Surname Nußpickel - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'N'
Nußpickel: What does the surname Nußpickel mean?
Nußpickel is a German surname deriving from the German word for a kind of nutcracker. The name literally translates to “nut cracker”, and is assumed to have been adopted as a surname at some point during the medieval period in Germany. It is possible that the surname was taken on by an ancestor who earned their living as a maker and/or seller of the specialized tools required for cracking nuts.
The Digitales Historisches Personenarchiv (DHPA) of Germany makes mention of a Johannes Nußpickel who was born in the city of Lauterbach in the year 1571. The records indicate that he was a merchant, although it is uncertain whether his occupation was related to the trade of nutcrackers. Similarly, there was a family belonging to the Nußpickel surname that appeared in the city of Langenargen in Germany during the year 1750.
Although historically less common than other German surnames like Schmidt and Müller, the surname Nußpickel still exists today. There are several Bearers of the Nußpickel surname living in Germany, and many more are scattered throughout other countries in the German Diaspora.
Despite its rather interesting history, the meaning of the Nußpickel surname remains open to interpretation. It could refer to the occupation or craft of a nutcracker-maker, but it is also conceivable that the surname was taken on due to a notable physical feature like a bald-spot or mole on the forehead that looked like a cracked nut. As with many surnames of German origin, we may never know the true origin of the Nußpickel name.
Order DNA origin analysisNußpickel: Where does the name Nußpickel come from?
The last name Nußpickel is most commonly found in Germany and Austria. Records show that the earliest occurrences of the name Nußpickel can be found in Germany in the early 17th century and the name is still relatively common across the country today.
In Germany, the name is concentrated in the Paderborn region in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. This region borders the Netherlands and Belgium, which could indicate that some of the earliest bearers of the name had a Dutch descent.
In Austria, Nußpickel is found mostly in Carinthia, which is the southwesternmost part of the country close to the Italian border.
It remains a relatively uncommon name outside of Germany and Austria, although some bearers have immigrated to North America, especially the United States.
The last name is most likely derived from the German noun "Nuss," meaning "nut," and the German word "pickel," meaning "pickaxe," spade or shovel. Therefore, the name was most likely given as a metonymy of a person who worked with pickaxes or shovels for a living.
Although the exact origin of the surname Nußpickel is unknown, it is easy to see why it has stood the test of time and remained so popular: it is an easily pronounceable and memorable last name.
Variations of the surname Nußpickel
Nußpickel is a German surname which originated in the region now known as Germany. It is believed to have originated in the 1800s from the words "Nuss" which means nut and "pickel" which means spike.
The most common variants of Nußpickel are Nusspique, Nüsspikel, Noespickl and Nuespikl. They are often found in records in the areas of the former Holy Roman Empire.
Other spellings and surnames derived from Nußpickel include Nusspickel, Nuspickel, Nuspikel, Noespickel, Nespikel, Knuspiken and Knuuspiken, Noespiel, Nuspicker and Nespicker.
Nußpickel is also related to other surnames like Nussberger, Nussböck, Nussbaumer, Nussbaumpickel, Nussbaumspickel, Nussbauer and Nussbaaß.
The surname Nußpickel can also be found in France as Nosbickel, in the Netherlands as Nospick and the Czech Republic as Nespikl. As with all surnames, there are many variants of Nußpickel and spellings throughout Europe.
However, no matter where the surname is found, the meaning behind it remains the same: nut and spike.
Famous people with the name Nußpickel
- Stanislaus Nußpickel, German sculptor
- Klaus Nußpickel, German modern pentathlete
- Rupert Isaac Nußpickel, German football goalkeeper
- Annina Nußpickel, German alpine skier
- Jonas Nußpickel, German cross-country skier
- Frieda Nußpickel, German textile designer
- Klaus-Günther Nußpickel, German architect
- Helmut Nußpickel, German ice hockey player
- Vilma Nußpickel, German costume designer
- Hans Nußpickel, German conductor