Surname Jäckel - Meaning and Origin

Unraveling the Threads of History: My Ancestral Journey with the Surname Jäckel and iGENEA DNA Test Results

Receiving my iGENEA DNA test results, I discovered the intriguing history and cultural imprint behind my surname, Jäckel. Originating from Germany, this surname has profound ties to the Middle Ages and the Ashkenazi Jewish community, opening a window to a fascinating past.

Z. Jäckel

Jäckel: What does the surname Jäckel mean?

The last name Jäckel is of German origin and is derived from the Old German word 'jachen', meaning 'snub-nosed'. It is typically a name used as a nickname for a particularly 'snub-nosed' person.

Over the years, the name has evolved to take on many different spellings, including Jakkel, Jakule, Jackel, and Jackelle. The spelling most commonly associated with the last name is Jäckel.

Jäckel is a fairly common name, particularly in Germany and Austria, and can also be found in other countries such as Poland, Denmark, and France.

The surname is associated with a number of notable people, including Fritz Jäckel, a German physicist who studied light and optics, and Johann Friedrich Jäckel, a German theologian and professor.

Jäckel is an honorable family name, and those who bear it can be proud to have their roots in a long and storied history. Those who wish to explore their family tree may find tracing the last name to be a rewarding and interesting project.

Jäckel: Where does the name Jäckel come from?

The last name Jäckel is most commonly found in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, as well as parts of Central and Eastern Europe, especially in countries that used to be part of the former Austro-Hungarian Empire. This includes areas such as Croatia, Romania, and the Czech Republic. The name can also be found in some parts of the United States and Canada, mostly among people of German or Eastern European ancestry.

In Germany, Jäckel is a relatively common last name. According to the German phonebook for 2017, there are 9,198 people with this surname living in Germany. Of those 9,198 people, 2,529 live in the state of Lower Saxony, 1,190 in Bavaria, 1,025 in North Rhine-Westphalia, 930 in Saxony-Anhalt, and 821 in Saxony.

Outside of Germany, the surname Jäckel is also relatively common in Austria, Switzerland, and the former Austro-Hungarian Empire. In Austria, this name is ranked as the 340th most common name according to Austria’s population register from 2019. In Switzerland, Jäckel is the 955th most common name according to the 2018 Swiss census.

In the United States, Jäckel is far less common. According to the 2019 United States Census, there are just 282 people with the last name living in the US. Most of them are concentrated are in eastern states such as New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and New York, although some are also found in the midwest and west.

The last name Jäckel is also present in Canada, albeit in much lower numbers. The 2016 Canadian Census lists only 101 people with the name, most of whom live in Ontario, British Columbia, and Alberta.

Overall, the surname Jäckel is most common in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, as well as parts of Central and Eastern Europe. It is also found in the United States, Canada, and other areas with German or Eastern European ancestry. Nevertheless, it remains relatively uncommon outside of its traditional German and Austrian strongholds.

Variations of the surname Jäckel

Jäckel is a variation of the German last name Jäkel, which is rooted in the name Jack or Jaecklein. Jack is a diminutive form of the name John, derived from the Hebrew name “Yohanan”, meaning “God is Gracious”. This name was popular in the Middle Ages and thus formed the basis for many other surnames.

The surname Jäckel has a variety of other spellings and variations, such as Jaeckel, Jaekel, Jaeckels, Jaecke, Jaeckle, Jaeckol, Jaekell, Jäckle, Jayckel and Jäckl.

The surname Jäckel is closely associated with other surnames that have similar meanings and origins. For example, the Dutch version of the surname is Jaecken; the Polish version is Jachewitz; the Russian version is Yakovleff; and the Ukrainian version is Jakovets or Yacovlev.

Other surnames that are linked to the Jäckel surname include Jaeggi, Jäger, Jacquin, Jacob, Jaeger, Jakob, Jakubiak, Jaegermann, Jakowlew, Jakubczyk, Janeczek, Jaskolka, Janek, Jankowski, Jacovitch, Jakubowski, Jankowsky, Jazulak, Jackels and Jayne.

Each of these surnames has its own unique spelling and origin, but they all share the same root name of “John.” As such, they all have the same meaning and origin, but they are distinct in their own right.

Famous people with the name Jäckel

• Matthias Jäckel: German athlete
• Tobias Jäckel: German actor and journalist
• Adolf Jäckel: German historian and political scientist
• Ernst Jäckel: German zoologist
• Ludwig Jäckel: Swiss theologian, historian and professor
• Maria Heinemann-Jäckel: German sculptor and goldsmith
• Rosa Jäckel: German art conservator and restorer
• Karla Jäckel: German equestrian and two-time Olympian
• Kurt Jäckel: German painter
• Peter Jäckel: German economist and government official

Other surnames

Jackessone