Surname Kuechel - Meaning and Origin
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Kuechel: What does the surname Kuechel mean?
The last name Kuechel has German origin and means ‘short’ or ‘small’ in German. It is derived from the Old German word ‘kuchel’, which literally translates as ‘something small’ or ‘brief’.
Kuechel is a fairly uncommon last name in the US and other parts of the world. It can be found in Germany, Poland, and the Netherlands, followed by a significantly smaller concentration in Lithuania, Austria, and Hungary.
Kuechel is believed to have been a nickname originally given to individuals who were small in stature or extremely brief in speech. It is believed to have originated to distinguish between members of a family according to their physical or character traits.
Kuechel would be a great last name for anyone who values the importance of peace and the need to be brief and concise in verbal and written communication. It could also be a great option for those who are smaller in stature or desire to honor their German heritage.
Order DNA origin analysisKuechel: Where does the name Kuechel come from?
The surname Kuechel is most commonly found in Germany today. According to Forebears, an online resource which tracks family names, Kuechel is the 6,718th most common surname in Germany with an estimated 10,999 people bearing the name. It is most commonly found in the northern regions of the country, with the highest numbers of Kuechel's concentrated in the state of Lower Saxony. Beyond Germany, Kuechel is a rare surname with fewer than 1,000 people bearing the name worldwide, and most bearing the name are likely of German ancestry.
The Kuechel surname can be traced back to the 13th century, when it first became a hereditary name. It likely came from the German "Kuchel" which referred to someone who lived in a valley. It is also an occupational surname, most likely referring to trades such as a cook or baker, but could refer to anyone who was involved in trades related to food or cooking such as farming, butchery, brewing, or milling.
The Kuechel surname is still active in Germany, but people with the name are spread across the world. There are some in the United States, Canada, and other countries. In the United States, an Ancestry.com search reveals that the last name Kuechel has been found in New York, Ohio, Iowa, and Pennsylvania.
Variations of the surname Kuechel
Kuechel is a surname of German origin, which likely originated from the Middle High German word “kuhele,” meaning “little cowherd” or “little swineherd.” Variants of this surname include Kuhele, Küchel, Kuechle, Kuegel, Kuechelle, Kückel, Kechel, Köchel, Kochel, Kochele, Köchle, Kechele, Kochell, Küchelle, Kohl and Köhl. Spellings of the name may also vary, such as Cöchel, Köckel, Köchelle, Cuchel, Kuchele, Köchele, Keckel and more.
The surname Küchel is also common throughout surrounding countries, such as Austria, Switzerland and Czech Republic. Variants of this surname in these countries may include Köchel, Kuchel, Kochele, Kuchele, Kechel, Kori, Kuchen and Kocheck. In addition, spelling variants such as Köckel, Kuchel, Köchelle, Cuchel, Köchele, Keckel and more may also be used.
The Kuechel surname is also found in different countries around the world such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Spellings of this surname in these countries may also vary based on regional dialect, such as Kiechel, Kuechell, Keechel, Kechel and more.
In some English speaking countries, the name is sometimes Anglicized to Coochie, Cochell, Koochle, Koochie, Kuchell, Kuchee, Kucheel and Kooch. All of these variations, including variations of the spelling and different surname variants, stem from the Middle High German word “kuehele” and are ultimately derived from the same origin.
Famous people with the name Kuechel
- Ryan Kuechel: former professional hockey player
- Steve Kuechel: retired professional baseball player
- Tom Kuechel: Olympic soccer player and trainer
- Anita Kuechel: women's campaigner for global HIV/AIDS awareness
- Lou Kuechel: Major League Baseball pitcher
- J.T. Kuechel: former professional football player
- Tedy Kuechel: actor, writer, producer, and director
- Will Kuechel: music producer and composer
- Rachel Kuechel: professional photographer
- Tracey Kuechel: film and TV actress
- Franz Kuechel: Austrian artist, designer, and sculptor
- Dana Kuechel: award-winning chef and cookbook author
- Cameron Kuechel: independent DJ and music producer
- Daniel Kuechel: journalist, author, and historian
- Adam Kuechel: Grammy Award-winning composer and musical director
- Bill Kuechel: Olympic medal winning runner
- Carl Kuechel: prominent jazz trumpeter and composer
- Chloe Kuechel: professional violinist and multi-instrumentalist
- Debbie Kuechel: Broadway musical theatre actress
- Lillian Kuechel: Grammy Award-winning pianist, composer, and arranger