Surname Eißel - Meaning and Origin
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Eißel: What does the surname Eißel mean?
The last name Eißel is a German surname with ancient roots. It is derived from the old German words "ai," which means "eye," and "sel," meaning "village" or "castle." The name is thought to have referred to the first bearer's place of origin—a small village or a castle town.
In some instances, the name could also be from Middle High German words "äsel," meaning "near" or "close by," and "vögger," which means "hill." The name could have then referred to someone who lived near a hill or in a high-lying area.
Eißel is most commonly found in the German states of Hesse and Bavaria, as those were the areas where the family originally settled in the Middle Ages. The name then spread through Germany and beyond, and is now found in countries throughout Europe, Australia, and the United States.
The Eißel surname can have various variations, such as Eisel, Esel, Eysel, and Eyssel. It is usually pronounced "ICE-el" or "AY-sel," although some variations may have different pronunciations.
No matter the variation, Eißel is a name rich with German history and culture, belonging to a family with ancient heritage. It's sure to be a source of pride for future generations of the Eißel family!
Order DNA origin analysisEißel: Where does the name Eißel come from?
The surname Eißel is most commonly found today in the German-speaking countries including Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Luxembourg, and Liechtenstein. It is also seen in the Netherlands and other parts of Europe, suggesting that the surname may have been adopted by immigrant families who settled in these regions. Additionally, there are individuals with the surname Eißel across North and South America, Australia, and South Africa.
The origin of the surname is uncertain, but several theories suggest that it may be derived from the Middle High German phrase eiz l, meaning “father’s son.” Other theories suggest that it is derived from a diminutive form of the German phrase Heinrich meaning "little Henry” or Heidelberg, meaning “little mountain.” Additionally, it is possible that Eißel may have derived from a now-obscure Germanic personal name. As such, it is likely that the use of the surname dates back to the medieval period when personal names were first adopted.
In modern times, the surname Eißel is relatively rare. In Germany, it was recorded as the 5,977th most popular surname in a 2020 census. Its use is most concentrated in the western German states of North Rhine-Westphalia, Lower-Saxony, and Hesse. However, due to its global distribution, it is unlikely that Eißel is related to a specific geographic area.
Overall, the surname Eißel is still in use today, but its use is concentrated primarily in the German-speaking countries of Europe. Its origin is somewhat mysterious, yet it is likely that the use of the surname dates back to the medieval period. Moreover, its current occurrence is most common in Germany as the 5,977th most popular surname, although it is found across multiple countries around the world.
Variations of the surname Eißel
The surname Eißel is a spelling variant of the German surname Eisel, chances are that there was a spelling mistake made when emigrating from Germany to the United States.
In German, the surname is spelled with an ß, for example: Eißel. This is a common way of spelling a surname that is first recorded in Bavarian and Austrian records, and which is not generally seen in the USA.
Other spelling variants include Eysel, Eyssel and Esels.
Due to the sound of the last part of the surname, it developed a number of variants based on the German pronunciation. For example, individuals named Eißel are also found referred to as Eiseler and Eisler.
Other surnames that share the same root are Iseli, Iseli, Isler, Iseler and Isles.
While the spelling variants can be confusing, there are a few other surnames that are linked to Eißel and are also derived from the same root: Hazael, Kiesel, Kisele, Kissel, Kiszell, Eisley, Eisemann, Eisiminger, Eiselhard, Eißenmann, Eiselsberger, Eilert, Eichenberger, Eisenbarth and Coldebella.
In conclusion, the surname Eißel and its spelling variants are derived from the same root and refer to the same origin. These spelling variants can be traced back to Bavaria and Austria, and can be found in the United States as well. There are also a few surnames derived from the same root, such as Hazael, Kiesel, Eisley, Eisemann, Eisiminger, Eselhard and more.
Famous people with the name Eißel
- Helmut Eisel: German jazz trumpeter and flugelhornist
- Gertrud Eisel: Austrian countess, public activist, women's rights activist, and an honorary member of the Social Democratic Party of Austria
- Julius Eisel: German illustrator, graphic artist, and painter
- Bettina Eisel-Eiselsberg: Austrian opera singer
- Julie Eisel: American blogger, author, and illustrator
- Uldis Eisel-Kamenets: Latvian composer
- Marcel Eisel: French musician
- Hubert Eisel: Austrian Author
- Bernd Eisel: Austrian Politician
- Josef Eisel: German architect