Surname Jekeli - Meaning and Origin
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Jekeli: What does the surname Jekeli mean?
The last name Jekeli is an occupational surname originating from the Yiddish language. It was a fairly common last name amongst Jews living in Eastern-European countries such as Poland, Lithuania, Ukraine, and Belarus. The literal translation of the word Jekeli is 'innkeeper', and was given to those who tended inns and lodges.
It is known that some of the earliest Jekeli's began their profession as innkeepers in the 13th century. It was a respectable profession that at the time was given the authority to register and sell beer, wine, spirits, and other non-alcoholic beverages such as milk and water.
Inns and lodges were central to the Jewish community because as well as selling refreshments, they often also served as meeting places, training grounds for apprentices, and general places for the community to gather.
Jekeli's were typically well-respected members of the Jewish community, as they often had great influence in their towns. They used their influence to help protect their community and provided a safe place for Jews to stay when in need.
Today, Jekeli remains an uncommon and unique last name. Those who have the surname Jekeli might feel a sense of honour for the generations before them who contributed to the Jewish culture by being innkeepers and entrepreneurs.
Order DNA origin analysisJekeli: Where does the name Jekeli come from?
The last name Jekeli is a fairly uncommon name today and does not appear in any major English databases. It appears to be most concentrated around Hungary and the surrounding areas, though due to the lack of an accompanying first name it is difficult to track the concentrations in more specific locations.
Jekeli is a Hungarian name, appearing in Hungarian records as early as 1618. It is likely that the family origins date back to the formation of the country in the late ninth century. Other surrounding countries also share the same name, such as Czechia, Serbia, and Romania, suggesting the family may have at one time branched out from Hungary.
Jekeli appears to be mostly a surname associated with Hungary, though there are a few exceptions. In the United States, there are a few people with the name Jekeli, some of whom are the descendants of people that emigrated from Hungary sometime after the 1800s. As of 2020, the last name Jekeli is extremely rare, and is unlikely to become more popular anytime soon.
Variations of the surname Jekeli
The surname Jekeli is of Jewish origin and is found in many families throughout Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East. It is a common surname in countries with large Jewish populations such as Hungary, Slovakia, Israel, and the United States. It may also be spelled Jeckel, Jekeles, Jakli, Yeckel, and Yakli. It is also an anglicized spelling of the Germanic name Jäkel.
Jekeli is an alternate spelling or variant of the surname Yakli, which is a Hebrew name meaning “precious” or “valuable”. The Yakli spelling is more often used in Sephardic families, while Jekeli is more common in Ashkenazi families.
The Anglosized form of Jekeli is Jakle, which is found as a surname in some parts of the United States, particularly among the descendants of Ashkenazic immigrants. It is also found as a given name in some English-speaking countries.
Other similar variants of the Jekeli surname include Jekelovits and Jokelowitz, which are both anglicized versions of the original German form Jäkel. The German version is still in use today in some German-speaking countries. It is also common among Jewish families from Hungary and Slovakia.
The surname Jekeli may also be found with other variants such as Jakle, Yakli, Jeckel, Jokelowitz, Jekelovits, as well as a variety of anglicized spellings. No matter which spelling is used, these surnames all share the same origin and are found among both Ashkenazic and Sephardic Jewish families.
Famous people with the name Jekeli
1.Carol Jekeli, an American scholar of depth psychology and Jungian thought. 2.Laura Jekel, an American author, speaker, and self-help coach. 3.Tomasz Jekeli, a Polish actor, producer, and director. 4.Robert Jekeli, an American musician, composer and producer. 5.Kathy Jekeli, an American children's entertainer and author. 6.Mary Ann Jekeli, an American writer, director, and producer. 7.Gustavo Jekeli, an Argentinian film director. 8.Kirk Jekeli, an American fashion photographer. 9.Nick Jekeli, an American college professor and actor. 10.David Jekeli, a Hungarian writer and novelist. 11.Joanne Jekeli, an American author and children's book illustrator. 12.Vincent Jekeli, an American photographer and photojournalist. 13.Philip Jekeli, an American journalist, editor, and film producer. 14.Matt Jekeli, an American singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. 15.Fritz Jekeli, an Austrian journalist and writer. 16.Danny Jekeli, an American actor and screenwriter. 17.Alexander Jekeli, a German musical conductor. 18.Gerrit Jekeli, a Dutch politician and lawyer. 19.Lilia Jekeli, a Bulgarian fashion designer. 20.John Jekeli, an American visual effects artist.