Surname Terkel - Meaning and Origin

Terkel: What does the surname Terkel mean?

The last name Terkel is most prominently associated with Jewish ancestry. It is derived from the Yiddish personal name "Turkel", which is a diminutive form of the word "turk", referring to the Turkic people of Central Asia. Historically, European Jews often gave their children names referencing far-flung ethnic groups or nationalities. The name might suggest characteristics associated with these people, typically as a sort of protective charm. Hence, the surname Terkel can be seen to carry an ethnic identification in a cultural and historical context. The most famous bearer of the name is probably the American author, historian, and broadcaster Studs Terkel.

Terkel: Where does the name Terkel come from?

The last name Terkel is most commonly found today in Israel and the United States. In the United States, the name is most common along the East Coast, in areas such as Pennsylvania, New York, and New Jersey. It is also found in California and Florida. In Israel, the name can be found in large metropolitan areas such as Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, as well as in cities such as Haifa, Beer Sheva, and Eilat. The name Terkel is derived from the Germanic name Thurkeld, meaning “powerful ruler” or “strong ruler”. It is likely that the name was brought to Israel by Jewish individuals from Europe during the period of Jewish emigration in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The last name is also common in various other countries, including Germany, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia. In many of these other countries, the name is most likely derived from Jewish immigrants from Europe, just as it is in the United States and Israel.

Variations of the surname Terkel

The surname Terkel is a variant of the German surname Terkel. It has variants such as Terkle, Terckle, Terkal and Terckel. Additionally, surnames with similar origins to Terkel are Turkel, Dörkel, Dorkle, Thörkel, Therkel, Thirkel and Thierkel.

The surname is believed to have originated from the Germanic elements 'ther,' which means “beast” or “wild animal”, and 'kel', which could have come from a short form of the Germanic name “Karl.” The use of 'ther' to mean “beast” or “wild animal” indicates that the surname may have been originally used to denote someone who had the characteristics of a wild animal.

The early roots of the surname can be traced back to the village of Terkel in the Upper Harz region of Germany. This village was the ancestral home of many people who adopted the surname Terkel. From here, the name spread to other parts of Europe, and eventually to America with the great emigration of the 1800s.

The spelling of the surname varies greatly from country to country, and can even vary within a single family. For instance, while some families may have the traditional spelling of Terkel, others may have shortened the name to T'kel, or added an extra letter to the traditional spelling.

No matter what spelling is used, the surname is ultimately derived from the same Germanic elements. In many cases, this surname is associated with people who were regarded as brave, and with those who had great strength and courage.

Famous people with the name Terkel

• Studs Terkel: Studs Terkel was a celebrated American author, historian, and radio broadcaster who achieved worldwide fame for his oral histories about everyday people’s lives.
• Fred Terkel: Fred Terkel was an American businessman and philanthropist who made important donations to the University of Chicago, Northwestern University, and Rush University Medical Center.
• Tony Terkel: Tony Terkel is an artist and social activist. He is best known for his large-scale immersive installations, which draw attention to social and political issues.
• Adam Terkel: Adam Terkel is an award-winning Former Teacher from Chicago. He is known for his public speaking and blogs where he discusses a variety of topics related to education reform and innovation.
• Yedida Terkel: Yedida Terkel is an Israeli athlete who has competed in the Olympic Games, Paralympic Games and Maccabiah Games. She holds multiple swimming records, and won a silver medal at the 2004 Summer Paralympics.
• Linda Terkel: Linda Terkel is a successful entrepreneur, philanthropist and motivational speaker. She is the co-founder and CEO of MicroLoan Foundation USA, a non-profit organization that provides micro-enterprise loans to women living in poverty in developing countries.
• Steve Terkel: Steve Terkel is an American electrical engineer and inventor best known for developing computer tomography technology.
• Jonathan Terkel: Jonathan Terkel is an award-winning American musician and composer. He is a multi-instrumentalist who has composed and recorded numerous albums in a wide variety of genres.
• Michael Terkel: Michael Terkel is a German actor and director who has starred in a number of German television shows.
• Alan Terkel: Alan Terkel is an award-winning Jewish-American journalist and author who has written about the effects of the Holocaust on American Jewry.

Other surnames

Terkes