Surname Nessel - Meaning and Origin
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Nessel: What does the surname Nessel mean?
The last name Nessel is a German surname that is derived from the Middle High German word ‘nessel’, which means ‘fern’ or ‘horsetail’. It is thought to have originated as a descriptive name that was given to someone who lived near a fern or in a place with a lot of horsetails. The name is also linked to a habitational name that originated from any of the numerous places called Nessel in Germany.
Nessel has been used as a surname since at least the 16th century. It has been especially prominent in Swabia, where it was first recorded; it is still concentrated there to this day. Various spellings of the surname have adopted in different parts of the world throughout the centuries, such as Nessle, Nessl, Nesel, and Nesele.
The Nessel family has played an important role in the making of German history. Johann Nessel, for example, was an important figure in the Thirty Years’ War in the 17th century. During the 19th century, Heinrich Nessel was a highly respected religious writer and pastor of the Evangelical Church of Prussia.
The name is not common outside of Germany, but it is fairly widespread within the country. There are many emigrants with the Nessel surname in the United States, Canada, South America, Australia, and other countries. Many of these families have trace their history back to the ancestral home in Swabia. Today, the Nessel family still holds a proud and honorable name, one with a long-standing and meaningful history.
Order DNA origin analysisNessel: Where does the name Nessel come from?
Nessel is a German surname. It is primarily found in Germany and Austria, where it is believed to have originated. It is also occasionally found in other parts of Europe, such as the Netherlands and Belgium. The United States has one of the largest populations of Nessel families outside of Germany and Austria.
The earliest known Nessel families arrived in the United States in the early 1800s. At this time, many German immigrants moved to America in search of a better life. They settled in the Midwest and helped to establish many German-American settlements. Since then, the Nessel surname has been found in many parts of the United States, including Pennsylvania, Ohio, Wisconsin, and Indiana.
Nessel is also becoming increasingly common in Canada. In particular, it is found in the provinces of Alberta and Ontario, which have significant German-Canadian populations. This is due to many German immigrants who moved to Canada in the 1800s and early 1900s.
Thus, today the surname Nessel can be found in many countries around the world, including Germany, Austria, the United States, Canada, Belgium, and the Netherlands. Its presence is especially strong in the U.S. and Canada, due to the high number of German immigrants who settled in these countries.
Variations of the surname Nessel
Nessel is an occupational surname, deriving from the Middle High German noun "nessil" meaning "needle". The surname is found predominantly in Germany, where it is widely spread in both its original spelling and its various regional variants.
The surname Nessel is spelled a number of different ways, including Nessel, Nussle, Nusslein, Nüssel, Nüsselein, Nüssl, Neisse, Nesseler, Nässler, Näsle, and Nieseler. Nessel is also occasionally found spelling variants such as Nessle, Nassl, Nässl, and Nesl. All of these variations point to the same origin - the Middle High German noun "nessil", meaning "needle".
Other variations can be seen in other countries where emigrants of the surname Nessel settled. In the United States, Nessel is typically encountered in the forms Nesselrotte and Nesselrodt. In France, there is a Frenchified form Nesselle (also spelled Nesselle). The Dutch and Flemish versions of the surname are Nasselaar and Nassaer, respectively.
In terms of surnames of the same origin as Nessel, the most common are Nussel, Nusselin, Nüssel, Nusseler, Neussel, and Nüssle. Other related surnames may be of different etymological origins, such as Neiss, Neis, Neyss, and Neuschel.
Famous people with the name Nessel
- Robert Nessel: an American illustrator and fine artist renowned for his portraits of Hollywood celebrities.
- Bill Nessel: an American author, editor, radio broadcaster, and professor.
- Jimmy Nessel: an American sportswriter, author of three books about baseball.
- Albert Nessel: a former professor of physics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
- Carl Nessel: an American attorney and Civil War veteran.
- Dan Nessel: a former mayor of Fort Lauderdale, Florida and former state legislator.
- Don Nessel: an American poet, playwright, screenwriter, and film director.
- Liz Nessel: a former Denver, Colorado mayor and presidential adviser in the Nixon administration.
- Simon Nessel: an Italian psychoanalyst and promoter of modern psychotherapy.
- Will Nessel: an American actor and author who starred in numerous television shows and films.