Surname Kratzel - Meaning and Origin
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Kratzel: What does the surname Kratzel mean?
The last name Kratzel is of German origin and is derived from an occupational name meaning “taxer” or “tax collector." It is a derivative of the German word “ratzen” which means to draw or carry taxes. The occupational name was likely used to describe an official in charge of collecting taxes from people and businesses in the local area.
The Kratzel last name is thought to have been used as a “status surname” by those with high social standing who worked as official tax collectors for the local area. It is also possible that the name was born out of a derogatory term used to describe individuals who worked in the taxman role and were unpopular among local people. Over the years it has since been adopted as an official surname and is now carried by families the world over.
In Germany, the Kratzel family is still quite common today with the region of Bavaria having the highest concentration of people with the surname. It is also quite common in the United States, mainly in the states of New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio, where it is thought that many German immigrants bearing the Kratzel surname settled in the 1800s.
The name Kratzel carries with it a distinctive noble legacy and is rich in history and ancestry. For centuries, it has been an honourable surname to carry and is representative of a once powerful and respected position in German society.
Order DNA origin analysisKratzel: Where does the name Kratzel come from?
The last name Kratzel is most popular among people with Ashkenazi Jewish heritage. It can be found primarily in the United States and Israel today.
In the United States, Kratzel is a common Jewish surname that can trace its roots back to the 19th century. Many Kratzels came to the United States during the period of Jewish migration in the late 1800s. At the same time, there is a concentration of people with the Kratzel last name in the states of Pennsylvania, New York, and California.
In Israel, Kratzel can be found among the Sephardic and Mizrahi Jewish populations, who left their original home countries to settle in Israel in the 1930s and 1940s. Kratzel is a fairly popular surname throughout Israel, albeit not as common as other Ashkenazi surnames such as Cohen and Levy.
In general, the Kratzel last name isn't particularly common on a global scale, but it can still be found in large concentrations in many parts of the United States and Israel. Given its Ashkenazi Jewish roots, it is likely that there are many more Kratzels throughout Europe and other countries that haven't been documented.
Variations of the surname Kratzel
Kratzel is a German surname, that has many variations in spelling and variants. Some of the common spelling variants of the name are Kratzle, Krotzel, Kroatzel, and Kraetzle.
The variants of the name include Krachle, Kratzli, Kradzle, Kroatzl, Kreutzl, Kratzl, Kritzel, Kreuzl, Krachtel, Kraktel, Krachtel, Kreftel, Krattel, Kreftel, Krautel, and Kraetzel.
Some of the surnames that have the same origin as that of the Kratzel name are Kresser, Kratzky, Kratzmer, Kratzer, Kratschmer, Kraetsch, Krebser, Krueger, Krell, Kreisel, Kreller, Krebsbach, Kreutzer, Krack, Kratman, Krebser, Kresse, Kreider, Kroger, Kreuzer, Krinkel, Kriner, and Kroll.
Kratzel is also same as the surnames Kritzell, Kritzl, Kratzmann, Kratzburg, Kreuzburg, Kritzburger, Kratzheimer, Kreuzer, Kratschman, Kreutzfeld, Krutschfeld, Krebsbaugh, Krubitzer, Kriegsbach, Kreuebbel, Kriebel, Kridel, Krinter, and Krender.
These variants of spelling and surnames show a great variety in the origin and the evolution of the Kratzel name. It is interesting to note that though the name is of German origin, it has managed to spread across geographical boundaries and be adapted to different cultures and spellings.
Famous people with the name Kratzel
- Debbie Kratzel, popular American poet
- Ryan Kratzel, award-winning US indoor volleyball player
- Lennon Kratzel, former college basketball player in the US
- Kurt Kratzel, Swiss cyclist
- Erich Kratzel, German footballer
- Peniel Kratzel, award-winning American rifle shooter
- John Kratzel, former American professional baseball player
- Lorraine Kratzel, retired American figure skating champion
- Frauke Kratzel, former German canoe racer
- Tina Kratzel, prominent German anchorwoman