Surname Göpel - Meaning and Origin

Göpel: What does the surname Göpel mean?

Göpel is a German surname which originated in Bavaria. It is derived from a Middle High German word 'Gōpol', which in turn is derived from the Old High German word 'gōpolt'. This Old High German word is composed of two parts: 'Gōp' meaning 'goods' and 'polt' meaning 'holders or ownership/protection'.

The Göpel family is believed to have been a prominent family for many generations. The name was first recorded in Bavaria in the 12th century, when a Baron named Appolonia Von Göpel owned a large estate in the area. By the 16th century, the Göpels had become well-established, and many of them had risen to prominence in both the military and political circles.

In later times the family maintained its position of prestige, with Göpels taking on various roles in important fields such as engineering, science, banking, and education. The Göpels also had strong connections to the royal family, and many of its members worked for the Kaiser.

Today, the Göpel name is still held in respect as a noble name. It is associated with strength, courage, intelligence, and loyalty. It intimates qualities of responsibility, authority and dependability – characteristics that are so important in any successful endeavor.

Göpel: Where does the name Göpel come from?

The last name Göpel is most common in Germany today. Although the exact origins of the name are unclear, it is likely derived from the Middle High German word "gopal," or "goepel," which means "angry," "angry demeanour" and "rough terrain."

In the late 19th century, Göpel was predominately found in the eastern parts of Prussia and Saxony, specifically in the town of Zicher where there was a large population of people of Jewish descent. However, with the events of the twentieth century, the Göpel family spread to all parts of Germany.

Recent statistics from the year 2014 show that Göpel is the eighteenth most common last name in all of Germany with over 35,000 people bearing the name. It is particularly common in the states of Saxony and Brandenburg, with the highest proportions of Göpels found in the cities of Berlin (15,461 bearers of the name) and Brandenburg (12,968).

Though relatively popular in the country today, the Göpels remain a close-knit family, often reaching out to support each other and coming together to celebrate distinct family achievements or commemorate a lost loved one.

The Göpels can also be found in other parts of the world today, such as the Netherlands, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and even the United States.

Variations of the surname Göpel

The surname Göpel has several variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. The most common variant is Goepel, but there are several other spellings, including Gopal, Gopel, Gopell, Gopelll, Gopelman, Gopelmann, Goppel, Goppelmann, Güpel, Keppel, Köppel, and Kopel.

Göpel is likely to be a German locational name derived from a location called Güpel which is found in the Hesse region of Germany. The name may have originally referred to a person who lived near the village of Güpel. Spelling variations are common due to regional dialects and because surnames were often altered when immigrants from Europe came to America.

Gopal is an Indian variant, which is common amongst Hindus, and is derived from the Sanskrit name “Govinda” which means “protector”. It is likely that the name was adopted by immigrant families during the 19th century.

Goppel is most likely derived from the Middle High German word “gebrizzel” which means “lnitially defeated man” or “branch”. This was likely a name given to a person who had lost a battle or had a branch of his genealogical tree end at him.

Köppel is a German variant which originally referred to a baker or one who plaits baskets. It is derived from the Middle High German word “Koffe” which means “basket.”

Güpel is the original German variant, and is derived from the village of Güpel. This was likely a name given to people who lived in the village or surrounding area.

Keppel is also likely German in origin and derived from the Middle High German word “keppelaere” which refers to a kind of cloth, dye or color used in weaving.

Overall, the surname Göpel has many variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. These variants and surnames may have originally been used to denote someone from a specific region, occupation, or branch of a family tree.

Famous people with the name Göpel

• Karl Göpel (1793–1854): German architect who is best known for his neo-Gothic church and bell tower on the Collegiate Church in Wolfenbüttel.
• Johann Wilhelm Göpel (1765–1825): German biologist and doctor. He is credited with coining the term "protozoa" and was one of the first to recognize the importance of germs in the spread of diseases.
• Alfred Göpel (1815–1873): German politician who served as a senator of the Independent City-State of Hamburg from 1848 to 1870.
• Jürgen Göpel (b.1956): German lawyer and businessman who is the former Managing Partner of the international law firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and former Chairman of the Board of Sixt AG.
• Gustave Göpel (1819-1891): Swiss entrepreneur and industrial pioneer. He was the founder of the Swiss Federal factories, which was the first industrial production enterprise in Switzerland.
• Ernst Göpel (1853–1931): German barrister and co-founder of the non-profit legal consulting service called the “Association of German Judges.”
• Hermann Göpel (1848–1909): German engineer and entrepreneur who founded an engineering firm in 1873 called “Göpel-Maschinenbau” and played a key role in the German machine tool industry.
• Stephan Göpel (b.1964): German professor of business economics. He is the author of numerous books and articles on the subjects of corporate sustainability, energy management, environmental engineering, and corporate financing.
• Andreas Göpel (b.1962): German entrepreneur who is the founder and CEO of the Göpel Group, a high-tech service provider that specializes in laser engineering and industrial automation.
• Viktor Göpel (b.1921): German poet and visual artist. He is best known for his series of drawings entitled “Göpel’s Progress”, which depicts mythological scenes and the human condition.

Other surnames

Göpelt