Surname Zächel - Meaning and Origin
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Zächel: What does the surname Zächel mean?
The last name Zächel is a variant spelling of the German surname Zache, which is derived from a Germanic given name beginning with “zac”, such as Zacharias or Zacheaus. The root of these names is the Hebrew Zacchaeus, meaning “pure” or “righteous”. As a family name, Zächel more likely describes those who are “righteous”, “pure” or religious.
The name is first recorded in East Prussia in the early 1600s. Over the centuries, the spelling of Zächel has been slightly altered. Today the most common spelling is Zache, while variant spellings include Zackel, Zäckl, Zäckle, Zächl, Zächel, Zächle and Zäcklin.
The name Zächel is quite rare. It is found mostly in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and the Netherlands. Those who bear the name Zächel could be of German, Dutch or Jewish descent.
Those with the last name Zächel are known to be loyal, disciplined people who value hard work. They are often described as level headed and level hearted, and are often looked to as advisors and mediators in times of discord.
Today, those with the surname Zächel are widely dispersed throughout Europe and the Americas. The name lives on in a multitude of forms and all those who bear the name Zächel are proud of their Germanic heritage.
Order DNA origin analysisZächel: Where does the name Zächel come from?
The last name Zächel is most common today in the German-speaking countries of Germany, Austria, and Liechtenstein. It is also present in other European countries such as Switzerland, Italy, and Luxembourg. Zächel is a fairly uncommon name, but not unheard of.
The origin of the last name Zächel is largely unknown. It is thought that it could have been derived from Zech, a German and Dutch diminutive form of Zacharias (the biblical name derived from the Hebrew “Zachar”, meaning Fame/Remembrance of God). It is also possible that this name could have been derived from zeichen, the German word for “sign” or “marker”.
The majority of Zächel families in Germany are scattered throughout the western part of the country, concentrated in the states of North Rhine-Westphalia and Bavaria. In Austria, the name is most common in the states of Burgenland and Vienna. The name can also be found in other parts of the world, including the United States, Canada, and South America.
Due to the rarity of the name, there are likely to be fewer than 1,000 Zächel families worldwide, making it an interesting, if uncommon, last name.
Variations of the surname Zächel
The surname Zächel is of German origin, deriving from the Middle High German root word "zachen" meaning "to saw, cut or chop wood". As a result, alternate spellings, variants, and surnames of the same origin may involve variations of the consonant and vowel sounds as well as additional letters.
The most common variant would be Zechel or Zehel, which is a slightly simplified version of the standard spelling Zächel. Variants like Zache, Zech, Zel, Zell, Zelg, and Zelle are also used.
In rarer cases, surnames of related origins may sound similar or have the same origin. Some examples include Zechlin, Zechling, Zeckel, Zukowski, and even Zacharias. As with any surname of German origin, the spelling may sometimes change within the same family due to a variety of reasons, including phonetic spelling alterations and adoption of a different spelling for ease of pronunciation.
Additionally, there are many surnames derived from other sources that may share similar sounds and spellings, such as Säckel, Szögel, Sackel, and Sägel. It is also possible that the surname Zächel may have derived from a family's place of origin, such as a town named Zächel or a region named Zäche.
The broad range of potential spellings and variants of the surname Zächel make it interesting to trace its history and origins.
Famous people with the name Zächel
- Gudrun Zächel: German political scientist
- Peter Zächel: Austrian writer
- Alexander Zächel: German bass-baritone opera singer
- Agnes Zächel: Austrian writer
- Rosemarie Zächel: German feminist theologian
- Johannes Zächel: German saxophonist
- Martina Zächel: Austrian singer
- Horst Zächel: former Austrian professional football player
- Martin Zächel: German banker
- Wieland Zächel: German artist