Surname Kreutel - Meaning and Origin
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Kreutel: What does the surname Kreutel mean?
The German surname Kreutel is derived from the Middle Low German word "krothel" or "krotele", meaning a "knot" or "knot of hair" or a "braid". It is believed to have originally been a nickname for a person who wore his hair in a "knot" or braid, or who specialised in doing such braids. The name may also have been derived from the Middle High German word "kreutel", meaning "cross", and referred to someone who was devoted to pilgrimages.
The surname appears in multiple regions of Germany, particularly Bavaria, with records dating back to at least the 17th century, although it is likely to be much older. The most prominent Kreutel family were Jewish merchants in Bavaria who established a business in Regensburg in 1653.
Kreutels were known to migrate frequently, with families leaving Germany in the 19th century to settle in France, Belgium, the United States, Canada and other countries. The name has been anglicized to several variants, such as Crutel, Crutle, Kreutel, Kreutle and Krutle. Today, Kreutels can be found in many countries around the world.
Order DNA origin analysisKreutel: Where does the name Kreutel come from?
The last name Kreutel is common today mainly across the central and eastern regions of Europe. Records show that Kreutel is most popular in Austria, closely followed by the Czech Republic and Germany.
In Austria, the surname Kreutel is most commonly found in the southwestern provinces of Vorarlberg, Upper Austria and Styria. It also appears in some other provinces such as Vienna and Carinthia. In the Czech Republic, the surname is most popular in Prague and Central Bohemia, with other occurrences in South and North Moravia and Silesia. In Germany, the surname is most common in the states of Bavaria, Rhineland-Palatinate and Saxony. It is also found in pockets in the states of Baden-Wurttemberg, North Rhine-Westphalia, and Hesse.
Kreutel can also be found in some other central and eastern European countries such as Slovenis, Hungary and Slovakia. Outside of Europe, the surname is known to have spread to North America. In the United States, records show the surname is most common in Pennsylvania, followed by Minnesota, Ohio, Colorado, Texas, California and New York.
The surnames origin is unclear but Y-DNA testing suggests it may have originated from the area now known as Germany. This testing has further revealed that Kreutel is likely an occupational name derived from the Middle High German “krut” meaning “barrel” or “container”.
Variations of the surname Kreutel
The surname Kreutel has several variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. These variants may include: Kreutles, Kreuteles, and Creutel. All of these spellings share the same root word; the German word “Krutel”, which means “wheel”.
Kreutel is generally a German and Eastern European surname. It is known to be a topographical surname, which means that it is associated with a particular location or geographical feature. In this case, the surname would likely have been given to someone whose family originated from an area with a particular hill, mountain, or hill-like shape. The name may also have been derived from the word “kreutl”, which means “step”, indicating that a family lived on a pretty steep hill.
Variant spellings of the name are often used both intentionally and unintentionally by families that have migrated from Continental Europe. This can range from a deliberate decision to honor one’s heritage or an unintentional record-keeping error.
Surnames with the same origin as Kreutel include Kreutle, Kreutler, Kretzler, Kretz, and Kretschmer. These names were most likely derived from a separate root word, such as the German word “Kreut”, which means “hill”, or the Yiddish word “Kretshmer”, which means “peddler”.
In summary, the surname Kreutel has several variants, spellings, and cognates of the same origin. They all share common Germanic or Yiddish roots, and many of them are found in Eastern Europe and Germany.
Famous people with the name Kreutel
- Wolfgang Kreutel: Former professional Austrian ice hockey player and Olympic bronze medalist from 1964.
- Bobby Kreutel: 2-time All Big Ten football player for Minnesota, drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in 1972.
- Michael Kreutel: Austrian business executive for Enterprise Group and OmniRom Holding GmbH.
- Manfred Kreutel: Retired German professional footballer who played for Hertha BSC, Bayern Munich, and the German national team.
- Tellef Kreutel: Norwegian diplomat in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and leader of the Norwegian delegation at the United Nations Conference on Climate Change in 2009.
- Jakob Kreutel: Austrian conductor, composer, musicologist, and lecturer at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna.
- Bas Kreutel: Dutch digital and media entrepreneur who founded several successful media companies.
- Abigail Kreutel: American female figure skater who competed in the 2018 Winter Olympic Games in South Korea.
- Jacob Kreutel: German air force pilot who won a Medal of Honor for his extraordinary bravery during the Second World War.
- Philip Kreutel: American basketball coach, best known for his time at the University of Oregon.