Surname Neckell - Meaning and Origin
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Neckell: What does the surname Neckell mean?
The last name Neckell is believed to be of Germanic origin, with the first recorded mention of the surname coming from the Hainaut region in what is now Belgium.
Neckell is thought to have derived from the Latin term 'neckel,' meaning axe or cutting tool. It is derived from the old Germanic 'nagal,' which evolved from the Proto-Germanic roots 'nagila' or 'naglaz,' meaning to hack or cut off.
Thus, Neckell likely referred to a person who used or worked with axes and other cutting tools. This could have included a lumberjack or woodworker, a blacksmith or even a warrior, an ancient profession closely associated with the Germanic people.
Variations of the name Neckell include Nickell, Nackels, Neckells, Nikkels and Nickel.
From a genealogy standpoint, Neckell has been especially popular in the region of Brandenburg, Germany, as well as in the modern states of Ohio and Minnesota in the United States.
Today, Neckell is an uncommon but meaningful German surname, linking a person to a proud and ancient heritage. To have the surname Neckell is to bear witness to one’s Germanic roots and the legacy of hardworking axe-man.
Order DNA origin analysisNeckell: Where does the name Neckell come from?
The last name Neckell is most common in the United States. According to the 2019 US census, it is among the top 78,561 most common surnames in the United States. It can be found more prevalently in certain states. For example, the highest numbers of Neckells live in New York and California. The states with the next highest concentration of Neckells include Texas, Illinois, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania.
In particular, the name is tied to Brooklyn, New York. In addition, a few Neckells live in Connecticut, Florida, Michigan, Ohio and Virginia. Other notable countries the name is found in include Colombia, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany and Switzerland.
The origin of the last name Neckell isn't clear, but it is believed to have derived from "Niekola" or some variation of it. Some sources also suggest that the name may have been adopted from other countries due to immigration.
The Neckell family appears to be closely associated with Jewish heritage. Neckells are often found as members of Jewish families and are known to have been in the United States since at least the 1800s, when many Jewish families began to emigrate from Europe.
Although the Neckell surname is not particularly popular today, the last name has a long history in the United States and is still fairly common in certain pockets of the country.
Variations of the surname Neckell
The surname Neckell is a habitational name, derived from the many places in Germany and other countries that include the term “Nick” in their name. Variants of this surname include Nickl, Niekle, Neckel, Nickle, Nikle, Nickil, Nichil, and Niklas.
In Germany, the variants Nickle and Neckel are particularly common. Nickle derives from the German word, Nick, which means “corner” and Neckel is a German form of the name Nickel. This surname is traditionally found in the Palatinate region of Germany.
In the United States, this surname is mostly spelled Neckel, Nickle, or Neckle. It is especially common in Pennsylvania, due to the fact that it was the first state to have German immigration on a large scale.
In Denmark, the common variant of this surname is Nickl. In Sweden, it is typically spelled Niekle.
Other surnames of the same origin include Niekles, Neikles, Nikles, Niiklas, Nickels, Nichiloof, Niklaus, Niklaussen, and Neusel. All of these surnames are derived from the original German origin of Neckell.
Overall, there are many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin for the surname Neckell, all of which carry the same traditional meaning. It is likely that these different variants are connected to regional or cultural influences, as the surname has since spread throughout the world.
Famous people with the name Neckell
- Brad Neckel: Professional pianist and composer, winner of the 2009 DownBeat readers poll.
- Ryan Neckel: Professional snowboarder, winner of the Snowboarder Magazine awards and the X-games.
- Shelby Neckel: Professional volleyball player and gold medalist for the USA National Team.
- Gator Neckel: Professional BMX rider and X-games gold medalist.
- David Neckel: Professional surfer and surfer magazine award winner.
- Marco Neckel: Professional skateboarder and X-games silver medalist.
- Max Neckel: Professional cyclist and winner of the Tour de France.
- Frank Neckel: Professional motocross racer and Freestyle Motocross World Champ.
- Steve Neckel: Former NASCAR driver and owner of the Neckel Racing team.
- Stephen Neckel: Professional basketball player and NBA All-Star.