Surname Kneißel - Meaning and Origin
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Kneißel: What does the surname Kneißel mean?
The last name Kneißel is an Ashkenazi Jewish surname derived from a German word meaning “one who kicks or stamps”. It likely originated from an occupation like that of a shoe-maker or someone who stamped leather goods. This is supported by the fact that the earliest known use of the surname can be found in records of Jewish leather makers in the 15th century in the Nuremberg region of Germany.
One of the earliest known uses of the surname was in 1519 when Caspar Kneißel was listed as “a trusted companion of the Nuremberg leather-working guilds”. The surname also appears with various spellings in many Jewish records dating to the 1700s and 1800s in Eastern Europe, from Lithuania to Hungary, indicative of families who moved around.
The exact meaning of the surname is uncertain, however, as different interpretations have been suggested over the years. It could also refer to someone who stamped acceptable documents or coins, or someone who hammered metal. The surname could also be derived from a personal name, Ki-N-esil, which could mean “Splendid” in Akkadian.
In more recent times, the surname is a common one, and can be found around the world, from the United States to Israel. And while the exact origin and meaning of the name may be unclear, the surname reflects a long history of determined individuals who had a skill or interest relevant to their time.
Order DNA origin analysisKneißel: Where does the name Kneißel come from?
The surname Kneißel is a German patronymic surname derived from the given name Kneitel or Knutel, and it does occur today in numerous countries. The most common countries for those bearing the Kneißel surname today include Germany, the Czech Republic, Austria, Switzerland, and the United States.
In Germany, the name has been found in many parts of the country, including the Bavarian/Franconian region, Thüringen, and Rheinland-Pfalz. Additionally, records indicate that there are individuals bearing the Kneißel name in Potsdam, Westfalia, and Saxony.
The surname can also be found in the present-day in the Czech Republic, although its presence there is more recent. Specifically, records show that individuals bearing the Kneißel surname have been living in the Czech Republic since the late 19th century and all of the 20th century.
In Austria, the name Kneißel is common in the provinces of Lower Austria, Carinthia, and Salzburg. There is also a concentration of individuals bearing the surname in the city of Vienna.
Switzerland's prevalence of the Kneißel surname is centered in Basel-Land Canton, as well as in the Geneva area.
Finally, throughout the 20th century, the Kneißel surname has gradually spread to the United States, which still holds the highest number of individuals bearing the name today, particularly in the states of Michigan, Illinois, Texas, New York, and California.
Variations of the surname Kneißel
The surname Kneißel can appear with several different spellings in different languages. Common versions of the surname Kneißel include Kneisel, Kneissel, Kneisel, Knösel, Knysel, Neisel, Neissel, Neysel, and Neyßel. Depending on the origin of the surname, some of these spellings might also appear in different variations.
The surname Kneißel is of both German and Jewish origin. In German, “Kneißel” often derived from “knösel,” a nickname referring to a small, thin person. In Jewish culture, the surname might have derived from the name “Nissan,” which means “miracle.”
The variants of Kneißel include Kneissel, Kneisel, Knösel, Knysel, Neisel, Neissel, Neysel, and Neyßel. Other related surnames include Knisel, Knösslein, Knieslein, Kniesel, Neydel, Neidel, Neid, Neis, Neusser, Neußer, Niesser, Neißer, Neußerle, and Nißel.
Kneißel is an uncommon surname, likely because versions of it have become rare in other countries. The surname is found in different parts of Europe, including Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Poland. The surnames Kneisel and Knysel are more commonly found in North America, where immigrants brought them with them after they had migrated.
Famous people with the name Kneißel
- Emily Kneißel: German actress
- Kurt Kneißel: former National Handball Player and Olympic Silver medalist
- Saphael Kneißel: Paralympic Middle Distance Track Athlete
- Anja Kneißel: German Alpine ski racer
- Peter Kneißel: German former professional football player
- Günther Kneißel: Austrian former ski jumper
- Flyn Kneißel: well known German Youtuber
- Micha Kneißel: German former professional football player
- Guido Kneißel: German politician and Member of the Bundestag
- Henrietta Kneißel: German economist and politician