Surname Goppel - Meaning and Origin
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Goppel: What does the surname Goppel mean?
The last name Goppel is thought to have origins in German-speaking lands. It is believed to be derived from the Middle High German word "goppel", which means "cup-bearer". This name likely belonged to a court attendant who served drinks to a nobleman or lord in their royal court. The surname could also originate from a nickname for an individual who often drank alcohol or acted in a jovial manner.
Additionally, the surname may have been derived from the German word "gebälk", an old term for "architrave", a horizontal beam that provides support for the wall or roof. This suggests that the surname originally belonged to a builder, stonemason, or carpenter who worked on buildings. It could also be related to the occupation of "goppenmaker", which is an old Dutch word that refers to the construction of architraves.
Throughout its history, the surname Goppel has been found in Germany, the Netherlands, and other German-speaking regions, such as Austria and Switzerland. Generally, the name is associated with hard work and a strong, blue-collar ethic. It is a relatively common surname in these regions today and is often seen as a sign of pride and respect.
Order DNA origin analysisGoppel: Where does the name Goppel come from?
The last name Goppel is common today mainly in Germany and the Netherlands. Goppel is derived from the Germanic word "Gappel", which denotes a rural area or countryside. It is also thought to be related to the Dutch word "Gapel" which means "garden pond." It is a habitational name, associated with a location where a Goppel family could have lived hundreds of years ago.
Today, Goppel is a fairly uncommon name outside of Germany and the Netherlands. In those countries, it is considered to be a typical local name, with a prevalence of approximately 0.05%, equivalent to one person in every two thousand.
In parts of Germany where it is more common, Goppel is often found along the Rhine Valley in the Hesse region and the neighbourhood of Mainz. It is also found in some areas of Bavaria, especially around the city of Nuremberg.
In the Netherlands, Goppel is most often seen in the country’s southwest provinces. This could be due to the fact that the area around Rotterdam was heavily bombed in World War II and many families changed their names after the war.
Overall, the last name Goppel is mainly associated with the old communities of Germany and the Netherlands from which it originated. In these countries, it is still considered to be an old-fashioned rural name, and is usually kept in families and passed on to the next generations.
Variations of the surname Goppel
Goppel is a surname with multiple variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. One variant of the surname is Goppel, and the spelling differences are usually due to the dialect of the area where the surname originated. Other spellings include Gabel, Gibbs, Gooble, and Cople.
The first record of the Goppel surname can be found in Germany in the early 12th century and is derived from the Old German words "Gob" and "Bel" which mean "pool" or "puddle" and "bell" respectively. So Goppel likely means "a person who lives near a pool or puddle, near a bell."
The Goppel surname can be found in multiple countries around the world, mostly European countries such as Germany, France, Austria, Poland, and the Czech Republic. Variations of the surname include Goepel, Gappel, Goepfel, Goepfert, Goetpel, and Kobbel.
Due to emigration, the Goppel surname has spread around the globe. In the United States, other forms of the surname exist such as Gabel, Jopling, Kopple, Kuple, and Gopel. Some members of the family even anglicized the name to "Copel" or "Cople".
The Goppel surname can be found in most countries in Europe, and its variants can also be found in the United States. The origin of the surname is likely German and it is derived from the words indicating its likely literal meaning of "a person who lives near a pool or puddle, near a bell." It is typically seen in Germany, Austria, France, Poland, and the Czech Republic, and families have spread this name further through emigration.
Famous people with the name Goppel
- Franz Goppel (1909-1991): Bavarian politician and CSU politician. Goppel served as the final post-war Prime Minister of Bavaria from 1954 to 1957 and again from 1962 to 1978.
- Britta Goppel (born 1964): German ski jumper. She competed for West Germany in the 1984 and 1988 Olympics.
- Heinrich Goppel (1877-1960): German art historian and archaeologist. He was a professor at Leipzig University.
- Ernest Goppel (1902-1979): German military officer and leader of the Counter Intelligence Corps.
- Hendrik Goppel (born 1936): Dutch footballer who played for several clubs, including Feyenoord, FC Den Haag and Sparta Rotterdam.
- Michael Goppel (born 1944): German sociologist and theologian. He has written many books, including Theology, Social Sciences and Practical Action, The Science of Qualitative Research and Social Practices of Religion.
- Franz Goppel (1881-1948): German businessman and art collector. He served as the president of the Association of Bavarian Art Collectors and was the founder of the Goppel Art Foundation.
- Karl Goppel (1877-1946): German architect. He was the designer of many Bavarian-style pub buildings, architectural decorations and interiors.
- Gabriel Goppel (born 1941): Belgian entrepreneur who founded engineering company Goppel NV.
- Lothar Goppel (born 1955): German former cyclist. He competed in the 1978 and 1979 World Championships.