, and Rumbell, are also found in countries around the world, including Austria, the Czech Republic, the United Kingdom, France, Canada, Australia, and Argentina.

The Rummel surname is also found in parts of Eastern Europe among Ashkenazi Jews. The surname is sometimes spelled as Rommel, Rummil, Rummile, Rummole, Ramel, Ramelle, and its diminutive forms Rummelchen and Ramelchen.

Originally, Rummel was the name of a place, used as a surname for people from that place. Over time, the surname became associated with the people who lived in that area, rather than the place itself. As a result, the Rummel surname has spread around the world as descendants of those original immigrants and their descendants moved and settled in various parts of the world.

Famous people with the name Rummel

• Robert Rummel-Hayford: American diplomat, and former Peace Corps Civilian Administration Director in East Africa.
• Max Rummel: German actor and filmmaker.
• Thomas Rummel: American film editor, director, and producer.
• Virginia Rummel: American author and music critic.
• Gero Rummel: German sport shooter who competed at the 1996 Summer Olympics.
• Erwin Rummel: German Professor Emeritus in Civil Engineering and freelance author.
• Stephanie Rummel: lead singer and songwriter for the German rock band Berlin Komödie.
• Maria Rummel: Romanian film, television, and stage actress.
• Herman Rummel: German chemist and the discoverer of the Ruddlesden-Popper phases in the perovskite group of minerals.
• Ralf Rummel: German enjoyer of change masquerading as a software engineer and social computing enthusiast.

Other surnames

RummelhartRummeril