Surname Hensel - Meaning and Origin
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Tracing Back My Roots: iGENEA DNA Test and the Voyage of Hensel Heritage
The iGENEA DNA test results were a gift of self-discovery, revealing a fascinating link to ancient Celts in the heritage of the Hensel family. This awakened a profound sense of identity, pride, and belonging, connecting me to a shared history and a rich tapestry of existence that resonates far deeper than merely being a surname.
N. Hensel
read moreHensel: What does the surname Hensel mean?
The last name Hensel is of German origin and has a variety of meanings. The most common explanation is that it is derived from the Middle High German word “henzel” meaning “little hen.” Following this logic, Hensel would describe someone who was “having the nature or disposition of a small chicken.”
The alternative, and more likely, explanation is that Hensel is derived from a combination of two German words “heinzel” and “sel.” “Heinzel” is the diminutive form of Heinz, which means horse. The “sel” suffix is believed to mean “people who live by.” This makes the most sense given that many of the first individuals to use the Hensel surname were horse traders.
Other explanations for the origin of Hensel include it being derived from a combination of two popular Middle High German words "hinze" and "sel," meaning "king and people" respectively, or it being a combination of "hansen" and "sel," meaning "son of Jonathan and people.”
Regardless of the origin, the Hensel surname is very common in the German-speaking world. It is known to have various spelling variants such as Hänsel, Hensle, and Hensell. In America, it is more commonly spelled Hensel. Today, the name can be found in many countries including Germany, Switzerland, and the United States.
Order DNA origin analysisHensel: Where does the name Hensel come from?
The last name Hensel is most commonly found in Germany and its neighboring countries, primarily in the German states of Brandenburg, Saxony, and Bavaria. Outside Europe, the surname appears to be concentrated more in North America, predominantly in the United States and Canada.
First found in the Middle Ages in the German province of Westphalia, the surname Hensel was derived from the Germanic personal name Hanzo, which consisted of the elements "hagan", meaning fence, and "zo", meaning army. As such, the surname may have originally been assigned to someone who worked as a fence builder, or someone who was associated with the military.
The spelling of the name can vary, but a few examples include Hansel, Haassel, Hanzell, and Hänsl. Today, the last name Hensel is most prominently found in the aforementioned regions of Germany, as well as areas throughout Austria, Switzerland, and Estonia.
In North America, the most concentrated population of Hensels is in the US state of Pennsylvania, with much smaller numbers appearing in surrounding states. This is likely due to the influx of German immigrants who traveled to the area in the 17th and 18th century. Later on, many Hensels migrated west to the Great Plains and Pacific states. In Canada, the name is found most commonly in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba, but pockets are also present throughout the remainder of the country.
Overall, the last name Hensel is now common in much of Europe and North America, with its primary concentration being present in Germany, the United States, and Canada.
Variations of the surname Hensel
The surname Hensel is a Germanic surname derived from the given name "Heinzel", which is a diminutive of "Heinrich". Although the spelling of the surname Hensel appears to be uniform throughout the world, slight variations occur in certain locales. In North America, the surname is sometimes spelled "Hencel" or "Henselle". In central Europe, the alternate spellings "Henßel" or "Henßele" appear more commonly.
The most common variants of the surname Hensel are Hensell, Hensle, Hensler, Hänseln, Hänsler, Hennesel, Hennesl, Henselle, Hentschel, Hentschl, Hentschle, and Häntschel. Despite the multiple possible spellings, all of these surnames are derived from the same root and are of the same origin.
In addition to the various spellings, the surname Hensel also has numerous surnames of the same origin. These surname variants are Henseler, Hensell, Henser, Hensler, Henßel, Henßele, Hänseln, Hänsler, Hennesel, Hennesl, Henselle, Hentschel, Hentschl, Hentschle, Höntschel, Henshall, Henshull, Henshell, Henshell, and Hensall. All of these surnames have the same root and are believed to have originated through a similar process of transliteration and transformation over time.
The wide variety of spellings, variants, and surnames of the same root demonstrate the complexity of the evolution of the surname Hensel over time. Although the surname appears to be uniform throughout the world, slight variations exist in certain regions. In addition, numerous surnames of the same origin can be traced to the same root.
Famous people with the name Hensel
- Bethany Hensel: Popular American reality television personality who co-starred on TLC’s show, “Abby & Brittany.”
- Parker Hensel: Popular American drag racer and professional driver, currently a part of NHRA's Pro Stock division.
- Brendan Hensel: British biologist and paleontologist, known for his research on fossil reptiles.
- Larry Hensel: American actor and film producer, best known for his roles in films like “LoneWolf McQuade” and “The Omega Man.”
- Henry Hensel: German toxicologist and biologist, known for his research on fungal mycotoxins.
- Pat Hensel: American master knifemaker and knife sheath maker, best known for his work with multiple bladesmiths.
- Harrison Hensel: American sports car racing enthusiast who has competed in numerous racing events worldwide.
- Sharna Hensel: Australian director, producer, dramaturge, and sound designer.
- Emily Hensel: American author and television writer, best known for her novel, “The Lost Castle.”
- Amanda Hensel: American writer and fantasy-genre author, whose works include “The Shadow Within” and “The Heart of Albion.”