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Surname Opel - Meaning and Origin

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Opel: What does the surname Opel mean?

The last name Opel is typically a German or Slavic surname derived from the German word "Opala," meaning "water lily." It is thought to be used as a nickname or a short form of a longer name, such as Opelmann or Opelman. There is also a family crest for the Opel name that dates back to the Middle Ages which features a water lily.

The surname can be found in many areas of Europe and potentially even more worldwide due to immigration during the past few centuries. There are many variations of spelling, such as Obel, Opal, Opell and Upal.

In German, Opel means "God's gift or God's choice", however it may have a different meaning in other languages.

The affluent car manufacturing company "Opel" was founded by Adam Opel in 1862. It is now part of General Motors, but still continues to be one of the most successful carmakers in the world.

The Opel surname is tied to a strong history of hard work and ambition, a deep respect for the land and sea, and a passion for making cars. Despite the numerous spellings, all variations of the name represent an intrinsic commitment to innovation, excellence, and success.

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Opel: Where does the name Opel come from?

The origin of the name Opel is German or Jewish Ashkenazic, and the meaning is "hop vine". In modern days, the last name Opel is most commonly found in Germany and the United States of America. According to the US Census in 2020, Opel is ranked as the 9,375th most popular last name in the US, with approximately 11,847 bearers across the country.

In Germany, the name Opel is the Claudia Rank, meaning it's the least frequent name in Germany. The surname is most likely to appear in lower Saxony and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern provinces.

The name has also been spotted elsewhere in Europe, mainly in the Czech Republic, Switzerland, and Greece, as well as a few isolated cases in France, Spain and the United Kingdom - a few times in Scotland, to be more precise. Opel is also a popular name in Israel, where the name has evolved from the name Oblizaj.

The Opel name has been borne by many famous people in history, including the founder of automotive company, Adam Opel. He established a manufacturing plant in Germany in 1862 and his name became widely known throughout the automotive industry. Other notable people to bear the Opel name include American Union General Carl Schurz, Frits Opel who was involved in CSS Hunley, the first submarine to sink a warship, and Johann Ludwig Opel, the founder of Opel AG.

Variations of the surname Opel

The surname Opel is said to have originated from a Germanic region, and there are various spellings and variants of the surname that can be found in multiple cultures and countries.

The main German spelling is Opel, although it can also be found spelled as Opell. The more popular variants in Germany are usually Opelm, Oppel and Obel.

In the United Kingdom and Ireland, the spelling is usually Opie and variants of this surname exist, such as Opye, Oppie and Oppy.

In France, the pronounciation of Opel is slightly different, leading to many variants such as Oplé, Opiel and Opalle.

In Switzerland, spelling changes to Opelmann and variants Oppelmann, Oppleman and Obelman.

In the Netherlands, the common spelling is Opell, although variants such as Oplel, Opelen and Opelstra can also be found.

In Scandinavia, many Opel derivations exist such as Öppel, Öpel or Öpple.

In the United States, the surname is usually spelt Opel, although Ople, Oppel and Obel are the most common alternative spellings encountered.

In some cases, the surname has become Anglicized and changed to Apple, Aple or Appel.

In the Czech Republic, the spellings Oppel and Opál are regularly seen.

Lastly, the surname is said to have been adopted by Jewish families whose Ashkenazi background led to the surname being changed to Appel.

Famous people with the name Opel

  • Adam Opel Jr., German industrialist (1837-1895).
  • Bob Opel, American actor and performance artist (1944-1995).
  • Theresa Opel, American folk artist (b. 1940).
  • Mark Opel, American race car driver (b. 1961).
  • Adam Opel, German industrialist (1871-1948).
  • Wilfrid Opel, French Impressionist painter (1845-1890).
  • Robert Opel, American photographer and gay rights activist (1935-1979).
  • Hugo Opel, German aircraft designer and engineer (1876-1965).
  • Heinrich Opel, German automotive engineer (1871-1938).
  • Emil Opel, German entrepreneur (1846-1922).

Other surnames

OpelbaumOpelboimOpelbojmOpeltOpengejm

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