Surname Goethel - Meaning and Origin
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Goethel: What does the surname Goethel mean?
Goethel is a German surname. It derives from the German words göt (God) and hel (event), which means God has had an event. The Goethel family name is thought to have been used by a single family near or around the city of Hamburg, Germany during the 17th century. The Goethel surname was a very popular surname in the German-speaking regions of Europe at this time, and would have been used by other families since then.
The Goethel family name is associated with the religious customs and beliefs of the Protestant Reformation. The Protestant Reformation had a significant influence in shaping German culture, including the adoption of many Protestant surnames such as the Goethel family. It was through this means that the Goethel surname was spread across Europe.
Today, the Goethel surname is seen in many countries, including the United States. In the United States, the Goethel name can typically be found among individuals of German or Dutch descent. It is also a popular surname among many other ethnicities as a result of immigration from Europe.
The Goethel name has a deep religious and cultural relevance to many people, and it is a testament to the powerful influence of the Protestant Reformation. Although the exact origin of the name has been lost over time, it has come to represent a strong connection to German-speaking culture and faith.
Order DNA origin analysisGoethel: Where does the name Goethel come from?
The last name Goethel is most commonly found in Europe, particularly in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. In Germany, records show the name appearing as early as the 13th century in the Berlin area. Peak concentrations of the name Goethel exist in Bavaria. The largest city in Bavaria, Munich, is the most common source of the name. In Austria, it is estimated that up to 400 people still bear the name Goethel, with the majority living in the capital Vienna.
In Switzerland, the most popular location for Goethels is in the canton of Schwyz. Austrian records show that the name Goethel was frequently found in East Tyrol, but since 1945, has become increasingly rare. In France, records of the name appear around the same time, again concentrated near the German border.
Throughout its history, the last name Goethel has seen several variations, including Göthel, Goetel, Goethal, Goethell, Goetal, Göthel, and Goetheller. In the United States, the name Goethel can be found as early as the 15th century in records from New York City, suggesting German immigrants in that area played a large role in its propagation.
In the US today, Ancestry.com’s records states that the name Goethel is most common in the mid-west, mainly in Missouri, Illinois, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. However, it can also be found scattered around other parts of the US, primarily in areas with large German-American populations.
Variations of the surname Goethel
The surname Goethel is of German origin and has many different variants, spellings, and surnames. Some of the variants of Goethel include Göthel, Goethels, Götzel, Götzl, Gettles, Götzle, Güthel, Gützel and Goetzl.
Goethel is derived from the old German first name “Göde” which means “God’s servant”. The spelling of the surname evolved over time to its modern-day spelling, which is with two ‘t’s. It is believed the variations of the surname evolved from the German region in the north of Germany, particularly in the area around Hamburg, Bremen and Mecklenburg.
As well as its spellings in Germany, Goethel has several surnames from other countries that share the same origin. These include Gotels, Gotles, Gotzels, Godles, Gotzels, and Gotzles from Lithuania, and also Gątals and Gąstals from Poland.
The surname is now quite widespread around the world, particularly in Europe and North America. For example, the majority of the Goetzl family living in the USA are descended from a soldier who immigrated from Bremen, Germany to Pennsylvania in the late 1800s. The Götzel (or Gotzels) family were also amongst the first German immigrants to South Africa in the 1850s.
It is clear to see there are many different variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin as Goethel. This demonstrates how the surname has evolved and been adapted over time.
Famous people with the name Goethel
- Gustav Goethel (composer, pianist, and organist, known for his Choral Fantasy in C Minor).
- Celina Goethel (member of the Wisconsin State Assembly).
- Walter Goethel (German Olympic bobsledder).
- Kurt Goethel (professional footballer).
- Robert Goethel (American politician).
- Johannes Goethel (German sculptor, known for his sculptures of Hölderlin and Luther).
- Helmut Goethel (German molecular biologist and an emeritus professor at the Leibniz Institute for Age Research).
- Jennifer Goethel (American writer and author of the sci-fi/romance novel, Forsaken).
- Monika Goethel (German rower, who competed in the women's quadruple sculls event at the 2000 Summer Olympics).
- Geoff Goethel (American professional golfer).