Surname Jähndel - Meaning and Origin
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Jähndel: What does the surname Jähndel mean?
The last name Jähndel is of German origin and is derived from the Old High German given name Jenda. The name is composed of the elements jehan (‘hunter’) and del (‘gift’), meaning ‘hunter’s gift’. It likely referred to someone who was gifted at hunting, or at least had the hope or ambition to be so.
The Jähndel surname might also be derived from the Old High German given name Jent, which is composed of two elements, jen (‘kinsmen’ or ‘realm’) and haid (‘state’) which means ‘state of one’s kin’. This could have been a name given to someone in a particular family line.
Jähndel is a relatively rare surname. It is still mainly found in Germany today, particularly in the Saxony, Rhineland-Palatinate and elsewhere in the German speaking regions. It was among the top 250 surnames found in 19th century Prussia.
The Jähndel family has a long and proud history in Germany, traceable to around the 15th century. Historical records of the name have been identified in various documents throughout German history, and the Jähndel surname is famous for its long connection to influential families in the region.
Order DNA origin analysisJähndel: Where does the name Jähndel come from?
The last name Jähndel is most commonly associated with Germany and is of German origin. It is believed that the name likely originated from the Germanic personal name "Iohannes".
In modern times, Jähndel is still relatively common in Germany, particularly in the western and northern regions. In 2020, the name ranked 521st on the most popular surnames list in Germany, with around 4,500 people bearing the surname.
The surname is also common in other German-speaking countries, particularly Austria and Switzerland. It appears that Jähndel is also present in some other European countries, such as Czech Republic and Slovakia, as well as countries outside of Europe, such as the United States.
In the United States, there are currently around 250 people with the last name Jähndel, most of which are of German descent. The majority of people with the name live in Pennsylvania, as well as other states in the Northeast and Midwest.
Although Jähndel is relatively uncommon outside of Germany and German-speaking countries, it can still be found in other parts of the world. It is estimated that around 3,000 people worldwide bear the last name Jähndel.
Variations of the surname Jähndel
Jähndel is a surname of German origin that comes from the Old German given name Jendal, which is derived from the elements gan, meaning “God”, and dal, meaning “valley”. Over the centuries, the surname has evolved to be spelled variously, such as Jahndel, Jahndl, Jahndele, Jendel, Jendele, Jendeler, Gowndel and Goundel.
Variations of the Jähndel surname include Jaehndel, Jendel, Jendle, Jendler, Jahtnel, Jahntel, Jehnde, Jhndl, Jhndel, Jhendle, Jehndel, Jahndl, Jhndeler, Gowrntel, Goentel, Goundel, Gahndele, Ganntel and Gehnadl.
Other variants of this surname exist, including Jahntling, Jentling, Ganthal, Gewenthal, Gehnthal and Gahntheyl.
All of these surnames are related by origin to the Old German given name Jendal and reflect the original spelling of this surname that was shaped and changed in Germany over the centuries. It is likely that those bearing the surname Jähndel have ancestors that were stripped of their nobility at some point in history and not allowed to own land. Thus, the surname is believed to be derived from the Hahn or Gan, meaning "smallholder", and is thought to refer to a formerly noble family that was given a smallholding in the valley.
Famous people with the name Jähndel
- Todrick Hall: American singer-songwriter, actor, and YouTube personality
- Vanessa Jähndel: German professional cross-country skier
- Sascha Jähndel: German footballer
- Edgar Jähndel: German rally driver
- Dick Jähndel: Dutch footballer
- Raoul Jähndel: Dutch footballer
- David Jähndel: German singer and songwriter
- Wolfgang Jähndel: Austrian aeronautical engineer
- Lissy Jähndel: German model and singer
- Gösta Jähndel: Swedish sport shooter
- Robert Jähndel: German alpine skier
- Anna Jähndel: Austrian athlete and ice hockey player
- Eva Jähndel: German figure skater
- Jakob Jähndel: Swedish ski mountaineer
- Leife Jähndel: German curler and the first bobsledder from Germany
- Monika Jähndel: German handballer and coach
- Jenny Jähndel: Norwegian handball coach
- Klaus Jähndel: German mayor and senior official of the DFB