Surname Nassel - Meaning and Origin
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Nassel: What does the surname Nassel mean?
The last name Nassel is of German origin and is believed to be derived from the personal name "Naso" or from the Middle High German word "nasel" meaning "having a strong nose". This is a classic example of a patronymic surname, occasionally spelled Nassal or Nasselle, which were created from the name of the father, grandfather, or other ancestor. The Nassel surname is quite an ancient one and can be found in records from the 16th century in Europe.
In Germany, the Nassel surname became more widespread and many of them settled in the Hochsauerlandkreis area in the 16th century. Their first recorded spelling of the family name was found in the Brandenburg Province in 1581 and later spread to other regions of the country, including Gross and Nieder Neustadt and Halberstadt, where the surname was found as early as 1618.
Throughout history, the Nassel surname has been associated with sporting and athletics in Germany as they carried on this tradition, with many having a love of outdoor activities such as archery, shooting or hunting.
Today, the Nassel surname remains largely found in Germany with a few members spread out across other countries. It is a testament to the endurance of the Nassel surname that it is still recognisable after hundreds of years.
Order DNA origin analysisNassel: Where does the name Nassel come from?
The last name Nassel is most commonly found in Germany and Poland today. It is a variant of the surname Nassal, which in turn is derived from the German word “nass”, meaning “wet”.
The most notable figure bearing this surname is German philosopher Ernst Cassirer, born in 1874. In addition to his academic lineage, he has a religion-oriented side of his family and is related to both prominent rabbis and laypeople.
In Poland, Nassel is derived from the Yiddish word “nasol”, which means “follower”. Nassel is thought to have been taken on by families who followed their rabbis. There is also a variant of the surname spelled Nasselstein, which is likely derived from a German city known as Nesselstein.
The prevalence of the Nassel surname outside of Germany and Poland is not very high, though there are small concentrations in France, the United States, and Australia. In France, for example, Nassel comprises only 0.0009% of the population. Meanwhile, in the United States, it is much more common in the states of Maryland and Florida, where it constitutes 0.001% and 0.003%, respectively.
In recent years, however, due to increasing migration, the Nassel name is increasingly found around the world. It is also not unheard of to find the name in South America, as well as in East Asian countries such as Japan and Korea.
Variations of the surname Nassel
The surname Nassel has many variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. Some of them include “Nessel,” “Nasal,” “Nassal,” “Nasall,” “Nassall,” “Naselle,” “Nassalow,” “Nesel,” and “Nessell.” It is believed the origin of the name is from a German or Anglo-Saxon location near the “Nesbital” or “Nefshe” fields, found in England during the 15th century.
The surname may also be derived from the Middle English surname “Neasl” or “Neasel,” which means “one who lived near hazelnut bushes.” This meaning is supported by the presence of the prefix “Nes-” in early records associated with the surname, such as the Grant Charter of 1235 from Granthamshire in which it states “Nes-hehic and his sons.”
The name is also likely related to the surname “Naset” or “Nacell,” which was derived from the old Norse word “nasir” or “nassir,” meaning “counsellor.” This surname was popular during the Norman period in England, and is most commonly found in Surrey and Oxfordshire.
The surname Nassel is found in records across Europe, from Germany to Scotland. It is likely that the many variations of the surname are closely related, and may have been borne by individuals of the same family. Regardless of the roots of the name, it is likely that the many versions of the surname all share the same origin.
Famous people with the name Nassel
- Nasim Nassel: Iranian singer and songwriter.
- Kaveh Nassel: Iranian-born Swedish composer.
- Zohreh Nassel: Iranian actress.
- Mark Nassel: English actor.
- Peter Nassell: Retired professional ice hockey goaltender.
- Carl Nassel: Swedish film and television actor.
- Rustem Nassel: Iranian ïnker and wrestler.
- Dessel Nassel: French racing cyclist.
- Axel Nassel: Swedish particle physicist.
- Sam Nassel: Norwegian singer and guitarist.