Surname Winkels - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'W'
Winkels: What does the surname Winkels mean?
The last name Winkels is of Dutch origin and is believed to originate from the old Netherlandish word ‘’wenkel’’, which means small corner. It is thought that the name was likely borne by someone who was living on or near a small corner or corner of land. It could also be derived from the Middle Dutch word ‘’winkel’’, meaning ‘’shop’’, possibly indicating an ancestor who owned a store. An alternate etymology links it to the word ‘’wenkels’’, meaning bounds or limits, particularly the boundaries of a property or the borders between two countries.
Winkels is a common surname in the Netherlands and can be found throughout the country. It is also relatively common among Dutch Americans as well. Today, Winkels is still primarily used as a surname in the Netherlands, however, some people have begun using it as a given name in recent decades.
Overall, the last name Winkels is a meaningful and unique surname that offers an interesting peek into Dutch heritage. Whether derived from shop-owner ancestors or from someone living on a corner of land, those with this surname should feel proud of their Dutch roots.
Order DNA origin analysisWinkels: Where does the name Winkels come from?
The last name Winkels is most commonly found in the Netherlands today, though there are small populations of people with the name throughout the world. It is believed to have originated from an older Germanic term, "winkel," which means corner or angle. Historically, it is likely that the last name was first given to an individual who lived in a house situated at the corner of two roads or streets, or lived near a special kind of circular village called a Winkelring, which was common in the Netherlands in the Middle Ages.
Today, Winkels is commonly found in the provinces of North-Holland, Overijssel, and Gelderland, and in the city of Groningen as well as throughout the rest of the Netherlands. However, due to Dutch immigration to the United States, Canada, South Africa, and other former Dutch colonies, small numbers of people with the last name can also be found in those countries.
In the early 2000s, a detailed survey of family names in the Netherlands found Winkels was the 5230th most common name in the country, with about 3700 people who had the last name.
Variations of the surname Winkels
The surname Winkels is an old German and Dutch name that is derived from the word 'winkel', which is German and Dutch for 'shop' or 'corner'. The variants of this name include Winkle, Winkelman, Winkler, Wonkel, Winck, Winke, Winkleman, Winkl, Winkla, Winkleman, Winkler, Winklemann, and Winkleman.
The Winkels spelling of the surname is more common in Germany and the Netherlands and the other variants are more common generally in other parts of Europe and the United States of America. The name is usually combined with the preposition von or van in Dutch and German forms such as von Winkels or van Winkels.
The majority of people who have the surname tend to live in lowland countries such as Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, and Scandinavian countries such as Denmark and Norway. There's also a presence in the United States of America and other countries that have a Dutch heritage such as Cape Town, South Africa.
The surname has been Anglicized and Americanized to a certain degree. Winkles is one such variation where the S is added to make it a plural. Winkl is another variation that is used in the southern regions of the German-speaking area. Winkleman is a variation commonly used in the United States as well.
The name can be traced to the Middle Ages when it was used for shopkeepers in various parts of Europe. The popularity of the name may indicate the successful business acumen of the earliest families who had the surname.
Given the variety of spellings and other variants that have been derived from the original Winkels surname, it's possible to trace family roots and to ascertain family history dependingon the region.
Famous people with the name Winkels
- Patricia Winkels: Patricia Winkels is a three-time World Champion figure skater from Germany.
- Daniel Winkels: Daniel Winkels is a track cyclist from Germany who competed in the 2016 Summer Olympic games.
- Sophie Winkels: Sophie Winkels is a German dancer and gymnast.
- Samantha Winkels: Samantha Winkels is an American actor who has appeared in films, television shows, and musicals.
- Kori Winkels: Kori Winkels is an American comedian best known for her comedy sketches on YouTube.
- Anthony Winkels: Anthony Winkels is a professional basketball player from the US.
- Roanna Winkels: Roanna Winkels is a German cyclist and model.
- Rhys Winkels: Rhys Winkels is a professional footballer from Portugal.
- Matt Winkels: Matt Winkels is a British-born music producer and songwriter.
- Mark Winkels: Mark Winkels is an American MMA fighter and martial arts expert.