Surname van Exel - Meaning and Origin
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van Exel: What does the surname van Exel mean?
The last name van Exel is of Dutch origin and is believed to refer to someone who lived either near a dam or near a body of water known as a "Exele". This type of water feature was most regularly found in low-lying coastal areas in ancient Holland or Flanders. In some cases it may indicate Dutch ancestry or a family who once lived near a water feature of some kind.
Oftentimes, the van Exel surname implies an association with a village or area in Holland or Flanders. Other possible origins of the name include a location in the Dutch provinces of Zeland and Gelderland or in the old duchy of Brabant. Occasionally, it may also suggest a connection to Friesland or the Vlaamse region in Belgium.
The van Exel surname is relatively rare and the full name is rarely used. It is, however, prohibited by some Dutch organizations due to its overly Dutch origin. Despite this, it is still widely used among some Dutch-descended persons. In some cases, this surname has been shortened to "Exel" or "Van".
Generally, van Exel means a person or family of Dutch origin or one who is related to a place or area known as a Exele. This term likely to have its origins in the low-lying coastal areas of the Dutch provinces. Despite the origin of the name, it is not widely used and is often shortened, although its past may still hold significance to some individuals.
Order DNA origin analysisvan Exel: Where does the name van Exel come from?
The last name van Exel is most commonly found in The Netherlands and Belgium, both of which are located in Europe. It is a toponymic name, meaning it is derived from the geographic location of a person's ancestor's origin. For example, a person with the last name van Exel is likely to have ancestry from the area where the town of Exel is located.
The name is believed to have derived from a specific place, Exel, which translates to 'playground' or ' areal'. In old Dutch dialects, it was referred to as 'Ezel'. Over time 'Ezel' evolved into 'Exel'. The name was mainly found among families from the southwest of the Netherlands; however, it has since spread across the world as migration patterns changed over time.
Today, van Exel is fairly common throughout Europe, but it can also be found in several other countries in North America, Australia, and New Zealand. In the United States, it is most common in states such as Massachusetts, Nevada, and California.
In recent times, several prominent individuals have shared the name. Most notably, Van Exel was the surname of former NBA star Gary Van Exel. He was inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame in 2011.
Variations of the surname van Exel
The surname Van Exel is an established Dutch and Belgian surname derived from the Dutch word “Exel”, meaning “cheerful” or “glad”. It is often spelled as Van Exel, Van Exele, Van Exell, Van Exelle, Van Exelles, Van Exeele, Van Exellos or Van Exelos. On occasion, the surname has also become an English variant such as Van Exel, Van Exell, or VanExel.
The spelling of Dutch surnames has not been standardised in the past and is still varied. This makes tracing the history of the surname Van Exel an interesting task, as many versions of this surname have been found. Depending on where the family originated, different spellings emerged.
Due to Dutch emigration, over time some of those with the surname Van Exel moved to other parts of the world such as the United States, Australia, the United Kingdom, and even Canada. These immigrants carried their surname and many changed the spelling to suit their own preferences or blended the traditional Dutch style spelling with their own culture’s conventions. As a result, some Van Exel families adopted various spellings of this name, such as:
In the United States: Van Exel, VanExel, Van Exell, VanExell, Van Exelle, VanExelle, Van Exelles, VanExelles.
In Australia and the United Kingdom: VanExel, Van Exell, VanExell, Van Exelle, VanExelle, Van Exele.
In Canada: Van Exel, VanExel, Van Exele, VanExele, Van Exelles, VanExelles, Van Exellos, VanExellos.
No matter what the spelling, these surnames all share the same roots. It is an interesting reminder of the mobility of people and their cultures and how they often influence the histories and spellings of their surnames.
Famous people with the name van Exel
- Nick Van Exel: Former NBA All-Star and current Atlanta Hawks assistant coach.
- Reggie Van Exel: Former NFL football player.
- Greg Van Exel: Retired NBA basketball player.
- Brooke Van Exel: Daughter of Nick Van Exel and former dancer in the NBA All-Star Game.
- Lillian Van Exel: Wife of Nick Van Exel and mother of Brooke.
- Janel Van Exel: Wife of Greg Van Exel.
- Grant Van Exel: Son of Nick Van Exel and former professional lacrosse player.
- Calvin Van Exel: Son of Greg and Janel Van Exel.
- Mark Van Exel: Former NFL football player.
- Ken Van Exel: Brother of Nick and Greg Van Exel.