Surname Gencel - Meaning and Origin

Gencel: What does the surname Gencel mean?

The last name Gencel is believed to be of French origins, and is most likely derived from the Latin words "genu" meaning "knee," and "cella" meaning "storage." It is thought to have been originally used as a nickname or an occupational name for someone who was a storekeeper or a recorder of information. The name most likely originated as an occupational surname used to distinguish a merchant or storekeeper from another with the same name.

The name Gencel appears in documents as far back as the fifteenth century in all parts of France, and is first seen in the records of the village of Tessy-sur-Vire in Normandy. The people of this region were most likely of Norman origin, although there are records also of people bearing the name in the neighboring regions of Brittany, Picardy and Poitou.

Today, Gencel is a fairly common surname in France and in countries such as the USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, where people of French origin settled in the mid 20th century. It is also found in other countries such as Israel and South Africa, where French immigrants have settled in more recent times.

The Gencel name is now more frequently used to refer to a place of storage or a shop, such as a depository, a depot or a storeroom. It is also used as a surname, as a sign of the occupational origin of the name, and suggesting someone who works in the kind of place symbolized by the name.

Gencel: Where does the name Gencel come from?

The surname Gencel is most commonly found in countries with significant populations of Jewish, Czech, or Romanian heritage. It may be translated to Genecell in Romanian, Genzel in Czech, and Ginzburg in Yiddish.

In the United States, the most common areas with a dense population of Gencels is the Northeastern part of the country- particularly in New Jersey. The Gencel population is relatively small in the United States, as most of the immigrants who adopted the name in the early 20th century have since passed away.

In Europe, the surname is particularly common in Romania, where a significant portion of the population is of Jewish descent and newcomer immigrants adopted the surname when they arrived from other countries. It is also common among Czech citizens and communities, especially around Prague and its surrounding cities.

Gencel is also present in the Middle East, mainly in Israel. The surname can be found among the modern-day Jewish population in the country, as many Jewish immigrants adopted the name after arriving in Israel in the 1950s and ‘60s.

Overall, the surname Gencel is relatively rare and most commonly found among individuals with Central European or Jewish ancestry. It is most prominently found in the United States, Romania, the Czech Republic, and Israel.

Variations of the surname Gencel

The surname Gencel has numerous variations in spelling, in some cases being written as Gencel, Gancel, Gencell, Genscel, Gensel, and Gentcell. Variations in spelling like these often occur due to errors in translation or transcription and can also be due to cultural or past-language influences. The surname can also be found to originate from other languages such as German, as can be seen in the surname of Gensel, suggesting a variation of the original German spelling of Gensl.

The surname Gencel has also been found to evolve into certain surnames throughout history, especially with migrating families. In some cases, those bearing the Gencel surname can trace it to surnames such as Gent, Gentie, Gentric, Genschel, Genssel, Gensgall, Genselin, Gensle, Gencelli, Genter, Genties, Genni, Gennis, Gensel, Gentsl, Gentzel, and Gentzell. Many of these surnames represent variations of Gencel, with some being slightly different due to mistakes in translation or due to changes in the pronunciation of the surname.

Furthermore, some people with the surname Gencel have also been known to change or adopt different surnames for a variety of reasons. This often occurs when people want to distance themselves from their roots or when one family member or another decides to take on a different surname. In these cases, they may choose surnames such as Genty, Gentles, Genzler, Gendel, Gentin, Gensela, Gentyler, Gentric, Gentzler, Gentzeler, Gensella, and Gentez.

Overall, there exist many various forms and spellings of the surname Gencel and its derivatives, some of which can be traced back to different origins. The changes in spelling throughout history may also suggest that the surname has evolved over time and has been adopted by otherwise unrelated families in many cases.

Famous people with the name Gencel

• Nick Gencel: This film and television producer is best known for his work in 2012’s End of Watch and 2017’s The Florida Project, among others.
• Morty Gencel: A former film financing consultant, Morty Gencel has also worked as an executive producer and executive at Fidelity Entertainment and Jesse Films.
• Yves Gencel: This Quebec-based painter is known for his use of highly abstract visual elements as well as for founding the organization, Artists of Quebec.
• Emil Gencel: Born in Romania, this aviator and WWII fighter pilot served in the Air Force Reserves.
• Justin Gencel: This Wall Street financial advisor is currently a managing director at a private equity firm.
• S fact fitted Gencel (also known as Sam Gencel): This tech aficionado is the co-founder of several start-ups, including the recently-launched ‘State of the Shareholder’.
• David S. Gencel: A medical doctor based in Pennsylvania, Gencel is also the founder of the Delaware Valley Dystonia Support Group.
• Sheila Gencel: A noted jewelry, gemstone, and goldsmith artist based in California, Gencel is also an active fellow of the Gemological Institute of America.
• Christine Gencel: A visual artist, Gencel is best known for her contemporary oil paintings featuring cities and landscapes.

Other surnames

Gencer