Surname Oppel - Meaning and Origin
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Oppel: What does the surname Oppel mean?
The last name Oppel is a German surname derived from a nickname for a particular person. The nickname was derived from the German word “hubs,” which means “eagle”—the nickname “hubsape” then later became “oppe” and then “oppel” with the addition of a common suffix of the time. It has been suggested that the nickname was likely intended to indicate either that the named person was of noble birth, as eagles were a symbol of strength and nobility, or that they were of quick wit and sharp sightedness. The name Oppel can be found in records spanning many centuries and many parts of Europe.
In Germany, the Oppels are mostly found in the southwestern regions with the highest concentrations in Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, and Rhineland-Palatinate. The name is particularly common in the city of Mannheim, capital of the German state of Baden-Württemberg. The Oppels in the city likely stem from a merge of several noble families who held the same name. The first mentions of the Oppel name can be dated to the 13th century with a high-ranking knight named Herman von Oppel, and other noble Oppel families followed in the years that followed.
Analyses of the Y-chromosome and mitochondrial DNA of those with the Oppel surname suggest that they are most closely related to other German populations demographically. This indicates that the roots of the Oppel surname likely began centuries ago in Germany before they spread outward.
The Oppel surname has also been found in other countries outside of Germany, particularly Poland and Russia. This is likely because of emigration from Germany to other parts of Europe in the 19th and 20th centuries.
Overall, the Oppel surname likely has its origins in Germany several centuries ago and is still quite common in the region today. It has since spread beyond German borders, to both Europe and the United States.
Order DNA origin analysisOppel: Where does the name Oppel come from?
The last name Oppel is most commonly found in Germany, where it is believed to be of Germanic origin. It is also occasionally seen in Austria, England, Switzerland, the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. According to the House of Names, Oppel is derived from a German given name, "Oppo," which was likely derived from the Old High German for "Aebbi."
In Germany, the Oppel surname is found predominantly in Bavaria, a state located in southeast Germany, where it is among the top 500 most common surnames. It is less frequently seen in the northwest or central regions and also appears in other northeastern German states.
The Oppel surname is also found in the United States. According to records, 23,000 people named Oppel lived in the country in 1880. Today, the US census estimated that 12,559 Americans have the last name Oppel in 2020.
In Canada, Oppel is most commonly seen in provinces such as Ontario, Alberta, and British Columbia, although the Oppel population in Canada is smaller than in either the US or Germany.
In Australia, Oppel is the 5,638th most common last name. Records indicate that about 1,200 people in Australia are named Oppel, with most of them living in the capital cities of Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane.
Overall, the Oppel surname is most common in Germany but is seen is various countries around the world, including England, the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
Variations of the surname Oppel
The surname Oppel can take on a variety of spellings and variants, many of which are derived from different regions and languages. In German, the surname can be spelled Oppel, Oppl, Oppell, and Opell, among others. In Belgium, the surname is spelled Oppelle. In Czech, it is spelled Opel and in Slovakia it is spelled Ofel. In Romania, the surname is spelled Oppila or Oppilaș. In Hungary, the surname takes on many spellings such as Opelly, Oppel, Oppelli, and Oppelny, depending on the region. In Austria, it is spelled Oppel or Opel.
Other variants of Oppel include Oppeler, Opple, Oppelman, Opelka, Oppile, Oppbury, and Oppelstein. Surnames which are derived from Oppel include Oppleman, Oppman, Oppermann, Opplohn, Oppington, Oppeler, Oppler, Opelman, and Oppelhoff.
Oppel is an uncommon surname which originated in Germany and the countries surrounding it. Traditionally, it was used to refer to a variety of people, from merchants to musicians. Today, the surname is mainly found in Germany and its surrounding countries, along with a few other parts of the world.
Famous people with the name Oppel
- Frederick Oppel (1782–1867), German entomologist
- Keith Oppel (born 1967), Canadian children's author
- Karl Oppel (1831–1865), German sculptor and medallist
- Arnold Oppel (1831–1865), German painter
- Richard Oppel (born 1955), American journalist
- Arnold Oppel (1844–1907), German astronomer
- Fanny Oppel (1860–1917), Austrian music teacher, piano player, and composer
- Fritz Oppel (1878–1963), German Olympic athlete
- Stanford L. Oppel (1922–1996), American pediatrician and medical researcher
- Roald Oppel (1873–1956), German classical philologist and professor