Surname Unkell - Meaning and Origin
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Unkell: What does the surname Unkell mean?
The last name Unkell, also spelt Unkel, is of German origin and is most commonly found in Germany and the United States. It is believed to be a possible occupational name, deriving from the job of a banker or money-lender, meaning someone who was responsible for collecting and lending money. Alternatively, it is believed that Unkell is a variant of the name “Hummel”, again of German origin and with a similar meaning, referring to a money broker.
The Unkell surname is likely to have been used since medieval times, with records and documents showing it was in use throughout Europe in the 15th Century. During the Early Modern Period, many German immigrants to the US adopted a spelling of the name that was more convenient for them, with Unkell being one of them. Thus, it is possible to find Unkel or Unkell families in different European countries and in the US.
Today, the Unkell surname is used by many people around the globe and is fairly common. Some famous people with the Unkel or Unkell name are American saxophonist August Unkel, signer and lawyer John L. Unkel, and national president of the Nunavik Regional Board of Health and Social Services, gratitude to Spectaclerolder Unkel.
Order DNA origin analysisUnkell: Where does the name Unkell come from?
The last name Unkell is most commonly found in the United States and Canada. It is a relatively uncommon name, and it appears to descend from an English or German background.
The earliest known record of the last name Unkell was in the United States in the early 19th century; the first recorded instance is a Thomas Unkell in the 1820 U.S. Census. Since then, the name appears to have spread throughout the Northern states of the United States, although it has not been reported in large numbers in any single state or region.
In the United States, the most frequently occurring states with the name Unkell include Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York. However, the name has also been found in other states including California, Texas, and New Jersey.
Within Canada, the name Unkell is mainly concentrated in the provinces of Ontario and Manitoba; it is also present in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Quebec.
Although the current population of individuals with the last name Unkell is not particularly large, it is possible that the name originated from a larger population that has since dispersed. Alternatively, the name Unkell may be descended from multiple sources, and current records may have focussed on one particular source or subset of the population.
Variations of the surname Unkell
The surname Unkell is an uncommon name, originating from the Old English surname Angell. Variations, spellings and surnames of the same origin include: Unkle, Unckel, Ankle, Ankil, Ankle, Ankell, Enkele, Unkel, and Angil.
The surname Unkel is found primarily in England, France, Scotland, and Germany. It likely developed when a person's name was adapted to their surrounding language and culture. For example, the Angil sounding form of Unkel is most likely derived from the Old English for "angel".
Unkel is also found as a surname in several other countries, particularly those with a history of immigration from the United Kingdom. Variations of the name can be found in the United States, Canada, Australia, and more.
Variants of Unkell such as Unkle, Unckel, Ankle, Ankil, Ankell and Enkele may originate from a phonetic spelling of the original, or perhaps from corruptions of the original used as a nickname. Additionally, some of these variants could derive from Scandinavian languages, where similar sounding words exist.
In summary, the surname Unkell has a variety of spellings, variations, and surnames of the same origin, including Unkle, Unckel, Ankle, Ankil, Ankell, Enkele, and Angil. These spellings may have originated from phonetic spellings, corruptions of the original, or other languages.
Famous people with the name Unkell
- Bruce Unkell: American film and television actor
- Charley Unkell: American football player
- Rob Unkell: Australian Rugby League player
- Syd Unkel: Canadian ice hockey coach
- Sammy Unkel: American basketball player
- Jack Unterweger: legendary Austrian serial killer
- Henry Unkel: German painter, engraver, and etcher
- Robert Unkel: German politician and mayor of Erlangen
- Anton Unkel: Austrian artist, lithographer, and bookplate designer
- Doris Unkel: German actress and singer