Surname Bockel - Meaning and Origin
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Bockel: What does the surname Bockel mean?
The last name Bockel is of German origin. It is derived from the Middle High German "bok", meaning "heifer, cow" or "ox". This indicates that the initial bearer of the name may have been an animal herder or rancher in the area.
In German, Bockel means "bull" or "ox". It can also refer to someone who is brave or strong-willed, perhaps capable of taking control of a difficult situation.
In Germany, Bockel is a fairly common surname. There are many associated spellings, such as Buckel, Bockle, and Bokel. It can be found throughout Germany, although its prevalence is higher in the northern regions.
The Bockel family in Germany can trace their roots to at least the 15th century. Its earliest known bearer was Dethlef Bockel, who lived in Karnin, Mecklenburg in the 15th century. Since then, the family has spread throughout the country, with many prominent members having achieved high ranks in politics and business.
Given its German origin, the last name Bockel is most commonly used in Germany. However, in recent decades it has also spread to other countries, including the United States, Australia, and Canada. Such international spread has further highlighted the power and strength of this name, which stands for courage, fortitude, and effectiveness.
Order DNA origin analysisBockel: Where does the name Bockel come from?
The last name Bockel is most commonly associated with Germany. It is estimated that approximately 2,150 people in Germany today carry the name Bockel. Most of these individuals are located in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, one of the sixteen states of Germany. Many Bockels also live in neighboring states, such as Bavaria, Hesse, Lower Saxony, and Saxony-Anhalt. Outside of Germany, there are small concentrations of people with the Bockel surname in Austria, the United States, and Brazil.
Though the origin of the name is uncertain, researchers believe that it likely originated from the old German word “bockel” that means “swampy ground.” This suggests that those who first carried the name may once have lived close to marshy areas.
Interestingly, a number of well-known individuals carry the last name Bockel, including a German politician, a German-born American doctor, and a Brazilian engineer. Despite its relatively small size, the Bockel family is known to have a long and fascinating history.
Variations of the surname Bockel
The surname Bockel has a variety of spellings, variants, and surnames of the same origin. Bockel is traditionally of German origin and is believed to be derived from the medieval German word bochel, meaning ‘a short and stout person’.
The most common spelling of the Bockel surname is Bockl, with a double “c”, however it can also be spelled with only one “c” or "k", resulting in the surnames Bokl or Bökl. Other variations include Bockels, Böckels, Bock jokes, Böckles, Bocklet, Bockal, and Bockley, as well as their derivatives Boeckel, Boeckl, Boeckel and Böckl.
The related surnames Buckel, Buckle, Büchel, Buckels, Bückle, and Bückler are derived from the same German root, though all have a slightly different meaning or variant spelling. Buckel, for example, is derived from the German word buechel meaning ‘a round hill’, while Buchler is a variation of Büchel, from the German word meaning ‘a person from the town of Buchel’.
The Dutch version of the name is Boekhout, which is believed to derive from a Dutch word meaning ‘a large and thick tree’. Other variants include Bocholt, Bocholtz, Bochmann and Buckheuer, as well as Freiherr-von Bockel, Bocklohn and Bockloff.
It is also possible to find the Bockel surname with Slavic spelling and various Slavic surnames, such as Bogel, Bogal, Bogoliubov and Boglomov, though the origin of these is uncertain.
In some cases, surnames with the same or similar spelling may not be related at all to the Bockel surname, such as the spelling Backle possibly being derived from the Scottish word buchaille, which means ‘holding back’.
Famous people with the name Bockel
- Robert Bockel: former professional football player in Germany.
- Hugo Bockel: French athlete and swimmer.
- Sigrid Bockel: German actress who appeared in films such as “Central Airport” and “The King’s Spring Grotto”.
- Manfred Bockel: Former professional Dutch footballer who played for clubs such as FC Twente and SC Heerenveen.
- Viridiana Bockel: Mexican actress and producer known for her roles in Allá en el Rancho Grande and Ciudadano Buelna.
- Hans Bockel: German entrepreneur and entrepreneur who founded the Bockel GmbH company in 1958.
- Gilbert Bockel: Swiss politician who was a member of the Federal Council from 1993 to 2001.
- Erika Bockel: German swimmer who was the multiple-time national champion.
- Lee Bockel: American fashion designer who is the founder of the label Woven Planet.
- Marie-Claude Bockel: French politician who was a member of the National Assembly from 2007 to 2017.