Surname Fränkel - Meaning and Origin
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Fränkel: What does the surname Fränkel mean?
The surname Fränkel is of German-Jewish origins and is derived from the German word "frank" meaning free. It was a name taken on by Jews who were granted social and economic freedoms within the German culture. Fränkel families were also one of the few Jewish families that were able to practice the Jewish religion through the centuries while living in Germany despite the harsh restrictions and religious persecution that other Jews faced.
The name likely originated from a prominent family of Medieval Jewish merchants in the German city of Speyer. This family was granted certain protections and certain economic scholarships due to their prominence in the community, granting them a degree of freedom that was uncommon for other Jewish families.
Despite this insulation the family was forced to flee Germany during the 16th century due to the Inquisition. However, a number of Fränkel families remain in Germany today, making it one of the few Jewish surnames still used in the country.
The name is widely celebrated for the resilience it has displayed despite centuries of discrimination and persecution. It stands as a symbol of the will of the Jewish people to continue to thrive while facing adversity. It is also a reminder that something as simple as a surname can have an entire history connected to it, telling the story of the people who held it.
Order DNA origin analysisFränkel: Where does the name Fränkel come from?
The surname Fränkel is particularly common in Israel, where many of today's families trace their origins to emigrants who fled the rising threat of antisemitism and persecution in Central and Eastern Europe in the 19th century. Among this diaspora, that of the Fränkel family was prominent.
In Israel, the surname is most commonly found amongst the country's Ashkenazi Jews, who along with their Sephardic counterparts make up the majority of the population. As Ashkenazi Jews, they faced a unique set of challenges and a darker past than their Sephardic brethren. For many Ashkenazi Jews, finding one's ancestry and family history can be a complex process. For the Fränkel family, it is one that is constantly being worked on and rediscovered.
The surname also appears in Germany and Austria, particularly in the historical region of Saxony where Jews have a long and insightful history. This presence goes back to the 10th century. The also appears in other European countries, such as Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary, as well as in some with Jewish communities in North America, South America, and Australia.
Though the Fränkel family's numbers have dwindled in Europe, its descendants are proud to carry on the surname in Israel and elsewhere in the world. Through the generations, the members of this unique family have a deep sense of pride in their ancestry and resourcefulness that has allowed them to overcome a very painful history of persecution and conquer their new homes.
Variations of the surname Fränkel
The surname Fränkel has several variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. Some of these include Fränkel, Fraenkel, Frankel, Frankl, Frakkel, Frank, and Franckl.
The surname Fränkel is derived from the German word "frankel", which means "free man". In the Middle Ages, the term "free man" referred to a person who was a freeholder, a person possessing a piece of property, such as a farm or manor, that was not subject to feudal obligations.
Many different spellings of the surname Fränkel were developed as the name spread across Europe in the Middle Ages. In German, the letter "ä" can be written as either "ä" or "ae" and the letter "k" can be used in place of "ck". In the English-speaking world, the spelling "Frank" is sometimes used for the surname.
The spelling Fraenkel is also found in Jewish communities. This version of the surname is thought to be derived from the Hebrew personal name Frankel, which means "fortunate" or "joyous".
In addition to the variations of Fränkel, there are other surnames of the same origin, such as Frei, Freund, Froh, and Freitag. All of these names can be traced back to the same freehold of land inhabited by a free man in the Middle Ages.
Thus, the surname Fränkel can be written in many different ways, and there are several surnames of the same origin. Whatever its origin, the surname Fränkel is certain to have a long and proud history.
Famous people with the name Fränkel
- Paul Fränkel (1869–1945): philosopher, historian and educator
- Arnold Fränkel (1836–1906): Czech/Austrian physician, educator, and author
- Carl Fränkel (1814–1894): German physicist, chemist and mineralogist
- Benjamin Fränkel (1917–1980): German philosopher
- Herbert Fränkel (1912–1996): German-born American professor
- Else Fränkel-Brunswik (1898–1996): Austrian-American psychologist
- Henry Fränkel (1925–2005): German-born Swiss linguist
- Mike Fränkel (1880–1951): Austrian-born American theatre producer
- Hugo Fränkel (1882–1944): Austrian-American physicist and chemist
- Neelima Fränkel Loeb (1895–1992): Czech-Israeli chemist
- Fritz Fränkel (1900–1975): Austrian writer
- Mathias Fränkel (1841–1904): Czech/Austrian Dilthey scholar
- Julius Fränkel (1819–1864): German geologist
- George Fränkel (1856–1932): German physicist
- Joseph Fränkel (1873–1931): Czech/Austrian psychoanalyst
- Karl Fränkel (1878–1952): Austrian/Swiss mathematician