Surname Hänsele - Meaning and Origin
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Hänsele: What does the surname Hänsele mean?
The last name Hänsele is of German origin. It is derived from a diminutive form of the personal name Han, which is derived from Johan, a form of the Hebrew name Yehohanan meaning “God is gracious.” It is also similar to the German word hans, which means “graceful” or “beautiful.”
The Hänsele name can be found in numerous parts of Germany. In some places it is spelled Hänsel or Hänsle. During the Middle Ages, this name was often given to service people who were employed to do many jobs around the castle.
Hänsele first appears in written records in the 16th century in Bavaria. Records show that one Phillip Hänsele was listed as a miller in 1536, living in the Bavarian town of Neu-Ulm.
For centuries this name has been adopted by many families in various regions of Germany. Those that hold this name are usually proud of their German heritage, with many families tracing their history back to the small towns and villages of their ancestors.
The modern day Hänsele family can be found scattered all around the world. Many have moved to other countries and many have developed new branches of the family tree. Wherever the Hänsele name is found, it is usually held with pride and respect.
Order DNA origin analysisHänsele: Where does the name Hänsele come from?
The last name Hänsele is most commonly found today in Switzerland, primarily in the German-speaking area. It is thought to have originated in the town of Hänsel in the canton of Zürich more than 600 years ago. It is also present in Austria, Germany, France and other parts of Central Europe.
The name is most likely derived from the Middle High German word 'hansel', meaning 'little John'. It is also thought to have been derived from the German word 'hanseln', meaning 'to knock'. This denoted someone from Hänsel, the town, or someone who lived near a wooden knocking door.
In Switzerland, it is most often found in the Cantons of Thurgau, Bern, Basel-Landschaft, and Aargau. In the 21st century, the popularity and frequency of the name has been slowly declining in Switzerland, especially among the younger generations.
A search through existing records reveals that the name is also common among other parts of the world, such as the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the Netherlands. It is particularly popular as a surname in Germany, where it ranks within the top 600 surnames.
As a result of the ongoing migrations and population movements in Europe, the name Hänsele can be found in many different areas, on many different continents. It is a fairly common name, albeit with few famous bearers.
Variations of the surname Hänsele
The surname Hänsele is of German origin and can be spelled in a variety of ways, including Hänsle, Hensle, Hansl, and Hanser. The original German form of the surname is Hansle, which is derived from the given name Hans.
Hänsele is a diminutive form of the name, derived from the suffix "-le", which is attached to a number of different given names; it's the equivalent of "little Hans" or "Junior", and so families using the Hänsele form of the name typically did so to signify a junior or younger Hans.
Variations of Hänsele often originated when an individual carrying the surname moved and it was transliterated into a different language or dialect, and spellings like Hensle and Hansl are common. Hensle is the closest variant to the original German form.
Surnames that are related to Hänsele include Hansl, Hanser, Händle, and Handschuh. These related surnames may have originated with individuals of the Hänsele family, or they may have been adopted by families with a similar background.
Whatever form of the name they may have adopted, one thing is certain: the Hänsele surname is one with a long and proud heritage, and many of those who carry it share a common link to German ancestry.
Famous people with the name Hänsele
- Martin Hänsele, a German World Cup ski jumper.
- Ruth Hänsele-Meyer, a German swimmer.
- Nicole Hänsele, a German volleyball player.
- Matthias Hänsel, a German photographer, filmmaker and digital artist.
- Jochen Hänsele, a former German football goalkeeper.
- Friedel Hänsel, a former German footballer and coach.
- Raymund Hänsel, a German graphic designer and illustrator.
- Sabine Hänsel, a German writer and political journalist.
- Armin Hänsel, a German film and television actor.
- Jupp Hänsel, a German handball player.
- Heinz Hänsel, a German professor of economics.
- Axel Hänsel, an Austrian bobsledder.
- Kurt Hänsel, a German former table tennis player.
- Joseph Hänsel, a German former gymnast who competed in the 1924 Summer Olympics.
- Adolf Hänsel, a German hammer thrower who competed in the 1952 Summer Olympics.
- Andreas Hänsel, a German rower who competed in the 1992 Summer Olympics.
- Hermann Hänsel, a German rugby union player who competed in the 1908 Summer Olympics.