Surname Hörnel - Meaning and Origin
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Hörnel: What does the surname Hörnel mean?
The last name Hörnel is a German surname derived from the Old German term for “horn” and likely originated from an ancestor who had either physical horns or was an instrument-maker. The term “horn” is derived from the Proto-Germanic term driedo meaning “durable” which likely referred to the sound of a musical horn.
The use of Hörnel as a surname dates back to the Middle Ages when many occupational surnames were armorial bearings indicating a profession or social class. This surname likely indicated that the person holding it was a musician or instrument-maker.
Hörnel is still relatively common as a surname in Germany today, with large concentrations in the states of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg. The name can also be found throughout other parts of Europe, such as Austria and Switzerland, and some people bearing this name have even migrated to the United States in search of economic opportunity.
The name Hörnel carries a strong connection to German history and culture. It indicates a professional history of working with brass instruments and can also serve to pass down a love for music over generations.
Order DNA origin analysisHörnel: Where does the name Hörnel come from?
The surname Hörnel is of German origin and is commonly found in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, and other German-speaking regions. The surname is believed to have originated from "Hornetal", which is an old German word meaning "valley of the hornets". The name was probably given to people who lived or worked near a forest or a meadow where hornets were plentiful.
Just like other German surnames, the Hörnel surname is most prevalent in Germany, where it is the 2,897th most common surname. In Austria, the Hörnel surname is 6,441st most common, in Switzerland, it is 5,797th most common, and in the Netherlands it is the 2,337th most common.
Outside of German-speaking regions, the surname is much rarer. In France, it's the 13,425th most common surname, in the US, it's the 22,617th most common, in England and Wales, it's the 23,804th most common, and in Canada, it's the 11,452nd most common. It's also present in Scandinavian countries like Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.
The Hörnel surname is a reminder of the cultural and historical ties between German-speaking countries and other parts of Europe. The surname is a reminder of the shared history and culture of people from regions around the world.
Variations of the surname Hörnel
Hörnel is a German surname that is a spelling variant of the name Hornel. Variants in Germany include the forms Hörnle, Hornle, Hornel, and Hornell. It is also found in other German-speaking countries such as Austria, Switzerland, and the Netherlands, where it is spelled Horneel.
The Dutch spelling Hornel is the most common variant of the surname outside of Germany. It is present in the Netherlands and Belgium, in addition to the countries with German-speaking populations.
The smallest version of Hörnel is the single-letter form, which is found in Germany and Austria. It occurs especially in southern Germany, and means the same thing as the longer form. In Belgium, a variant spelling of this is spelled as Hoernel, Hornel and Hornell.
There are other variants of the Hörnel surname derived from it, including Hörnbl, Hornblo, Hornblom, Hornbrock, Hornbeck, Hornecker, Hornberger, and Hornbacher. These are mostly found in German-speaking countries. In Rheinland Pfalz, Germany, there is the spelling Ährenel.
In the United States, Hörnel is found in its longer variant as Hornel, and in the spelling variant Ornell. In England, the surname is found as Hornlee, Hornell, and Ornel.
Overall, there are various versions of the Hörnel surname around the world. Each variation is an adaptation to specific countries, also taking into account countries’ individual languages.
Famous people with the name Hörnel
- Max von Hörnel: German actor, best known for his performance in the 1942 movie Himmlers Verbrechen.
- Robert Hörnel: Swiss musician and composer. He was a major contributor to neo-classical music.
- Christian Hörnel: German architect, best known for his contribution to the restoration of the city of Berlin after World War II.
- Martha Hörnel: Austrian journalist, best known for her reporting of the political situation in the early 1900s.
- Eulalia Hörnel: Austrian opera singer, best known for her starring role in the 1874 operetta Ahasuerus.
- Ferdinand Hörnel: German painter, best known for his luminous landscapes.
- Ludwig Hörnel: Austrian diplomat and statesman, responsible for several major treaties with foreign powers during the 19th century.
- Sebastian Hörnel: German sculptor, best known for his works depicting Classical and Baroque themes.
- Joachim Hörnel: German playwright and dramatist, best known for his dramas set in Medieval and Renaissance Europe.
- Eva Hörnel: German poet, best known for her lyrical odes to nature and her love of life.