Surname Dämel - Meaning and Origin
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Dämel: What does the surname Dämel mean?
The last name Dämel is an especially uncommon German name. It is theorized that the name stems from the German word “Damel,” meaning “relative,” which comes from the Latin “dapamelinus”. It is believed that the name originated as a surname for families related by marriage, representing a sign of loyalty to their extended family.
The surname Dämel is most commonly found in the region of Thuringia, where it is estimated to have been in use since the 12th century. However, the name has spread throughout Germany and can be found in areas such as Bavaria, Schleswig-Holstein, and Saxony. The earliest records of the name date back to the 15th century, where it was documented in the registry of a monastery in Zelle.
Despite the surname’s rarity, there have been some notable figures to have carried it. One example is Heinrich Dämel, an 18th century lawyer and man of letters who wrote the earliest known history of Thuringia. He, along with seven other individuals from the same family, founded the village of Dämelshof in Thuringia in 1545.
The combination of rarity and prestige associated with the name Dämel have made it a special element of German culture. It may have started out life as a sign of family ties, but it has become a lasting symbol of strength and loyalty to those related to it.
Order DNA origin analysisDämel: Where does the name Dämel come from?
The last name Dämel is principally found in Germany today. It appears to be especially common in the western and south-western parts of the country. This includes the German states of Lower Saxony, Rhineland-Palatinate, North Rhine-Westphalia, Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg and Hesse. Since Germany is a highly mobile society, the name is also found in other regions and countries around the world.
Dämel is believed to be derived from the Old German name “Damelin”, which was a word used in medieval times to describe either a “free man” or a “householder”. It may also have other versions depending on the origin of the name or any changes that occurred in its spelling over time.
While the exact origin of the name is not known, records in the German states of Saxony and Brandenburg indicate that a Hasso Dameling lived in those regions around the year 1235. It is likely that there was intermarriage between the Dameling and Damel families, leading to the modern name as it is known today.
Dämel is a relatively rare name. According to a 2019 study, it was ranked 9,105th in terms of frequency in Germany. Nonetheless, its popularity is still quite remarkable given its age and the fact that it is associated with individuals who inhabited the Heiligenstadt area in the Middle Ages.
Variations of the surname Dämel
Variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin for the surname Dämel include Daemel, Damel, Dämhöller, Danel, Damm, Dehmel, Dammholz, Deam, and Demel. These variations and spellings are all derived from the Old German given name Dago Meansal, with "Dago" meaning "good day" and "Meansal" meaning "neighbor."
The surname Dämel has origins in Germany, and is derived from the Old High German name Dagumalis, which was the name of a person who lived close by. The variant “Dämhöller” was derived from the word “Höle”, meaning “hollow”, which is descriptive of the landscape in some parts of Germany where this surname originated.
The Danel name can often be found amongst individuals of Dutch ancestry, and the Deam version, which is popular in the United States, is derived from the variant “Dämhöller.”
The Demel spelling is derived from the Old High German name” Dashmuller”, which was a personal name that literally meant “red miller”, so it was likely given to someone who worked at a mill that ground flour. This spelling is most common throughout Germany.
The Damm variation is a Norse spelling of the name, which is derived from the word “Demme”, meaning watercourse” and is especially popular in Scandinavia, while the Dehmel spelling is derived from the German word “Diehme” which translates to “peaceful settlement”.
Finally, the Dammholz surname is a combination of the words “Damm” and “Holz”, meaning watercourse and forest, respectively. This spelling is most commonly found in northern Germany.
Famous people with the name Dämel
- Teresa Dämel: German actress and YouTuber
- Paul Dämel: German footballer
- Daniel Dämel: German biathlete
- Sebastian Dämel: German film producer
- Tobias Dämel: German footballer
- Peter Dämel: German lawyer
- Ursula Dämel: German swimmer
- Harald Dämel: German physicist
- Kirsten Dämel: German actress
- Kai Dämel: German lawyer