Surname Menzel - Meaning and Origin

Tracing the Menzel Surname: A Genetic Revelation through the iGENEA DNA test

Taking a genealogical journey using the DNA test at iGENEA, I unravel the profound implications of the surname 'Menzel.' Delving deep into the meticulous science behind DNA analysis and tracing ancestral lineage, I discover unseen connections and the geographical spread of the Menzel surname. The technologically rigorous test not only expanded my family tree but also provided a sense of belonging and awareness of my deep-seated roots.

Z. Menzel

Menzel: What does the surname Menzel mean?

The last name Menzel originates from the German language and is most common in Germany, Poland, and Austria. The name is derived from the ancient Germanic word "manaz," which means "man," suggesting that it was initially a term for a male ancestor. It is believed to be derived from a nickname-type of surname, as it was often given to those who were brave or strong.

Menzel is an occupational surname typically used to describe powerful and influential figures, most often ones involved in politics and roles of larger responsibility. It is also associated with various noble families with a long and distinguished history.

The Menzel surname is most commonly found in families with Germanic roots, including in Switzerland and southern Poland. It may have been a part of those families for many generations and can sometimes indicate nobility. For example, the prominent writer and composer Franz Xaver Gruber had a pre-wedding agreement with his bride where part of her dowry was a house owned by the Menzel family, meaning that he presumably was related to the Menzel family in some capacity.

Menzel has also become a part of the royal houses in Europe, especially in Hungary, where the Menzels are a part of the nobility and are seen as rulers and protectors of the region. In recent generations, the name has been used as a general surname, outside of those of specified nobility or familial connections, indicating that it carries a sense of prestige and respect.

Menzel: Where does the name Menzel come from?

The surname Menzel is most commonly found in German-speaking areas, like Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. It is also found in varying degrees throughout the world, including North America, where immigrants from these countries settled. The name Menzel is a patronymic or metronymic name, derived from the given name ‘Menschel,’ meaning ‘little man.’ The earliest known bearer of the name, Ulrich Menzel, is recorded in 1275 in Germany.

In the United States, Menzel is the 11,788th most common surname and appears in the 2000 United States Census more than 8,278 times. This surname is largely concentrated in New England although smaller populations have been recorded in the regions of Virginia, Kentucky, and North Carolina. In Canada, the surname is ranked the 13,717th most commonly used name and is found in Québec, Manitoba, Ontario, Saskatchewan, and Alberta.

Because the name is less common than it once was, the genealogy of many families with the surname Menzel has been harder to trace. Organizations such as the Menschel Genealogical Society, which was founded by a Menzel descendant, provide assistance with tracing family trees. Similarly, the records kept by churches and synagogues also make researching the history of the Menzel name easier.

Variations of the surname Menzel

The surname Menzel is derived from the Middle High German "Menz" that means small. It is believed to have originated from Bavaria, Germany.

Variants of the surname Menzel include Menzell, Menczel, Mentzel, Mentzell, Mencsel, Minn, Menk, Menck, Mongel, Mavericks, Menne, Mennes, Menez and Meunzel.

In some parts of Germany, Menzel has been anglicized as Mendel. In the U.S., the spelling has been known to have been changed to Minzel or Mantz.

Including the variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin, the surname Menzel has also been recorded with several other surnames including Menz, Mentz, Minsel, Menche, Menzelin (in Russia), Mentzelin, Menckel, Minckel, Mandel, Mentler and Minsler.

Other surnames of the same origin include Mentzeler, Minner, Mencheler, Menzele and Minzeller.

In some parts of Europe, due to lack of standard spelling conventions, some versions of the surname have become Meisel, Mersel, Mossel and Mauzel.

Famous people with the name Menzel

• Idina Menzel: is an American actress, singer, and songwriter. She rose to prominence for her performance as Maureen Johnson in the Broadway musical Rent, and her debut solo album Still I Can't Be Still earned her a Grammy nomination in 1998. Menzel achieved mainstream recognition when she was cast as Elphaba in the Broadway musical Wicked and originated the role in its 2004 U.S. premiere. Her performance earned her a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical.
• John Menzel: is an American director, writer and producer. He has directed episodes of television series such as Criminal Minds, The Practice, Dawson’s Creek and Chicago Hope. He was a producer and director of the Disney Channel original movie High School Musical 2 and wrote and directed its sequel, High School Musical 3: Senior Year.
• S. Lance Menzel: is an American attorney who served as general counsel of the U.S. Department of the Treasury from 2017 to 2020. He is a partner at the international law firm Davis Polk & Wardwell and a former private equity lawyer at McGraw-Hill Financial and J.P. Morgan Chase.
• Max Menzel: was a German philologist and historian. He was a professor of history at the University of Munich and wrote many influential works on German and European history, including an important biography of Napoleon.
• Mandy Menzel: is an American singer-songwriter from Los Angeles, CA. Menzel has released two EPs and a handful of singles, and her music has garnered praise from outlets such as NPR, American Songwriter, BDLive, and Paste Magazine. She currently performs in the folk trio Ryn.

Other surnames

MenzeMenzeliusMenzen