Surname Penuel - Meaning and Origin
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Penuel: What does the surname Penuel mean?
The surname Penuel is of Hebrew origin and it literally translates to "Face of God." It originates from a location mentioned in the Bible - Penuel is a place east of the Jordan River where Jacob, one of the biblical patriarchs, is said to have wrestled with God (Genesis 32:30). In this context, Penuel symbolizes a personal encounter or struggle with God. As a surname, Penuel might have been adopted by families to signify a spiritual connection or a deep, personal religious experience. However, the exact origins and meaning can vary based upon regional, cultural, and individual family history. It is relatively uncommon as a surname but more commonly used as a first name.
Order DNA origin analysisPenuel: Where does the name Penuel come from?
The last name Penuel is most commonly found today in regions of Central and Eastern Europe, as well as scattered occurrences in the United States and Canada. In Eastern Europe, the name is prevalent mainly in countries such as Poland, the Czech Republic, Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine. In the United States, the name is mostly found in the middle of the country, especially in states such as Illinois, Wisconsin, and Texas, but it has become more widespread in recent years due to immigration. There are also occurrences of the surname Penuel in Canada, mostly in the provinces of Quebec and Ontario.
The original origin of the name Penuel is likely a combination of Hebrew and German, as the Hebrew "penuel" means "face of God" and the German root "uel," or "will," was also present in the surname. In recent times, the last name Penuel has become popular with people of Jewish descent in the United States, mainly due to its relationship with the Hebrew penuel, as well as the religious roots of their families.
Although the last name Penuel is mainly concentrated in the eastern half of Europe as well as in the United States, there have been scattered occurrences all around the world. The name is still found in various parts of South America, and some Penuels have even been reported to live in parts of Africa and India.
Variations of the surname Penuel
The surname Penuel is generally understood as originating from the Hebrew name “Penuel”, meaning “the face of God”. This name is translated differently in various languages, resulting in a variety of surnames and spellings from the same origin.
In Spanish, the name is written as Pinuel. This is one of the most common variants of the surname Penuel, other Spanish variants being Finuel, Panuel, and Penial.
In French, an alternative spelling of the name is Peneau. Other French spellings derived from Peniel include Penel and Peniau.
In South America, the Portuguese and Brazilian versions of the name are Pinheiro and Penheiro, respectively. This is due to the Portuguese influence in the area.
In some parts of Germany, the variant is referred to as Pinell. In England, there is a variant of Penuel which is spelled Penwell.
In Polish, the spelling of Penuel is Penueli. This name is also found in countries such as Spain, Hungary, and Ukraine.
The various spellings of the surname Penuel are all derived from the same origin, giving people within the same family different versions of the same surname. No matter the variant, the meaning of the surname remains the same, indicating an origin in the Hebrew name Penuel.
Famous people with the name Penuel
- David Penuel, American children’s and fantasy author
- Andrew Penuel, American filmmaker
- Gregory Penuel, American theater professional
- Shelton Penuel, American Olympic sprinter
- Robert Penuel, American veteran of the War of 1812
- Tamil Penuel, an Indian filmmaker and music composer
- Carlos Penuel, Spanish singer and producer
- Yvette Penuel-Watkins, American journalist and executive
- Jonathan Penuel, American religious leader
- Sara Penuel, American entertainer and former model