Surname Menkel - Meaning and Origin
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Menkel: What does the surname Menkel mean?
The last name Menkel is a German and Jewish surname that is most likely derived from the German word “mannenkel” which means little man. It is believed to have originated as a nickname used to refer to a small man. However, the exact origins of this name are unknown.
Throughout the centuries, the Menkel name has spread to various parts of the world as a result of migration and has been adopted by multiple cultures. It is found in countries such as the United States, Australia, Germany, and Austria.
The earliest known record of the Menkel surname dates back to the late 15th century. There is evidence of a person with the surname living in Stein, Germany in 1493. Since then, there have been many influential people who have borne this name, including Jewish figures and prominent businessmen.
The Menkel name is unique in that it is relatively rare, but still carries a deep historical significance. It serves as a reminder of our shared ancestry and our shared collective history. Furthermore, we can reflect on the successes and struggles of our predecessors, from whom we inherited this surname.
Order DNA origin analysisMenkel: Where does the name Menkel come from?
The last name Menkel is of German origin and is found primarily in Germany and other German-speaking countries such as Austria, Liechtenstein, and Switzerland. German-speaking emigrants during the 18th and 19th centuries also spread this last name throughout the world, which is why it is seen in other countries today.
In Germany, the name is most common in what is sometimes referred to as the Old Prussian area of the historic East Prussia. This area is now in northern Poland and is known as the Masuria region. This region was heavily settled by Germans from centuries past, thus explaining the concentration of the name in this region.
In the United States, the last name Menkel is seen throughout the country although it is not as prevalent as in Germany. Most people with this name living in the US have descendents from Germany, Austria or Switzerland and likely arrived in the US during the late 19th or early 20th centuries. The most concentrated regions tend to be in the Midwest and East Coast states such as Wisconsin, Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York, the states with the highest populations of German American heritage.
In the United Kingdom, the last name Menkel is quite rare. It is more commonly found in some of Britain’s former colonies, particularly those in the Caribbean such as Barbados, Jamaica and St. Lucia, where it was likely brought in by British settlers of German ancestry. In Canada, the name is most common in the provinces of Ontario and British Columbia.
Overall, Menkel is a relatively uncommon name but is found throughout the world, primarily in Germany and countries whose people have ties to German countries or ancestry.
Variations of the surname Menkel
The surname Menkel has multiple variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. Variants of the surname Menkel include Mengele, Minkler, and Mengel. Spellings for the surname Menkel include Mänkel and Menkle. Surnames that have a similar origin to Menkel include Mengle, Mensel, Menckel, Mingel, Menkelmann, Menken, Mänchen, Männchen, Meinkle, and Menkels.
The surname Menkel is likely German in origin and has multiple variants, spellings, and related surnames. The surname originated in the Middle Ages as a form of diminutive address for the name "Manfred" or "Manhardt". This was done by adding the suffix "el" or "le" to the end of the name, resulting in the surnames Mankele or Mankelle. Over time these variants became standardized into the forms Mengele, Minkler, and Mengel.
Variations in spelling of the surname Menkel are mostly due to regional dialects and orthography. The spelling Mänkel is mainly found in states like Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria, while Menkle is more commonly used in states like Saxony and Thuringia.
Relatives of the Menkel surname can be found in Germany, The Netherlands, Switzerland, Austria, the Czech Republic, and parts of South America. Some families bearing the name have immigrated to the United States, especially during the 1840s and 1880s. In the US, the spelling of the surname has mostly stayed the same, but Mengele and Mengel have become more popular.
Famous people with the name Menkel
- John Francis Menkel (April 14, 1926: December 24, 1998) was an American sportswriter who worked for the Los Angeles Times for over 25 years.
- Maurice Menkel (1891–1986) was a Jewish American artist whose works span a variety of media from painting to sculpture to jewelry making.
- Daniel Menkel (1912–2001) was an architect and industrial designer who designed the “Rice Krispies Pavilion” youth park in Pasadena, California.
- Gordan Menkel (1925–2015) was a Croatian-born architect and urban planner who designed housing developments in the San Francisco Bay Area.
- David Menkel (May 1, 1936: November 16, 2018) was founder and chairman of the law firm of Menkel, Sacks & Lawther.
- Clyde Menkel (1904–1979) was an American musician and bandleader who performed with the likes of Tommy Dorsey and Benny Goodman.
- Dean Menkel (1904–1986) was an American musician and performer, and a member of the Glenn Miller Orchestra.
- Albion Menkel (1901–1983) was an American inventor who held numerous patents in the fields of gas measurement and motor engineering.
- Paul Menkel (1947–1997) was an American professor, author, and poet who taught at High Point University in North Carolina.
- Natalia Menkel (b. 1972) is an accomplished Russian-American fashion designer who is the founder and creative director of the fashion label Nataline.