Surname Brechtel - Meaning and Origin
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Brechtel: What does the surname Brechtel mean?
The last name Brechtel is of German origin and is a surname derived from the location Brecht in present-day North Rhine-Westphalia. The town itself was first mentioned in historical sources in the year 1000. The surname follows the typical Germanic naming pattern which is using the place a person was born or lived to identify their family line. The suffix "el", which represent "from", is added to the end of the location, in this case, Brecht.
The town Brecht itself is situated close to the River Rhine and is also the home of the renowned Brecht Castle which was first mentioned as an important fortification to protect the area from the 12th century onwards.
Naming patterns and the places they refer to can provide information not only about the history of an individual and their ancestors, but about the town of origin too. Knowing the meaning of the last name Brechtel can help people gain a better understanding of their family history and the events that shaped the development of their family roots.
Order DNA origin analysisBrechtel: Where does the name Brechtel come from?
The surname Brechtel is a relatively uncommon one today. It is most often found in the United States, specifically in the Midwest. Brechtel is an Americanized surname and it originated in Alsace in France. It became popular in the United States during the 19th century when many Alsatian immigrants made their way to America.
Today, the states with the largest amount of Brechtel surnames are Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, Ohio, and Missouri. There are also some Brechtel families in other parts of the US, including Pennsylvania, New York, and Texas.
The largest concentration of Brechtel families is in Southern Illinois, particularly in St. Clair County. Here, the Brechtel family name has been associated with Mascoutah, a small town near Belleville. Brechtel is also a common name in the small Alsatian-influenced towns of New Athens, Trenton, New Baden, and New Memphis.
Outside of the United States, Brechtel appears to be concentrated mostly in Germany, though there are some families in France and Switzerland. Notably, the Brechtel family name popped up in Baden-Wurttemberg in 1864, around when many Alsatians removed to Germany with the Franco-Prussian war.
In summary, Brechtel is an Alsatian surname that has spread to the United States and some parts of Europe. Today, the greatest concentration of Brechtel families is in the Midwest, particularly in Southern Illinois.
Variations of the surname Brechtel
The surname Brechtel is derived from the German words “brech,” meaning “to break” and “tel,” meaning “valley.” Therefore, the surname is interpreted to mean “one who lives at a broken or cut-off valley.” Variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin for Brechtel include Brechtell, Brechtl, Brechtel, Brechtle, Brechtlein, Brechtelmann, Brechtejohn, and Brechtlel.
Brechtell is a derivative of Brechtel, and is a less common spelling. Variations of this spelling include Brachtel, Brectel, Brachtell, Berchtel, Bretchtel, Brahtel, Brachal, and Bredttell. Brechtl is another variant of Brechtel and is most common in southwestern Germany. Variations of this spelling are Brechtle, Brechtelin, and Brechtellin.
Brechtelmann is another derivative of Brechtel and is most common in northern and eastern Europe. Variations of this spelling are Brechtelman, Brechtellman, Brechtelmens, Brechtolman, and Brechtelocker.
Brechtejohn is an uncommon spelling and may be a combination of two different surnames. It has been described as a combination of “Brechtel” and “John.” Brechtlel is another uncommon variant of Brechtel and has been described as a combination of “Brecht” and “tel.” Variations of this spelling include Brechtell, Bretchtel, Brechtl, and Brechtlin.
In summary, the surname Brechtel has a number of variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin including Brechtell, Brechtl, Brechtel, Brechtle, Brechtlein, Brechtelmann, Brechtejohn, and Brechtlel.
Famous people with the name Brechtel
- Michael Brechtel: Canadian actor, who starred in films such as the horror movies The Witching Hour and Reeker.
- Julian Brechtel: German entrepreneur, investor, and author, who is the founder and CEO of the consulting firm Brechtel GmbH.
- Kafra Brechtel: Croatian actress and singer, who is known for her role in the 2020 film The Age of Adaline.
- Matt Brechtel: American artist, who is known for his abstract paintings and mixed media works.
- Leslie Brechtel: American voice actress, who’s known for her performances in the animated series Star Vs. The Forces of Evil and Adventure Time with Finn and Jake.
- Harry Brechtel: German-born Austrian artist, who’s most famous for his Expressionist landscape paintings.
- Linda Brechtel: American printmaker, who is best known for her mixed media lithographs of idyllic landscapes.
- Judy Brechtel: American actress, who has appeared in films and TV shows such as Cold Case and Weeds.
- Aliza Brechtel: Austrian-born pianist, who has performed with several renowned orchestras around the world.
- Steven Brechtel: American film producer and director, who worked on films such as the Sour Patch Kids movies and the feature film Tart.