Surname Gebell - Meaning and Origin
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Gebell: What does the surname Gebell mean?
The last name Gebell is of German origin. It is derived from the Middle High German word gebel, which means "goat". In its earliest known form, Gebell was used as a nickname for someone who acted in a sly or goat-like manner.
The surname Gebell first appeared in documents in the 1500s. During this time, Gebell was likely used to describe individuals who were sly, cunning, or mischievous. Over time, Gebell became increasingly popular as a hereditary surname.
Gebell is a very common German surname. It is estimated that around 125,000 people in the US bear the last name Gebell. The earliest known ancestor of the Gebell family, Jacob Gebell, was born in Germany in 1801 and later immigrated to the US.
In modern times, individuals with the last name Gebell often attribute the goat as a symbol of their family. This is likely due to its origin as a nickname. The goat can also be seen as a representation of strength, determination, and resilience.
Order DNA origin analysisGebell: Where does the name Gebell come from?
Gebell is a German surname that is most commonly found in regions of Eastern Europe and Germany today. This includes countries like Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Poland, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, and Russia.
In recent history, Gebell is mainly associated with German-speaking countries. This is because the language was relatively 'unified' in the past decades provided more of a unifying source than geographical location.
Due to this, variations of the surname, such as Gebel, Gebell, Gembel, or Gembill, are still relatively popular in German-speaking countries. In these regions, Gebell can also be found among some members of the Jewish communities who immigrated to these areas from various parts of Eastern Europe.
In countries like the United States, Canada, and Australia, Gebell is a less popular surname. It is much rarer compared to other surnames of German origin, such as Miller, Schmidt, or Weber. However, this could be beginning to change as more people of this ancestry have been immigrating to these countries over the past few decades. Either way, Gebell remains a unique German surname that is mainly mostly found in Germany and Eastern Europe.
Variations of the surname Gebell
The surname Gebell is a German variant of the name Gabell, and it is also sometimes spelled Gabel. It comes from the Old German word ‘gabala’, which means ‘distribution’ or ‘shares’ and is likely a reference to an occupier of a tax-collecting agency’s record-keeper. In the USA, the Gebell surname is often anglicized to Gabel or Gibbs.
Other variants of the Gebell surname include Gabelle, Geblee, Gepel, Geblett, Gebella, Gebelisch, Gable, Geibel, Gibel, Gibell, Gibbel, Gepple, Gebbel, Geple, Gipple, Gehbell, Gebill, Geböl, Gebbelin and Gebelink.
In Germany, common spelling variations of the Gebell surname include Gabbel, Gabelmann, Gabele, and Gebelmann.
Gebell is also a common Jewish surname, derived from the Yiddish word ‘gabel’ or ‘gibil’, meaning ‘divided’ or ‘shepherd’. Jewish Gebell families are likely to have originated in Prussia or Austria.
Another variant of the surname Gebell is Gebhard, which is a German and Jewish surname derived from the German word ‘gebhard’ or ‘gebhardt’, meaning ‘brave’ or ‘bravely brave’. It is most common in regions like Bavaria, Switzerland, and Austria.
Giable is a variant of the surname that is common in France. Similarly, some variants of the Gebell surname are popular in France, such as Gabella, Gebellon, Gebelon, and Gebelin.
Finally, the surname Gebell is also found in Italy, with some of its Italian forms including Gebellini, Gebellotti, and Gebelluto.
Famous people with the name Gebell
- Yvonne Gebell: German actress
- Johann Gebel: composer and music theorist
- Weles Gebel: National-Socialist activist
- John Gebell: English poet
- Karl Gebell: German actor
- Michael Gebel: Archaeologist studying Roman North Africa
- Adi Gebel: German comedian
- Tony Gebel: American video game designer
- Tom Gebel: German native who invented water polo
- Jens Gebel: German artist and graphic designer