Surname Pleuel - Meaning and Origin
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Pleuel: What does the surname Pleuel mean?
The last name Pleuel originated in Germany, where it is generally presumed to be derived from the German words for "treasure" and "bull". The name is believed to have been taken by a family of nobility who once lived in Bavaria during medieval times.
The Pleuel family were believed to be the owners of a large estate, and as such were likely to have been wealthy. The significance of the name itself lies in the combination of the words: "ple" and "uel". "Ple" is derived from the German word "plegen", which translates roughly to "to store" or "to gather". On the other hand, "uel" is derived from the German word "uelle", which means "bull". As such, the name Pleuel could be interpreted to mean something along the lines of a "treasure bull" – a person who is in possession of a large, valuable estate.
Nowadays, the surname Pleuel is still found in Germany and in other countries around the world. It is generally considered to be a relatively rare name, due to its relatively exclusive roots. Despite this, it is still meaningful to those who bear the name – as a symbol of the accumulated wealth and prosperity that their ancestors were able to achieve over centuries of hard work and dedication.
Order DNA origin analysisPleuel: Where does the name Pleuel come from?
The last name Pleuel is currently most common in Germany and the surrounding region. According to records from the Deutsche Digitale Bibliothek (DDB), Pleuel is the 1,888th most popular name in Germany with approximately 7,943 people bearing that name. In Switzerland, it is ranked even higher with 6,420 people being recorded as having the last name Pleuel in 2019.
This name has a long history in Europe, with records dating back as early as the 16th century. During the 19th century, a particular branch of the Pleuel family established roots in Alsace, France, where it remained until 1945. Following World War II, the Pleuel family migrated primarily to Germany, which is where the name is concentrated most today.
The vast majority of those carrying the last name Pleuel today are descended from the original European Pleuel family, though it is possible that some individuals with this last name come from other lineages. Pleuel has also spread to many countries across the globe, including the United States, Canada, Australia, South Africa, Brazil, and other countries in Latin America.
Variations of the surname Pleuel
The surname Pleuel is an Alsatian-French name derived from the Old German personal name “Pfiel”. It is also a modern form of the much older Picard name “Pluel”, which dates back to the 13th century.
Variants of the surname Pleuel include Plessel, Prill, Plyel, Plül, Plühl, Plyl, Plöhl, Playel, Pleüel, Plüel and Plöel.
Spellings of the surname Pleuel include Pleul, Pleulle, Pleull, Pleullel, Pleullet, Pleulles, Pleullette, Plüel, Plüelmann, Plyel, Plüelen and Ploeel.
Common surnames with the same origin include Pfiel, Pilo, Plül, Plühl, Plöhl, Plyel, Pleüel, Prill, Plessel and Pleuelmann.
In southeastern Europe, the surname Pleuel can also be found in its variations such as Plesnic, Plesnić, Plesniković, Pliesnik, Pliesnikowski, Pljesniković, Pljesnić and Plesnik.
In Germany, variants of the name Pleuel include Ploog, Ploogel, Plögel, Ploemann, Plömann, Plögt and Plögge.
In America, the surname Pleuel is usually spelled Plow, Plowman and Plowmann.
Finally, in France, the surname is spelled Prill, Prilleux, Prillot and Prillier.
Famous people with the name Pleuel
- Karl Pleuel: A German engineer who patented the first internal combustion engine in 1888.
- Günther Pleuel: A German racecar driver and engineer who raced in the German Grand Prix and the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
- Agathe von Pleuel: An Austrian actress who starred in the film The Blue Angel and won an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film for her performance.
- Christa Pleuel-Rückert: A German Olympic basketball player who competed in the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona.
- Martin Pleuel: A German composer, conductor, and opera director.
- Karl Otto Pleuel: A German journalist and editor-in-chief of the Rheinische Zeitung.
- Christian Schüler Pleuel: A German business executive and managing director of Lufthansa.
- Hans Pleuel: A German entrepreneur and founder of the InterHygienic company.
- Alfred Pleuel: A German astrophysicist and founding director of the Max Planck Institute for Astrophysics.
- Ulrich Pleuel: A German geneticist and emeritus professor at the University of Munich.