Surname Goebels - Meaning and Origin
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Goebels: What does the surname Goebels mean?
The last name Goebels is of German origin and is most likely derived from the medieval German name Gabel, meaning “goat”. It most likely first appeared in Silesia during the 12th century. In the 20th century, it is most notably associated with Nazi propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels.
The name Goebbels is prevelant among German-speaking countries such as Austria, Germany, and Switzerland. According to surname databases, as of 2015, there were nearly 10,000 people with the surname Goebbels living in Germany.
The first known bearer of the name was Johann Gottlieb Goebels, who was mentioned in the town records of Spedge in 1664. There are several other variants of the name, such as Goepel, Goeppelt, Goebel, Goebeler, and Gobels.
Goebels was a powerful figure in Nazi Germany, and under his regime, propaganda was used to stir up support for the Nazi party and spread their ideas. Though he was influential, his actions have been met with considerable condemnation for their role in promoting bigotry and hatred.
Today, the last name Goebels is still relatively common in German-speaking countries, but its association with Joseph Goebbels makes it a less desirable name in many parts of the world.
Order DNA origin analysisGoebels: Where does the name Goebels come from?
The last name Goebels is primarily found in Germany today. It is a relatively common name in German-speaking countries, with the highest concentration of the name occurring in the Rhineland-Palatinate region of Germany.
It is believed that the Goebels surname originated in the northern area of Germany, in the Middle Ages. The name has German origins and is derived from the German word Goebel, meaning “good” or “blessed.”
Despite being a common surname in Germany, the name Goebels is not found in significant numbers beyond German-speaking countries. In the United States, the surname Goebels is currently found in small numbers, and is most concentrated in Pennsylvania.
Outside of German-speaking countries, the surname Goebels is rarely used. Although the name might still be encountered in some other parts of Europe, the last name is far from as popular as it is in its original homeland, Germany.
Therefore, the name Goebels is currently most prominently associated with Germany, where it is still relatively common. Goebels is an old German name that originated during the Middle Ages and continues to be found in German-speaking countries to this day.
Variations of the surname Goebels
The surname Goebels is a German-origin name, and is derived from the Dutch surname Gebel, meaning 'a Goë or Governor'. Variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin include; Goebel, Goeble, Goebble, Goebelmann, Göbel, Göble, Gubel, Gübel, Guebel, Gebelmann and Gebelman.
The Goebels surname is primarily found in Switzerland, the United States, Germany, Austria, and South Africa. It has also been at times confused with the German-origin surname Göbel, one of its variants. Historically, the surname Goebels was first used in the 1400s, in Germany and Austria.
The spelling of the Goebels surname varies greatly, and an early Americanized form of it was Gobbel. It was equally common for the Goebels to be recorded as Gebels or Gebel. Occasionally, the first letter may have been omitted, so Goebles would sometimes appear as 'Oebles' or ' Ebles.'
In some cases, the Goebels surname was also altered into a patronymic form such as Goebelsohn or Goebelson. In southern Germany and Austria it was sometimes recorded as Goebelt or Goebelhart. In the Dutch Netherlands variant, the surname was often rendered as 'Gebel' or 'Goeble.' In some cases, the German-origin surname was Anglicized and changed to 'Goole.'
Finally, the German family names Goebel and Gobel both appear as a prominent name in the United States. Creative spelling variations of this family name include Gebelmann, Gebelman, Goebelman, Goebelmann, Goebels, Goebel, Goeble, Goebble, Gobbel, Gubel, Guebel, Gebel, Göbel and Göble.
Famous people with the name Goebels
- Joseph Goebbels: Minister of Propaganda in Nazi Germany during World War II.
- Hugo Goebbels: German physician and ophthalmologist.
- Franz Goebbels: German industrialist and entrepreneur.
- Magda Goebbels: Wife of Joseph Goebbels and a prominent member of the Nazi Party.
- Karl-Heinz Goebbels: German pianist.
- Heiner Goebbels: German composer.
- Petra Goebbels: German long jumper.
- Lutz Goebbels: German composer, conductor and educator.
- Dermot Goebbels: American stage actor.
- T. A. Goebbels: American politician and lawyer.