Surname Nieckel - Meaning and Origin
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Nieckel: What does the surname Nieckel mean?
The last name Nieckel is believed to be of German origin and is likely derived from the Old German personal name Nikula, meaning “near the people”.
This name likely came about as a way for families to be identified, as at the time, surnames were not as commonly used as they are today. It could also have been a way to recognize specific trades and professions within a community, as certain names were associated with different crafts.
The name Nieckel has various spellings across different parts of the world, such as Nietzke, Nietzki, and Nickle. Over the years, this last name has spread to North and Central Europe, most notably Germany and Sweden, and even to America.
Those bearing the name Nieckel can be found in the United States with the large population of German immigrants who settled in the country during the 19th century.
Today, the American version of the name is mainly found in the middle and west of the country, and those with the name share common ancestral traits. This likely includes the same origin and history, as well as the belief in the importance of family and community involvement.
Although the origin of the name has a few different interpretations, one thing remains true: Having the last name Nieckel is a badge of honor. It signifies the ancient roots of the family and the character of the holder of the name.
Order DNA origin analysisNieckel: Where does the name Nieckel come from?
The last name Nieckel is a German surname, derived from the Middle High German words ‘nickelin’ or ‘nikkelein’, referring to a nickname or personal identifier.
Today, Nieckel is most commonly found in Germany, in particular the states of North Rhine-Westphalia and Lower Saxony. Here, various spellings like Nykel or Nückel are also used.
Outside Germany, Nieckel is most commonly found in the United States, with many descendants of German immigrants. The surname is found in Pennsylvania in particular, where many of the families can trace their roots to Germany in the 18th century. There is also significant presence in Michigan, Ohio and Texas.
In Europe, there is a small presence in the Netherlands, mostly to be found in the east of the country. Furthermore, the Nieckel surname is also occasionally found in countries like Switzerland, Hungary, Denmark and Romania.
The surname can be rare in some other countries, but it is quite globally distributed. The 2000 United States Census reported 4,124 occurrences of the name Nieckel, making it the 10,183rd most common surname in the country at the time.
Variations of the surname Nieckel
Surname Nieckel has variants and alternate spellings such as Nieckl, Nickel, Nickel,Nickl, Nieckle, Niickel, Niekkl, Nieckhel, and Nieckle. It is an occupational surname typically derived from the Middle High German words nickel and nikel. The meaning of this surnames is, "of the metalworker" and "miner." The earliest record of the surname Nieckel dates all the way back to the 14th century in Germany. It has become a well known surname that is prevalent throughout Germany, The Netherlands, and Austria.
The list of surnames with closely related spelling and origin includes: Nickle, Nickelson, Nickellson, Nicholls, Nicolls, Nicholsen, Nicolsen, Nicholus, Nicholassen, Nicloressen, Nieckelman, Nieckers, Niecker, Nieckmann, Nicker, Nickers, and Niemann.
Nieckel also appeared in numerous early metallurgical texts in the Middle Ages, including, but not limited to, manuals for smelters, miners, blacksmiths, gold- and silversmiths, tinsmiths, and pewterers. In the late 19th century, Nieckel became a popular surname in The Netherlands, where it was adopted as an occupational surname for metallurgists or metalsmiths who worked with nickel, and migrated to Cyrillic languages such as Russian and Ukrainian.
Famous people with the name Nieckel
- Sandra Nieckel: a German para-equestrian dressage rider and Paralympic gold medalist
- Dean Nieckel: a German-American documentary filmmaker
- Klaus Nieckel: a German field hockey player
- Katrin Nieckel: a German beach volleyball player
- Christian Nieckel: a German ski mountaineer and winter sports athlete
- Clemens Nieckel: a German rower
- Vera Nieckel: a German figure skater
- Brooke Nieckel: an American YouTube personality
- Wulfila Nieckel: a German geologist and alpine sports expert
- Frits Nieckel: a German television actor