Surname Dentzel - Meaning and Origin
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Dentzel: What does the surname Dentzel mean?
The last name Dentzel is an occupational surname derived from the Middle Low German word ‘dentzele’ meaning ‘turner’ or ‘woodworker’. The craft of turning wood, or ‘woodturning’, involves using a lathe, a machine with a rotating cutting tool, to shape and form items from wood such as spindles, bowls and furniture.
The first recorded use of the Dentzel surname dates back to 1326, when a Johannes Dentzel was mentioned in the records of Stuttgart, Germany. Over time, the surname spread across Europe, and is still common in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, The Czech Republic, Hungary, and Poland.
In the late 19th and 20th centuries, the Dentzel surname has been associated with the American carousel industry. Gustav Dentzel, a German immigrant, established the Gustav Dentzel Company in Philadelphia in 1860 and revolutionized the industry by making major advancements in the design of carousels. The company is credited with popularizing a number of features which are now standard on carousels, such as the flying Red Baron planes and decorative canopies.
Today, the Dentzel surname is still most closely associated with the dentzel carousels and the generations of manufacturers and artists who have kept the craft alive. Although the family’s involvement in the industry has waned in recent years, the Dentzel name remains a symbol of this unique and important form of American folk art.
Order DNA origin analysisDentzel: Where does the name Dentzel come from?
The last name Dentzel is most commonly found in the United States today, but it is also found in other countries with populations with Germanic descent. The earliest reference to the name dates back to a 1367 record from Bavaria.
The Germanic origins of the name are also traceable to Renaissance-era dentistry, as Dentzels were dentists in 16th century Europe. The name "Dentzel" may originate from the Middle High German word "Denzl," which denotes a professional craftsman for dentistry and carpentry. The members of the Dentzel family were likely protected by powerful rulers in Germany due to their valuable skills.
By the 1800s, many Dentzels had immigrated to the US, primarily through the port of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Today, the vast majority of US Dentzels live in that state, but the name is also represented in many other states, including Pennsylvania, New Jersey, California, North Carolina, Florida, Maryland, and Texas.
The Dentzels who have remained in Germany are primarily found in Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, and Hesse. But their numbers are relatively small as compared to populations in the US. This explains why a much larger number of Dentzels live in the US today.
Variations of the surname Dentzel
The Dentzel family has many variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. Däntzel, Danzel, Danzal, and Danzil are all common variations of the surname Dentzel. Other rare variations and spellings include Dentzell, Dantzel, Dantzell, Danzell, and Danzlel.
The surname Dentzel originated in the Rhineland-Palatinate region of Germany, where the surname's first recorded bearers were Hans Hauß and Conrad Däntzel, who were mentioned in court records in 1591. The name is believed to be derived from the Old German words "dantz(e)l," which mean "to dance," and refers to the early bearers of the name who were noted for their exceptional dancing skills.
As time went on, the original spelling and pronunciation of the surname Dentzel evolved into many different variations and spellings. In some cases, the spellings and variants of the surname have changed based on dialectal location and language pronunciation rules. For example, in some cases the "ae" in "Däntzel" changed to "a" or "o," such as in "Danzel" and "Danzal" respectively. In addition, the "ll" in "Dentzell" was sometimes changed to a single "l," such as in "Danzlel."
Overall, the Dentzel surname has many variants and spellings, all of which are believed to be derived from the same source. Additionally, there are many different families with the Dentzel surname in Germany, the United States and parts of East and West Europe.
Famous people with the name Dentzel
- Morgan Dentzel- Morgan Dentzel is a multi-disciplinary artist from Pasadena, CA. Her work is described as highly symbolic and often participatory. Her installations have been featured in several galleries and festivals from California to London.
- Gustav Dentzel- Gustav Dentzel, the namesake of Dentzel Carousel Company, was one of the most famous carousel carvers and designers in America. He revolutionized the art of carrousel design by introducing the see-saw action of the jumpers, the pirouetting of the animals, and his signature sunburst.
- Gilbert Dentzel- Gilbert Dentzel was the son of Gustav, and the second generation of the Dentzel family to lead the Dentzel Carousel Company. In 1950, still relatively young, he unveiled his lifetime masterpiece: the Dentzel Flying Carousel.
- Paul Dentzel- Paul Dentzel, the grandson of Gustav, took over the company in 1976. Under his leadership, the organization has restored several antique carousels and developed a historical archive on carouselmaking.
- Adam Dentzel- Adam Dentzel is a musician and founder of the independent record label, Black Toybox Records. He creates experimental electronic psychedelic music through the horizon of psych-folk and dub.
- Adam Dentzel- Adam Dentzel is a New York City–based documentary photographer focusing mainly on the human experience and social issues. He has won numerous awards, and his work has been exhibited in galleries across the US and Europe.