Surname Frankel - Meaning and Origin
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Frankel: What does the surname Frankel mean?
The last name Frankel is of German Jewish origin. It is derived from the Yiddish word "frenkel," which means "little bird." This name was given to someone who was considered to be spirited or flighty.
Historically, Jews in Europe faced persecution and even death for their religious beliefs, so many Jews took on a 'frenkel' pseudonym to protect their real identity as they moved from place to place. This made it easier for them to hide their true identity in times of trouble.
During the Middle Ages, Frankel was a popular Jewish surname among the European Ashkenazi Jews. Ashkenazi Jews, sometimes known as Eastern European Jews, were the Jewish diaspora who lived in European cities like Prague, Vienna, and Budapest.
Today, the Frankel surname is most commonly found in Israeli families, as well as those of Ashkenazi Jewish descent. It is also found among the Sephardic Jews, who have their origins in Southern Europe and North Africa.
The Frankel surname is a reminder of a rich heritage of struggle and perseverance of the Jewish people throughout their long history.
Order DNA origin analysisFrankel: Where does the name Frankel come from?
The last name Frankel is most common today in Israel, where it is among the top 100 most common surnames. The Frankel family originated in Germany and spread to other Jewish communities in Central and Eastern Europe; it is thought to be of Ashkenazic Jewish origins. The name is most likely derived from the word "frankl" which in Old German means "free man".
The Frankel surname can also be found in the United States, where it is more common among people of Jewish descent. It is the 476th most common last name in the country, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The Frankels who settled in the U.S. primarily emigrated from Germany and other parts of Europe in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
In addition to Israel and the United States, the Frankel surname can also be found in the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Canada, and Australia. Given its Ashkenazic roots, it is also found in other countries with significant Jewish communities, such as Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, and Hungary.
In each country, the Frankel family has adopted its own regional variations of the surname, some of which include Frankl, Franckiel, Franckl, Franckle, and Frankelow.
Variations of the surname Frankel
The surname Frankel is thought to be of Jewish origin. It is a variation of Frankl, Frankfurter, and Frankfurt. Frankel is spelled differently depending on its origin. In most Germanic countries it is usually spelled Frankel, while in Poland it is usually spelled Frankelski or Frikelski. In Yiddish, Frankel is usually spelled Fraykl, Fraykel, Fraikel, and Frajel.
In addition to being spelled differently, the Frankel surname may also take different surnames of the same origin. Fiankel is one example, as well as Finkl and Frinkl. Some variants of the surname may be derived from certain occupations. For example, Fronkeland may be derived from a person who worked in the fields or owned land; Finklas may have been a name given to someone who worked with tin.
There are also variations of Frankel that may be used to denote family lineage. For example, Frankelson may be used to show that a person is a son or descendant of a Frankel. Similarly, Frankelsdatter may be used to denote a female descendant of a Frankel.
In some parts of Europe, Frankel may also be used as a given name as well as a surname. For example, Frankel Kadushin is a Jewish surname and may indicate the family descend from the Kadushin family of Frankel.
In summary, there are several variants of the Frankel surname, including Frankel, Frankl, Frankfurter, Frankfurt, Fiankel, Finkl, Frinkl, Fronkeland, Finklas, Frankelson, and Frankelsdatter. They may be used to denote a family lineage or an occupation and may also be used as given names.
Famous people with the name Frankel
- Bethenny Frankel: American television personality, entrepreneur, and author. She is known for appearing in the Bravo reality series The Real Housewives of New York City (2008–2018) and as the creator and star of the talk show Bethenny (2012–2014).
- Jeffrey Frankel: American professor and economic advisor best known as an advocate of floating exchange rates and free trade.
- Bob Frankel: Hall of Fame racehorse trainer who is best known for his success with the filly Serena’s Song, and for training Best Pal, who won the 1990 Pacific Classic Stakes.
- Neil Frankel: American actor, author, songwriter, and financial educator. He is best known for his appearances in the films the War of the Roses and Duel of Hearts.
- Paul Frankel: American attorney and lobbyist for casino interests in the United States. He also has a decades-long history of advocating for Massachusetts-based Native American tribes.
- Bruce L Frankel: American lawyer and former head of the United State’s Federal Trade Commission, during Ronald Reagan’s presidency.
- Alan D Frankel: Entrepreneur, investor, and lawyer best known as the co-founder of Prudential-Bache Securities. He also founded and is the chairman of Frankel & Company, a business development company based in New York City.
- Jonathan Frankel: Israeli journalist and author of several books on recent Israeli history. He is known for his book Blood Brothers: The Fatal Friendship Between Muhammad Ibn-Abd-Al-Wahhab and Muhammad Ibn-Sa'ud, which documents the histories of the Saudi and Islamic fundamentalist movements.