Surname Henckell - Meaning and Origin
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Henckell: What does the surname Henckell mean?
The last name Henckell is derived from the German phrase, "Hahnenkämper," meaning "cockfighter." The German word "Hahn" means "rooster" or "cock" and "Kämper" means "fighter." The surname is thought to have originated with an ancestor of the family who was a skilled and successful cockfighter.
The origin of the Henckell name can be traced to the northwestern part of Germany in the area now known as North Rhine-Westphalia. Here, the family settled and built small homesteads, often making a living off of the land. The name eventually spread throughout the region, with Henckells living in different parts of the country such as Bavaria, Baden-Wurttemberg, Hesse, and Lower Saxony.
The Henckells have a long and proud history in Germany, with many members having been elected to public offices and actively engaging in civic life. The family’s entrepreneurial spirit is still seen today with many prominent businessmen and women of the name.
The Henckells have also made their mark in the world of art and literature, with many acclaimed artists and writers having the last name. This includes Ewald Victors, a painter of landscapes and still lifes, and Georg Henckell, a poet from the romanticism movement in Germany.
In short, the name Henckell is deeply rooted in German culture, strongly associated with a proud heritage of success and exploration. Throughout the centuries, members of the family have been creative, ambitious, and forward-thinking, leaving an indelible mark on the world.
Order DNA origin analysisHenckell: Where does the name Henckell come from?
The last name Henckell is mainly found today in Germany and surrounding countries in Central Europe, such as Austria, Luxembourg, and Switzerland. The name is typically spelled Henschel, but variants including Henschl, Henschkel, Henchel, and Henckell can also be encountered.
The name likely derives from Old High German "hinkala" ( or "henkel") which means "a small, handy thing". This could indicate that the original bearer of the name was a person who spent time crafting, perhaps making tools or jewelry.
In Germany, Henckell is one of the more uncommon surnames. It is ranked approximately 30,000th in terms of popularity. It is most densely concentrated around large urban centres in Bavaria and other parts of Germany, and also occurs in areas that were formerly part of the German Empire.
The most prominent contemporary bearer of the surname is the German composer Magnus Henckell (1962-present). In 2008, Henckell was honoured with a Goldene Musik Plakette from the city of Lübeck for his achievements in contemporary classical music.
Henckell is also a longtime family name for many people living in countries across Central Europe, and its usage is likely to continue for many years to come.
Variations of the surname Henckell
The surname Henckell can be spelled and found in many different variants, including Henchel, Handzel, Handzill, Handzelmann, Hänsler, Hänsel, Handknopf, Henzler, Hehnschel, Hanzel, Henkel, Hanselman, Henselmann, Henselman, Handsel, Handel, Handl, Hauschek, Henski, Henschke, Henkelmann, Heynschel, Henchel, Henckel, Hanzoll, Handzull, Häntzschel, Handschel, and Hentzschl.
The pronunciations and spellings of the surname Henckell can vary drastically, and this is due to historical and regional shifts in the language. In many different dialects, letters are replaced or omitted. For example, in parts of Germany where the local dialect is Bavarian, the surname is pronounced as 'Hänsler.' In Northern Germany, the letter 'H' can often be dropped, thus the surname is spelled 'Enckell.' Lastly, in parts of Prussia, it is common for the letter 'H' to be replaced with an 'A' thus transforming the name to 'Aenckell.'
Regardless of spelling, all variants of the surname Henckell share the same origin - a combination of German words 'hahn' (meaning rooster or 'sign') and 'kel' (meaning chicken). Therefore, these many spelling variants of the surname are all historically routed in the same origin.
Famous people with the name Henckell
- Fritz Henckell: German actor.
- Chrissy Henckell: fashion designer and businesswoman.
- Joyce Henckell: American pop-folk singer-songwriter.
- Claude Henckell: Canadian film and television actor.
- Georg Henckell: German classical composer.
- Karl Henckell: German sculptor and painter.
- Ursula Henckell: German figure skater.
- Ernst Henckell: German writer and journalist.
- Otto Henckell: Estonian writer and politician.
- Peter Henckell: British film and television director.