Surname Pürkel - Meaning and Origin
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Pürkel: What does the surname Pürkel mean?
The last name Pürkel is a German surname, originating from the German word ‘pür’ which is a variant of ‘pur’ meaning ‘pure’ or ‘clean’. This root word likely denoted someone known for their particularly clean habits or someone who made their living as a cleaner or technician dealing with chemical cleaning substances. Alternatively, it could have been a nickname for someone of particularly fair complexion or character.
The ‘kel’ element of the name is derived from the German word ‘kel’, meaning ‘fence’ or ‘enclosure’. This could indicate that an early ancestor of this name may have lived near a prominent fence or fortification, or perhaps provided services related to fences such as erected, maintained, or repaired them.
The evolution of the name Pürkel is a result of regional accent and spelling variation. It is usually found in Lower Saxony, near the Netherlands border. The earliest citation for the name in that region was from 1760 in the Dictionary of German Names. The earliest known Pürkel descendant is Jacob Pürkel, who lived on the small estate of Pohrsdorf from 1763-1800.
Today, both Pürkel and its variants Purkel, Pürkle, Pürklemann, Peerkel, and Peerkels can be found in many parts of Germany and surrounding areas of Europe.
Order DNA origin analysisPürkel: Where does the name Pürkel come from?
The last name Pürkel is a German name originating from North West Germany. It is most common in that region today, especially in the state of Lower Saxony, as well as the neighboring German states, such as Rhineland-Palatinate and North Rhine-Westphalia. It is also common in neighbour Luxembourg, as well as other parts of Europe, such as Poland, France, Austria and Switzerland.
There are also immigrant populations of the Pürkel name in a few other areas of the world, such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, and South Africa. In the US, cities like Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York have small Pürkel populations.
The name Pürkel can also be found across the globe within the German diaspora. It is particularly common in North and South American countries such as the United States, Argentina, Chile, and Brazil, as well as Mexico, India, Algeria, and Israel.
In all these places, the one thing that is clear is that the Pürkel name has been passed down through generations and is still a strong and vibrant part of German culture. As such, it is likely to continue to be passed down through the generations, and can be seen as a symbol of pride and tradition.
Variations of the surname Pürkel
Pürkel is a surname of German origin. Different variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin can be found throughout Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and other areas of Europe.
The most common spelling of the Pürkel surname is Purkel. Other spellings include Pörkel and Puerkl. For families of Dutch origin, the surname may be seen spelled as Poerkel, Poerkelman, Puerkel, Puerkelman, Terkel, Terkelman, and Torkelman.
Variants of the surname are also found in other parts of Europe. In Poland, the surname is spelled Perkel and Piorkel. In Russia, it is usually spelled as Burkel and Pürkel, while in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, it is seen as Perkel or Perkles. In Hungary, the surname is written as Pürffel, Pürkel, and Perkle.
The surnames Borle, Boerkel, Porkel, Pörkle, and Purkle are also variants of the Pürkel surname. Other surnames of the same origin include Parks, Porkl, Burkl, Birkle, and Perkles.
Famous people with the name Pürkel
- Olivia Pürkel: German actress, known for Milly's Adventures (2018) and Wir (2014).
- Christina Pürkel: German TV presenter, known for ZIBb (2004–05) and SAT.1 News (2001–03).
- Lasse Pürkel: German ice hockey player who currently plays for the Krefelder EV in the DEL2.
- Jutta Pürkel: German nun and author, also known as Sister Jutta.
- Juliana Pürkel: German actress, known for Luise Will (2015-16) and Valentina (2019).
- Julius Pürkel: German lawyer and politician, member of the Reform Union, founder of the non-profit organization "Recht-Er-Klärte".
- Hannah Pürkel: German athlete, 2016 European Silver medalist in hammer throw.
- Leif Pürkel: Swedish media executive and entrepreneur, former CEO of Vizrt.
- Glen Pürkel: American reality TV personality, known for The Bachelor series.
- Berthold Pürkel: Austrian professional footballer, who played for both Austria and Yugoslavia.