Surname Gebbels - Meaning and Origin
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Gebbels: What does the surname Gebbels mean?
The surname Gebbels is an occupational surname of someone who worked as a gobbler, someone who prepared pieces of fabric from hides with tools like a spindle. The surname likely originates from the German Göbel or the Dutch convoluted spelling Gijbolle.
The most famous bearer of the surname is Joseph Goebbels, a Nazi politician and Reich Minister of Propaganda in Nazi Germany. He was one of the most powerful people in the Nazi regime and spread Nazi extremist views through means like the media, films, rallies, and print media. He was also responsible for burning of books, which made him extremely unpopular.
Despite the unpleasant association of the surname Goebbels with Nazism, the surname itself is still used by families around the world. It is known to be used mostly in Europe, particularly in Germany and the Netherlands.
The surname Gebbels is likely to bring general associations of Germany, Dutch culture, and Nazism. But, for many people, it will just be an interesting German and Dutch surname which possibly carries a unique item of history in those nations.
Order DNA origin analysisGebbels: Where does the name Gebbels come from?
The last name Gebbels is a common surname found in areas with German and Dutch populations. It is particularly prevalent in Germany, but can also be found in areas such as The Netherlands, Austria, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, Belgium, France, Denmark, Norway, and the United States.
The name is derived from a Germanic word meaning "goat's brook" and is often spelled Gebels or Gimbel. It appears to have first been used as a regionally popular nickname in the Middle Ages and gradually developed and spread as a surname over the centuries.
The most famous bearer of this last name is Joseph Goebbels, the notorious Nazi minister of propaganda. He was the third of five children born to Friedrich and Maria Goebbels in the village of Rheydt in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.
Due to its association with Nazism, some modern bearers of the Gebbels name may choose to spell it differently in order to distance themselves from the horrors of World War II. Despite the bad connotations associated with the surname, there are still many people that proudly bear it, as it is rooted in a long line of German heritage.
Today, the last name Gebbels is still a very common name throughout areas with German or Dutch populations. Although it may often evoke painful memories, it is also a reminder of a shared history that can bring people from different countries together.
Variations of the surname Gebbels
The surname Gebbels has several variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. These variations of the name are primarily found in Germany and the Netherlands, as it is a Germanic surname.
Variants of Gebbels include Gebbel, Gebbles, Gebel, Gebbell, Gebble, Gebbelle, Gebbett, Gebbitt, Gebell, Gebelles, Gebetts, Geblovs, Gebles, Jabell, Jabelles, Jabetts, Jablovs, Jabbles, and Jebbelle.
Common spellings of Gebbels include Geppels, Gebels, Gibbels, Gippels, Gibels, Gabels, Gybbels, and Gübels.
Surnames of the same origin as Gebbels include Gebauer, Geber, Gebert, Gebhard, Geblar, Gebler, Geblinger, Gebl, Gebler, Geblir, Geblom, Gebo, Gepp, Gep, Gephard, Gephir, Geppert, Geprich, Gepple, and Gypple.
The variants and spellings all point to the same origin of the surname, which is believed to come from the German word “gabaele”, which means to “give” or “give away”. This suggests that the surname was likely used as a nickname for someone who was generous or kind.
Famous people with the name Gebbels
- Joseph Gebbels: Nazi politician, renowned Reich Minister of Propaganda in Hitler’s Germany.
- Magda Gebbels: Nazi politician and wife of Joseph Gebbels; committed suicide with her husband in April 1945.
- Harald Gebbels: German contemporary composer and musician.
- Mike Gebbels: German heavy metal vocalist of the band, ‘Paradise Lost’.
- Jörg Gebbels: Austrian retired table tennis player.
- Lothar Gebbels: German actor and theatre director.
- Niko Gebbels: South African-born multi-instrumentalist and songwriter.
- Alexander Gebbels: American tenor and composer.
- Robert Gebbels: Belgian football player.
- Cyrille Gebbels: Belgian television presenter.