Surname Schiechel - Meaning and Origin

Schiechel: What does the surname Schiechel mean?

The surname Schiechel is derived from the pre-7th century Germanic personal name 'Skihail', a composite of 'ski', meaning 'ship', and 'hail', meaning 'army, 'host'.

In some instances the Schiechel surname may also be of Italian origin. In this case it is thought to represent a metonymic occupational name for a slater, deriving from the Italian word 'schercello', meaning 'slate'.

During the Middle Ages, people often chose surnames based on their profession, geographic location, or ancestry. Schiechel is believed to have divided into three regional variants, which include 'Schiockel', 'Schieck', and 'Schiechel.'

Schiechel is found mainly in Germany, and within Germany is most commonly found in the regions of Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, North Rhine-Westphalia, and Rhineland-Palatinate. There is also a lesser-known yet small population of Schiechel families in the United States, mainly in the states of New York, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.

Today, the Schiechel surname continues to be a rare and distinctively-recognizable surname in Germany, as well as other locations around the world that are either home to descendants of German emigrants or have connections with German culture and ancestry.

Schiechel: Where does the name Schiechel come from?

The last name Schiechel is most common in Germany today. According to records from the Central Institute for Genealogy in Germany (Zentralstelle für Genealogie), the surname was first found in the city of Neuruppin in the state of Brandenberg, around 1680. It is primarily associated with northern and eastern Germany, especially Lower Saxony and Schleswig-Holstein, but the name is also scattered throughout the rest of the country.

The Schiechel surname is rarely seen outside of Germany. The etymology of the name is believed to come from Old German elements meaning ‘shoulder’ or ‘threshold’, suggesting that the ancestors of those bearing the name may have had swift movement across thresholds of their homes. That might explain why the surname is mainly found in northern or eastern Germany, where people had to move frequently and quickly in order to outpace changing political conditions.

The spelling of the name can vary, just as much as its meaning. Common variations include Schiechel, Schückel, Schuckel, Schicele, Schuckel, Schichel, Schickl and Shikel. Depending on the home region of a family bearing the name, orthographic influences from another language, such as Dutch, might also be seen.

It is not clear how many people bear the name Schiechel in Germany currently, but based on records it is expected to be a small number. It is, however, still a common German-sounding last name and is likely to remain so in the future.

Variations of the surname Schiechel

The surname Schiechel is a German surname which originated from the country’s southwest. It is derived from a word meaning “small shield”, and is believed to have been used as a nickname for a small and agile soldier.

Schiechel is commonly spelled in a variety of ways, including Schechel, Scheechel, Scheichel, Schichel, Schichell, Shichel, Shichell, Schiechel, Sheichel, Sheichell, Shiechel, Shiechell, Shiechelle, Schickal, Schickel, Schockel, and Schöchel. It is also sometimes Anglicized as Shikel, Schickl, Shickel, Shickel, Schiccel, and so on.

Some variants of the Schiechel surname originate from other countries, for example, the Ukraine variant is Shekel, while in the Netherlands, it is Specht or Spek.

The surname Schiechel also has other surnames related to it. For example, it has been associated with Schiess, a diminutive of the name 'Siegfried'; Schlegel, derived from the old German word 'schlegel'; and Schöttle, derived from a dialect term meaning 'a small boy'. All of these surnames likely were derived from the German words 'schim, schimel, or schimell', which all mean small or short.

In conclusion, the surname Schiechel has various spellings and variants, as well as associated family names stemming from its German origins. Its unique meaning is that of a small and agile soldier, which it is thought to have been used as a nickname for.

Famous people with the name Schiechel

• Dirk Schiechel: German journalist, author and television presenter
• Paul Schiechel: former American football coach
• Johann Schiechel: former German professional football player
• John Schiechel: American actor, musician, and producer
• Jeff Schiechel: former American basketball player
• Anton Schiechel: painter and art collector
• Cornelius Schiechel: German engineer
• Michael Schiechel: German television producer
• Erich Schiechel: German jurist and professor
• Florian Schiechel: German racing driver

Other surnames

Schiechl