Surname Penzel - Meaning and Origin

Penzel: What does the surname Penzel mean?

Penzel is a German surname. Like many European surnames, it may have originated from various sources such as an occupation, personal characteristic, or geographic location. The exact meaning of the last name Penzel is not well documented. It could possibly be a derivation from the personal name "Benz" or "Benze," which are short forms of the name "Benedikt," meaning "blessed." In some cases, Penzel could also denote a person from a place called Penz or Penze in Germany. It's important to remember that surname meanings can alter throughout centuries, so the meaning may have varied over time depending on the cultural, regional, and historical contexts. As with many surnames, it may not have a particular 'meaning' as modern words do, but rather serve as an identifying marker for a family lineage.

Penzel: Where does the name Penzel come from?

The surname Penzel is of Germanic origin, and is primarily found in Germany and Austria today.

It is derived from the word “Penz”, an Old High German term which means “marsh”. This denotes that the original bearer of the name was likely one who hailed from or resided in a marshy area.

In Germany, Penzel is mostly found in Hamburg, Schleswig-Holstein, Berlin, and Saxony, and is also found in the states of Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, and Baden-Württemberg. In Bavaria, the Penzel family is concentrated in and around the city of Munich. Penzel is also common in Austria, particularly in the western states of Vienna, Lower Austria, and Vorarlberg.

The original Penzel family is said to have come from an area near the border between Hamburg and Prussia, and started migrating south with the resettlement of Germanic people in the 12th century. Today, the Penzel family name still carries a great deal of prestige in Germany, as does the name in Austria.

Out of Germany and Austria, the surname Penzel is almost nonexistent, and its bearers can likely trace their heritage back to the original family, or at least to Germanic origins. In the small towns and cities of the German-speaking world, however, Penzel remains as one of the most common surnames.

Variations of the surname Penzel

The surname Penzel is a toponymic surname based on location of origin. It is derived from the name of places such as Prenzel in Germany. It is an occupational name for a tailor derived from the Middle High German word “pencel” meaning “needle”, or a nickname for an elegant or thin person.

Variants of the surname Penzel include Prenzel, Pennzel, Penzell, Pennzell, Penzell, Pensall, and Pensal. In addition, there are several other surnames which are based on and similar to Penzel, such as Pense, Penke, Pencki, Pennke, Pennkow, Pendzich, Pensel, Pendzick, Penzelmann, and Panzella.

The surname Penzel is mainly found in Austria, Germany, and Switzerland. In the United States, many people with the surname Penzel are of German, Swiss, or Austrian origin, with some being from Czechoslovakia and Hungary.

The spelling of the name Penzel has changed over time, with some variants being Prenzel, Pennzel, Penzell, Pennzell, Pensall, and Pensal. It is possible that some of these variants were adopted or changed as a result of migration or misspelling.

Therefore, Penzel is the original spelling of the surname, with many variations and related surnames stemming from this one name.

Famous people with the name Penzel

• Philip Penzel: an Austrian composer and musicologist.
• Jonathan Penzel: an American political scientist focused on electoral studies.
• Steven Penzel: a prominent doctor specializing in behavior therapy for children and adults with Anxiety Disorders.
• Marc Penzel: an American cinematographer who has worked on numerous feature films, music videos, and documentaries.
• Adam Penzel: an American actor who has starred in numerous television shows, films, and stage productions.
• Paul Penzel: an American journalist and executive vice president of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.
• Frederic Penzel: an American psychiatrist and author who specializes in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and associated problems.
• Laura Penzel: an American-born medical doctor who works as an internal medicine physician in Austria.
• SG Penzel: an American author of poetry and contemporary literature.
• Matthew Penzel: an American writer and director who has written and directed multiple films.

Other surnames

Penzell