Surname Nekel - Meaning and Origin
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Nekel: What does the surname Nekel mean?
The surname Nekel is of French origin and is derived from the old French phrase ‘Neigh le Nekel’ which translates to ‘neighbor to the nobleman’. It is believed this referred to someone who resided in the same region as a nobleman, as opposed to one of the nobleman’s servants or vassals. This term was likely used to differentiate people living in the same area as the nobleman who were not landowners and therefore not classed as members of the gentry.
As such, a person with the last name Nekel is likely to have descended from someone who lived adjacent to a nobleman. This could mean any number of different things, including a farmer, or a tradesperson. It’s possible that the original bearer of the last name Nekel, lived in a village, or hamlet near a lord, and their descendants went on to use the name across different generations. It has been suggested that the Nekel’s were often merchants, and the use of the surname could reflect the family’s change in social standing over time.
Throughout the centuries, Nekel has continued to be used as a surname in various parts of Europe, and today it is most commonly found in France, as well as Germany and Switzerland. Beyond the immediate meaning of the surname, it seems to reflect a sense of closeness and affinity with a higher social class, and could be indicative of a long-standing connection to an ancient upper-class.
Order DNA origin analysisNekel: Where does the name Nekel come from?
The last name Nekel is most commonly found across the countries of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. It is thought to have originated from "nickel" or "nicel" which likely meant a young man or servant in Middle German. In the past, it was more popular in Silesia and Prussia.
Today, Nekel appears most often in Germany where it is the 16,527th most common name with an estimated 2 per million people. In Austria, the name is ranked as the 2,716th most common with 837 occurrences; however in Switzerland, it ranks much lower, averaging a mere 11 occurrences.
The name is likely more common among German-speaking groups located outside of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland as a result of migration and globalization. This makes it difficult to track the last name's precise geographical footprint. For example, in the United States, it stands as the 59,209th most common name with 81 entries. Meanwhile in Canada, it's ranked 28,007th with 31 entries. Other countries with the last name Nekel include South Africa, Hungary, and the Netherlands.
Although the name Nekel is not extremely common today, its historic presence in German-speaking countries attests to its prevalence during medieval times.
Variations of the surname Nekel
The surname Nekel is derived from a medieval German name. It is an anglicized version of the name Nagel, which means “nail” or “claw”. Variants of the surname Nekel include Nagel, Nekal, Neckal, Nickell, Nickel, Nekle, Neckel, Nigel, and Neagle.
The spelling of the surname has evolved over the centuries, as it has been passed down through different families. In addition, the surname has also been adopted by many different cultures and amended accordingly. For example, in some Slavic countries the spelling is spelled Nikal or Nikul. Other anglicized versions include Nacke, Nikl, Nekkel, and Nickl.
In some cases, the surname has been extended to become multi-generational family names. For example, Nekleman is a Polish variation of Nekel, and Neklewicz is a Lithuanian version. Both of those surnames mean “son of Nekel” or “Nekle’s son”.
Other surnames with the same origin as Nekel include Nagele, Nageler, Nagelle, Nekulauf, Nagelia, Neigel, Nagelmann, Nagelke, Nikszocz, Niklos, Neckam, Nagyl, Nagelkes, and Nagle.
Overall, the surname Nekel is an old Germanic surname derived from the family name Nagel. This name has been anglicized, changed, and adapted in different cultures and countries over the centuries. Today the surname can have different spelling variations and the meaning behind the surname gives an interesting insight into the origin of this surname.
Famous people with the name Nekel
- Jan Robert Nekel: a Norwegian footballer who played as a striker.
- Gerda Maria Nekel: a German biochemist who is known for her pioneering studies of enzymes.
- Stephen Nekel: an American actor, writer, and producer who is primarily known for his recurring roles on television.
- Jodi Nekel: an American author, blogger, and philanthropist who specializes in real estate and personal finance.
- Harvey Nekel: an American LPGA professional golfer.
- Pierre Nekel: a French drag performer and transgender activist.
- Andro Nekel: a German footballer who played as a goalkeeper.
- Yugi Nekel: a Japanese actor and filmmaker who starred in the 79th installment of the Godzilla film series.
- Rudolf Nekel: a German field hockey player and Olympic gold medalist.
- Riikka Nekel: a Finnish athlete and Olympic Bronze medalist in gymnastics.