Surname Zelle - Meaning and Origin
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Zelle: What does the surname Zelle mean?
The surname Zelle is of German origin and is thought to be derived from either the German word Zelle, meaning "cell," or the Old High German word Zill, meaning "bright." It could also be a toponymic reference to places in the former state of Prussia, which is now part of the modern-day state of Germany.
The earliest written record of the surname Zelle dates back to the 14th century, when one Reinerus Zelle was registered in the Luxenbourg city of Colling in 1350. The name also has multiple variations, including Zill, Zell, Sell, and Selle, and in some cases may be a shortened form of the surname Zellengraf meaning "count of the district."
The surname Zelle can primarily be found in Germany, with some recorded presence in France and other parts of Europe. It is thought to be primarily used by families in a religious context, as a patronymic reference to a Pfarrer or minister. Today, there are a number of notable people who bear the surname Zelle, such as German physicist Johannes Zelle and German philosopher Johannes Zelle-Hippel.
Overall, the surname Zelle appears to have originated in Germany and could be derived from Old German words or a toponymic reference. It is believed to have originally been used in a religious context and is still common today, mainly in Germany.
Order DNA origin analysisZelle: Where does the name Zelle come from?
The last name Zelle is most common in France today. It is historically a name that originates from the German state of Bavaria, but it is impossible to definitively determine when the name first emerged. One hypothesis suggests that the name Zelle began with an individual whose forename was Zeller, which evolved into the last name when many individuals began taking on surnames for the first time.
In modern day France, the last name Zelle is more common in more densely populated urban regions such as Paris and other major cities. It is likely that this increased prevalence is due to the waves of immigration from other European countries such as Germany in past centuries. France is naturally a largely diverse nation due to its sister languages of French, German, and Dutch being spoken in certain parts of the country and this likely plays a role in the last name's continued presence in the nation.
The last name Zelle is also prevalent in in the United States and Canada due to the remarkably high rate of immigration from France in the 19th and 20th centuries. It is likely that these individuals introduced and spread the name to both countries and it has since become a moderately common family name in both nations.
Overall, the last name Zelle is more commonly found in France than any other country. Its presence in the US and Canada is likely due to the historical French immigration rate and its presence in Germany and other parts of Europe likely due to its historic roots in the region.
Variations of the surname Zelle
Zelle is a surname most commonly found in Germany, with variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin being Zele, Zoelle, Zilke, Zielke, Zull, Zullen, Zellen, Zellenbacher, Zeller, Zill, Zillen, Zelke, Zöllen, Ziellen, Zöller, Zöllner, Zoellner, Ziefle and Zöf.
The meaning of Zelle can be traced back to the Middle High German word 'zelb' which was used to refer to a residential court or area of land, implying that the originals holders of the surname once lived in or near a court or a district. The word 'zelle' itself is a German variant of 'cell' and also means ‘small chamber’ in German, but in this instance it does not refers to a prison cell or a cell in a monastery.
In some instances, the surname Zelle may have referred to a worker or tenant on a 'Gutzelle', which is a large estate where the tenant could subsequently farm and graze animals. It may also have been derived from the given name ‘Zelle’, which is a pet form of the female name Axlazell.
Today, Zelle is still found in Germany, and many of its variants are shared with other German-speaking nations, such as Switzerland and Austria. However, the surname now has a global presence, thanks to the mobility of its original holders and their descendants.
Famous people with the name Zelle
- Gilda Zelle: former Spanish actress who worked during the Silent Era of cinema.
- Nerio Alessandri: Italian entrepreneur who founded Technogym and was named Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year in 2008.
- Marga Zelle: Dutch Olympic swimmer who competed in the 1948 Summer Olympics.
- Abraham-Louis Zelle: French engineer who invented the first electric automobile.
- Jurriaan Zelle: Dutch painter who was active in the late 19th century.
- Joe Zelle: American professional wrestler who competed in World Class Championship Wrestling.
- Gerrit Zelle: Dutch fanscinaut and noted scientist who conducted experiments in outer space.
- Edmund Zelle: American computer scientist and author who worked as the chairman of the programming language FORTRAN committee.
- Herman Zelle: German World War II Luftwaffe officer who was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross.
- Andreas Zelle: German Paralympic swimmer who won gold medals at the 2012 and 2016 Summer Paralympic Games.