Surname Söhnel - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'S'
Söhnel: What does the surname Söhnel mean?
The last name Söhnel is an occupational surname derived from the Middle High German word sôchnele, meaning “little apprentice” or “little journeyman”. It is believed to have originally referred to the younger son of a craftsman or artisan who had apprentices or journeymen working in their household. Over time, the surname was adopted by many families in Central and South Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.
There are a few variations of this name which are commonly used, such as Soehnel, Soehnle, and Soehnelle. In some cases, the name has also been Americanized as Soul, Sowell, or Sowles.
The meaning and usage of the Söhnel name has changed over the years. Today, it is primarily used as a surname but can also be found in use as given names or middle names. In some parts of Europe, the name’s occupational origin is still seen in the form of traditional holiday celebrations or special occasions where the descendants of the original “little journeymen” gather together to commemorate their heritage.
The legacy of the Söhnel surname is one of hard work, loyalty, and dedication. It represents the many families who established their businesses, built their communities, and ultimately passed their skills and knowledge to future generations. It is a reminder of the history of skilled craftsmanship which has been carried forward for centuries.
Order DNA origin analysisSöhnel: Where does the name Söhnel come from?
Söhnel is a German surname that is primarily found in Central and Eastern Europe. It is most commonly found in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, though it also has a presence in several other countries including the Netherlands, France, Poland, Romania, Hungary, and Russia.
The origin of the last name Söhnel is believed to be Middle High German in origin, and it may be derived from the surname Söhorn. There are numerous different spellings of the name in its various forms, though they are all essentially the same.
In Germany, the surname is most commonly found in the state of Baden-Württemberg. Aside from Germany, it is most frequent in Austria, Switzerland, The Netherlands, and Romania.
Within the United States, Söhnel is not a common surname, with fewer than 500 people bearing it. The states in which it is most commonly found are Minnesota, California, New Jersey, and Virginia.
Internationally, the most common variation of the name is Söhnle, with Söhnel second. Those bearing the last name are likely to have German ancestry, potentially from the Middle Ages. Despite its frequency in Europe, Söhnel remains an uncommon surname worldwide, making it unlikely that there are large communities of it in any particular part of the world.
Variations of the surname Söhnel
The surname Söhnel is originally of German descent and comes from the frankish word maghinhilt meaning “family”.
Variants
The variants and spellings of the surname Söhnel include Soehnel, Söhnlein, Soehnle, Sohnel, Sohnell, Söhnle, and Sohnelich.
Surnames of the same origin
The surnames of the same origin include Schonlau, Sohns, Sahn, Schonberg, Schonhoff, Schonwald , Schonwieser, Schnaubelt, Schmutz, Schmehl, Schnaars, and Schnabel.
The surname Sohnel is also found in a variety of spellings and variations in different languages and countries. Some of the alternate surnames and spelling variations found in other lands include Zohnel (Yiddish), CzöHnel (Hungarian), Czohnel (Polish), Zouhanel (Spanish), and Zouhanel (Portuguese). The surnames are often found in their common English spelling of Sohnle, Sonley, and Sonell.
The English forms for this surname are often shortened to Sonnle, Souhane, and Sonny, while the French forms are often changed to Sohnel and Sonell.
The same roots of this surname have also been found in other nearby German speaking countries, such as Austria and Switzerland, where they are spelled variously, as Sohnli, Sohnlein, and Sohnel.
The surname has also been identified in Jewish communities, again in various spellings, where it is often spelled as Schonlau, Szolnay, Zohnel, and Szohnel. In the Ashkenazi Jewish community, the surname is sometimes spelled Shsal.
Variations on the surname often occur due to regional and language differences, and it is also very common to find variants that have only slight changes to the original spelling, such as Zohndel, Sohndell, and Sohnal.
Famous people with the name Söhnel
- Ernst Söhnel: This German composer, musicologist and Bach specialist was an editor at the publishing houses of Steiner and Bärenreiter and taught at the Staatlische Hochschule für Musik in Frankfurt.
- Ignaz Söhnel: This Austrian painter and graphic artist is best known for his works in expressionism.
- Wilhelmine Söhnel-Achenbach: This German photographer and press photographer specialized in contemporary cultural-historical and economic topics. She worked with newspapers in addition to commercial photography and exhibited her works internationally.
- Johann Söhnel: This German landscape painter and etcher is known for his romantic landscapes.
- Johannes Söhnel: This German actor has extensive stage and television credits including appearing in “The Goodbye Girl”.
- Ellen Warren Söhnel-Dressler: This German-American lawyer and civic leader was the first German-born woman in the New York State Bar.
- Elena Söhnel: This German-American artist works in installations, object art, painting, and video and is known for exploring topics of social and ecological perspectives.
- Alfred Söhnel: This German sculptor creates figures in wood, stone, and bronze.
- Walter Söhnel: This Austrian painter specializes in portraits, landscapes, and murals.