Surname Dockweiler - Meaning and Origin
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Dockweiler: What does the surname Dockweiler mean?
The last name Dockweiler is a German surname of habitational origin, and is thought to have derived from the village of Dockweiler in the Rhineland-Palatinate region of Germany. The surname can also be found in documents such as baptismal and marriage records from the 16th century, indicating that the surname has a long and varied history in Germany.
The Dockweiler family, originating from the village of Dockweiler, had a territorial background. With many branches of the family holding high positions in the local government and society, the Dockweiler family has been a prominent one in the community for quite some time.
In the English language, Dockweiler can be translated to mean docked meadow, but the exact origin of the name is unknown. Many people have pondered over the years about the meaning of Dockweiler, with many believing that it may have come from the Latin word docilis, meaning obedient, and possibly indicating that those of the Dockweiler family had earned a reputation for being obedient to the local government.
The Dockweiler family is known to have the qualities of resilience and reliability which have been passed down throughout the generations and still remain in the surname today. They are hardworking individuals who strive for success in their endeavours.
If you have the last name of Dockweiler, you get to be part of a long history of people who have origins from a German village with a strong sense of hospitality and tradition.
Order DNA origin analysisDockweiler: Where does the name Dockweiler come from?
The Dockweiler surname is most commonly found in the United States today. Records show that the first members of the Dockweiler family arrived in the United States in the late 19th century from Germany. Dockweilers are mainly concentrated in California, with smaller populations in Illinois, Missouri, and Nevada.
The first members of the Dockweiler family to settle in California were Johannes and Johannas Dockweiler who arrived from Germany in 1880. Since then, 6 additional generations of Dockweilers have called California their home. The city of Los Angeles is home to the most Dockweilers, and over a hundred of their descendants now live there.
The Dockweiler name has also become well known in the United States for the National Park along the coastline of Los Angeles. The John Anson Ford Park along the Ballona Creek near Playa del Rey was renamed in honor of the fourth mayor of Los Angeles, Isador Henry Dockweiler.
The Dockweilers are a proud family with a long history in the United States. Descendants of the family continue to call California and other parts of the United States home, continuing their ancestors’ legacy.
Variations of the surname Dockweiler
The Dockweiler surname has a variety of variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. Some of the various forms include Dokweiler, Dockweyler, Dockwyler, Daiweiler, and Dieckwehler.
The surname Dockweiler is derived from the German word ‘Docke’ which means ditch or channel. The name originated as a topographical surname given to those who lived by a ditch or stream. Over time, the name became common as a surname in Germany and beyond.
In the US, the name has been often adapted to a variety of phonetic spellings, such as Dokweiler, Dockweyler, and Dockwyler. These forms are typically found in the states of Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Michigan.
In Germany, the surnames of Daiweiler and Dieckwehler can also be traced back to a similar origin. The German surname Dieckwehler is derived from the Old German words ‘Dokke’ and ‘Wehl’, which translates to ‘ditch’ and ‘surrounding land’ respectively. This suggests that those with this name were people who lived by a ditch or waterway.
Further variations on the name exist in other countries. As an example, the name Dokmeuller has been found in Switzerland. This form of the name has its origin in the Old German words ‘Dokke’ and ‘Möller’ which translates to ‘ditch’ and ‘miller’ respectively.
The surname Dockweiler is an old German name with a variety of spelling variants and surnames of the same origin. Over the centuries it has spread to various countries due to changes in spelling, a mobility of people through emigration, and the evolution of languages. Today, most forms of this surname can be traced back to a shared Germanic origin.
Famous people with the name Dockweiler
- Fred Dockweiler: mogul of early 20th century California and philanthropist
- William D. Dockweiler: former Los Angeles District Attorney
- Johannes Dockweiler: member of Bavarian Parliament in the late 1800s
- Fredrich Dockweiler: early German industrialist and founder of the first steamship line in Europe
- Henry G. Dockweiler: founder of the Dockweiler Brewery in 1885
- August Dockweiler: former mayor of the 19th century German town of Feuchtwangen
- Fritz Dockweiler: influential 19th century German banker and real estate investor
- Henry von Dockweiler: prominent late 19th century German architect
- Hubert von Dockweiler: early 19th century German figure who worked in the military and politics
- Justus von Dockweiler: 18th century German sculptor