Surname Göbel - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'G'
Discovering the Surprising Origins of the Göbel Surname Through My iGENEA DNA Test
When I submitted my iGENEA DNA test, I expected only to confirm my long-held beliefs about my heritage. What I didn't foresee were the convolutions and surprises concealed in my genes, or the discovery of the interesting history behind my surname, Göbel.
Q. Göbel
read moreGöbel: What does the surname Göbel mean?
The German last name Göbel has several possible origins. The first is that it derives from the Middle High German, or MHG, word "göbel," which means “generous” or “grand.” This could imply that the original Göbel family descended from a noble bloodline or was highly regarded in their community.
Another possibility is that the Göbel name is derived from the Middle High German word “göbelchân,” which was used to refer to someone who lived in a house on a property owned by a count or lord. This is a more likely scenario, as many families adopted surnames that described their occupation or dwelling place.
It is possible that people adopted the Göbel last name simply because it sounded good or was close to the name of another family. This can sometimes happen when two families living in close proximity have similar sounding surnames.
In any case, Göbel is a respected surname with several possible origins. It is not uncommon to find families with the Göbel name in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and other parts of Europe.
Order DNA origin analysisGöbel: Where does the name Göbel come from?
The last name Göbel is most common in Germany today. According to a recent study, Göbel ranks as the seven hundredth most popular name in Germany and is found in every German state. The majority of Göbel's are concentrated in the Northern state of Lower Saxony and East-Central state of Saxony-Anhalt. This indicates the name was likely brought to Germany centuries ago, from central Europe and has since spread throughout much of the land.
Outside of Germany, the last name Göbel has a much more limited reach with far fewer citizens carrying the name. Sweden also has an abundance of Göbel's, particularly in the north and along the coast. In Luxembourg, a small city known as Echternach is home to more Göbel's than anywhere else in the country.
Finally, Göbel is also quite common in the United States. The majority of American Göbels are found in the Midwest region, with Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin leading the way.
However, no matter where you might find a Göbel today, it is likely that the name originated in Germany many generations ago. The name has survived and stayed strong since its inception over centuries of immigration and intervention, and Göbel is still an admired name even now.
Variations of the surname Göbel
The surname Göbel (sometimes spelled Goebel) is of German origin and is derived from the German word ‘Göbel’ meaning ‘cobbler’—a nickname for a shoemaker. This surname has several variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin, including: Gable, Goebel, Göbey, Gibson, Graber, Gabel, Giebel, Gebel, Geibel, Geipel, Goepel, Gappel, Guppel, Gabill, Goble, and Guebel.
Gable is an Americanized variant of Göbel and originated in the 17th century when immigrants anglicized their surnames. Goebel is derived from the same German root and is also an anglicized variant. Goepel is another variant of Göbel, derived from a surname originated in the medieval lowlands of Germany.
Göbey is a Dutch variant of the surname Göbel and is found primarily in the area of Holland where the Dutch language is spoken. Gibson is derived from the Middle English ‘gisoun’ meaning ‘good man’ and is an anglicized variant of the Göbel name.
Graber is an altered spelling of the progenitor surname ‘Grabenberger’ from the Middle German ‘graben’ meaning ‘trench’ or ‘ditch’. Gabel is derived from the German ‘gabel’ meaning ‘fork’, and is a shortened form of the name ‘Gabelberger’. Giebel is a German name derived from the Middle High German term ‘giebel’ meaning ‘gable’ or ‘ridge’.
Gebel is a German and Jewish variant of the Göbel surname, derived from the Middle High German term ‘gebel’ meaning ‘ridge’ or ‘hill’. Geipel is a Low German variant of the Göbel surname, derived from the German term ‘gaipeln’ meaning ‘to dig’. Gappel is a German variant of Göbel and most likely originated in Bavaria.
Guppel is a Low German variant of the Göbel surname, derived from the Middle High German term ‘guppel’ meaning ‘summit’. Gabill is a French diminutive surname of the original German name of Göbel (Gobel) and is derived from the term ‘gibel’ meaning ‘crystal’ or ‘goblet’. Goble is an Anglicized variant of the German name ‘Göbel’, derived from the Middle High German ‘gobel’ meaning ‘scoop’ or ‘shovel’. Guebel is a variant of the progenitor surname ‘Göbel’ and is derived from the Middle High German ‘guebel’ meaning ‘ridged’ or ‘rampart’.
Famous people with the name Göbel
- August Göbel (German chemist, historian of science and philosopher)
- Franz Jacob Goebel (German Pewter artist of the 19th century)
- Adam Göbel (German chess master)
- Ernst Felix Göbel (German botanist and paleobotanist)
- Artur Göbel (German painter and draughtsman)
- Wolfgang Göbel (20th-century German mathematician)
- Ludwig Göbel (18th-century German composer and organist)
- Fritz Göbel (German composer and conductor)
- Max Göbel (19th-century German theatre director and playwright)
- Konrad Göbel (German entomologist and zoologist)