Surname Kergel - Meaning and Origin

Kergel: What does the surname Kergel mean?

Kergel is a surname of German and Scandinavian origin. The name is derived from the name of an ancestral home or residence, likely located in a small rural village. It may have also originated from a place-name associated with a particular ancestor. The exact meaning of the word is unknown, but as a name it is believed to have originally referred to a place where a cemetery, churchyard or graveyard was located.

The kergel surname has likely existed for several centuries, as it is found in a number of records dating back hundreds of years. The name is also an occupational name, as many individuals with the Kergel surname worked as clergy or local government officials in small towns and villages.

The Kergel family has spread and is now found all over the world. In the United States, it is most commonly found in Midwestern and Mid-Atlantic states, such as Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York. In Canada, the name is less common and is mostly found in the province of British Columbia.

Kergel is an unusual and unique surname that has been in existence for centuries. Its origin is likely associated with a place-name, possibly an ancestral home, as well as with a certain occupation, such as a clergy or local government official. The name has spread over time and can now be found in several countries, representing a wide range of cultures and backgrounds.

Kergel: Where does the name Kergel come from?

The last name Kergel is most commonly found in countries which were once part of the German Empire or the Kingdom of Prussia. These countries include Germany, Poland, the Czech Republic, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and the Baltic nations of Lithuania, Estonia, and Latvia.

In Germany, Kergel is most common in the western and northern regions, especially in North Rhine-Westphalia and Lower Saxony. In Poland, Kergel is particularly common in the areas formerly a part of German territories, such as Silesia and West Prussia.

In the Czech Republic, Kergel is found throughout the former Bohemia and Moravia provinces. Although the name is not common in the Netherlands, it has been documented in eastern parts of the country, indicating that migration from the German border areas may have taken place.

Finally, the name is also common in Luxembourg, as well as in the three Baltic nations, suggesting some migration of German families to these countries during and after World War II. Kergel can also be found in the United States, specifically in the upper Midwest states of Minnesota, Wisconsin, and the Dakotas, where many Germans chose to settle.

Variations of the surname Kergel

The surname Kergel has several variations and spellings that can be used for the same origin. Some of these are:

Kergel, Kergell, Kergfell, Kergill, Kerrgell, Kergill, Kergell, Kergrill, Kergrill, Kerjel, Kergull, Kerkill, Kerkle, Kerkoll, Kerkul, Kiergel, Kergal, Kerrgall, Kirtgel, Kirgel, Kirgell, Kyrgle, Kergle.

Several surnames show a connection to the same origin with the surname Kergel, such as: Kosegell, Kosegel, Kochgel, Köchgel, Kogell, Kögell, Kögel, Kegel, Kegel, Kegell, Kegle, Kagell, Kagel, Cogel, Coggell, and Coggill.

These surnames are related to the Kergel surname through spelling variations and sound shifts, indicating some shared history. One possible origin for the Kergel surname is from the German root word “Kerge” which means “bundles of twigs”. The surname could have referred to someone who worked with bundles of twigs such as a basket maker or a thatcher.

Another possible origin for the surname comes from the Middle High German word “Kirge” which refers to a basket with a handle. This was commonly used to refer to a priest who was a preacher or even the large basket of books used in the church at the time. Therefore, an ancestor with the Kergel surname could have been a priest or a bookbinder in the Middle Ages.

In some cases, the surname Kergel is a variant of the German and Dutch surname Kerkhof. This surname originated from a location, describing someone who lived by or worked at a churchyard.

Regardless of origin, the surname Kergel has many variations and related surnames that show a common history.

Famous people with the name Kergel

• Dirk Kerkhoff: German actor
• Peter Kergel: German Olympian double luge athlete
• Gunther Kergel: German automobile engineer and designer
• Poul Kergel: Danish war hero
• William Kergel: American innovation leader
• Carl-Johan Kergel: Swedish composer and conductor
• Elisabeth Kergel: Austrian soprano
• Willi Kergel: German sculptor
• Jens Kergel: Danish zoologist
• Marcus Kergel: Director of the Institute of Arctic and Antarctic Research at the University of Kiel, Germany.

Other surnames

Kerger