Surname Thömel - Meaning and Origin
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Thömel: What does the surname Thömel mean?
The surname Thömel is a German surname derived from the spoken form ‘tummeln’, meaning ‘to drive’ or ‘to roam’. The original spelling is ‘Thummel’, though the ‘h’ was dropped to make ‘Thömel’. The name can be found in the regions of northern Germany and Austria, with the highest concentration of the surname found in Bavaria.
The name is believed to have been given to members of a family who were known for their nomadic tendencies, or who traveled frequently. It may also be related to the German word “tomelen”, which means ‘to wander’ or ‘to drift’. It is also possible that the name was used to describe a person or group who had to be driven away in the past.
Other interpretations of the surname are linked to the occupational name for one who drove draft animals, such as oxen, mules, horses, or cows. The name could also refer to someone who acted as a drover or herdsman.
In its literal translation, Thömel means ‘to move around’. The name is a reminder of the nomadic lifestyle of our ancestors, and may give insight into the history of the family over generations.
Order DNA origin analysisThömel: Where does the name Thömel come from?
The last name Thömel is most commonly found in the German-speaking countries of Europe. This includes Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein. Thömel is also found in certain parts of Belgium, the Netherlands, Poland and Russia where German-speaking peoples have immigrated.
Thömel is a German patronymic surname, derived from the given name Thomä, Tomas, Thomas, or Tom. The name is believed to have originated as a short form, or nickname, of the Germanic names beginning with Thon or Teh, which mean a twin. The name could also be derived from tumb, meaning "bold" or "stubborn" in German.
The surname can be found in records dating back to the 1500s. It has been found in records from Oels, Silesia, in Germany, and records from 1638 in Vienna, Austria.
In modern times, Thömel is still prevalent in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, where it is most common. There are also sparsely populated regions scattered throughout the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and South America where members of the Thömel family have immigrated.
Outside of Europe, the Thömel family's numbers tend to be small, as they are only found in places where German-speaking immigrants have settled.
In modern times, the last name Thömel is most likely to be found in the German-speaking countries of Europe, where it is most common, with sparse concentration in pockets of the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and South America.
Variations of the surname Thömel
The surnames Thömel, Thoemel, Thoeml, Thömmel, Thumel, Thuml, Thummel, Thoumel, Thouml and Thoummel all have the same origin.
The surname Thömel is derived from the German name "Thömmel", which means "drummer" or "tambourine player". This hereditary name was given to someone in a family who was a professional musician or entertainer. The name is likely derived from the Middle High German word "Tambûl", meaning tambourine.
The variants of this name vary from region to region, and even within the same family line. The spelling of the surname can be written in several different ways, including Thömel, Thoemel, Thoeml, Thömmel, Thumel, Thuml, Thummel, Thoumel, Thouml and Thoummel.
The variants of Thömel are also widespread in other European countries, including Austria, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Italy and South Africa. In some cases, the variants might be slightly different – for example, the Austrian variant is usually spelled "Thömmerl", whereas the Czech variant is usually spelled "Tehmel". In Italy, the surname is usually spelled "Dumel" or "Dumbel".
Despite the many spelling variations, the surname has the same meaning in all countries – it originated as a name given to musicians or entertainers.
Famous people with the name Thömel
- Markus Thömel: German footballer who has played in the foreign leagues for teams like Fortuna Düsseldorf, SV Sandhausen and MSV Duisburg.
- Vladimir Thömel: a former Czechoslovak slalom canoeist who competed in the 1970s and 1980s. He won a bronze medal in the K-2 event at the 1982 ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships.
- Christian Thömel: a German actor known for his roles in films such as Hitlerjunge Salomon (1993), Manta, Manta (1991), and Die Auslöschung (2015).
- Sebastian Thömel: a German conductor, composer, and resources professor at the University of Music & Performing Arts in Munich.
- Tom Thömel: an Austrian actor, author, and comedian. He is known for his roles in various films such as Echte Wiener (2003), Schattseite (2015), and Populär (2002).
- Rene Thömel: a former East German sprint canoeist who competed in the late 1970s and early 1980s. He won a silver medal in the K-4 1000 m event at the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow.
- Adam Thömel: an Austrian former ski jumper who competed from 2000 to 2008. He won a bronze medal in the team large hill event at the 2004 Winter Olympics in Torino.
- Harold Thömel: a German ice hockey player who is currently playing for the Adler Mannheim team of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga. He has represented Germany at numerous top-level competitions, including the 2003 World d Championship and the 2006 Winter Olympics.
- Nils Thömel: a German sprint canoeist who began competing internationally in the late 1990s. He won a silver medal in the K-2 1000 m event at the 2003 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships.
- Gerd Thömel: a German retired footballer who played as a defender and earned two caps for West Germany. He was part of their 1978 FIFA World Cup squad and had spells with teams such as Werder Bremen, 1. FC Nürnberg and Dynamo Dresden.