Surname Wendel - Meaning and Origin
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Y. Wendel
read moreWendel: What does the surname Wendel mean?
The surname Wendel is of German origin, with a long lineage dating back centuries. It has been used to indicate an origin from Wendell, a former village now known as Bad Bentheim in the northwest of Germany.
The surname Wendel is derived from the old Germanic name Wendilo, meaning “to wander” or “traveler.” Historically, it could have been used to indicate someone who was of a nomadic or itinerant background, as Wendel was often used to refer to vagrants. It eventually came to be used to indicate someone with roots in the now-defunct Waldgraviate of Bentheim and later to denote those who descended from the Wendel family, a noble Germanic clan who lived in the 14th and 15th centuries.
In modern times, the surname Wendel is bestowed upon families who are descendants of Wendel, the earlier-mentioned small village near Bad Bentheim in Germany. It is also used to denote people of Germanic heritage, as well as those who live in regions where the surname has been established, such as North America.
It is believed that Wendel evolved from the old High German term “Wandal,” which can be interpreted as “to wander” but also “to wander freely.” It is a fitting name to indicate someone with a nomadic lifestyle, especially considering the fact that Bad Bentheim was an area of high movement through the centuries due to its close proximity to the Netherlands.
Order DNA origin analysisWendel: Where does the name Wendel come from?
The surname Wendel is considered to be of German origin, and is generally most common in North Central Germany, especially in the region surrounding Potsdam, south of Berlin. The Wendel family is known to have settled in this area as early as the 15th century.
In the modern United States, Wendel is a fairly uncommon surname, ranking in the 15,000th percentile. However, Wendel families can be found in select areas of the United States - particularly in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Indiana. It is also much more common in some areas of Canada, particularly around Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, and Quebec.
In Europe, Wendel is still quite popular today. The Wendel family can be found in other German-speaking countries, including Austria and Switzerland. Additionally, Wendel is quite common in Luxembourg, with around 7.4% of the population claiming Wendel as their surname. Wendel is also quite common in France, but is usually spelled as Vandelle, or Vandel. It is worth noting that the Wendel family has also spread to other European countries such as the United Kingdom, and also further afield, to parts of Australia, New Zealand, and the United States.
Overall, the surname Wendel is quite common in some parts of the world, with populations reaching as high as 7.4% in Luxembourg. However, it is a much less common surname in much of the United States and Canada.
Variations of the surname Wendel
The surname Wendel or Wendell is an Anglo-Saxon surname, which derived from two different origins. It can be derived from a location-based surname, taken on by a family who had resided from the Middle Ages in different locations in England with names such as Wyndel, Wendell, or Wendal. It can also be derived from a personal name such as Wendel, from the Germanic personal name alternative to 'Wendelin' which derived from the Old Germanic compound 'Wend' meaning 'to go round' or 'to wander'.
Common variants and spellings of the surname include Wendl, Wendell, Wendt, Wendland, Wendling, Wendig, Windel, Wydel, Widel and Windt. The variants Windel and Windt are found in Germany, being formed from Wendel or Wendelin and Widy being forms of Wido.
Surnames that may have derived from the same origin as Wendel are Wendle, Winters, Weindel, Wines and Weinel. These surnames are most commonly found in the United States and in parts of Europe.
The surname Wendel is also found in countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and most parts of Europe. The surname is also popular in parts of Eastern Europe under the spelling Vindel, and in some Slavic countries such as Russia and Poland under the spelling Vindel or Vyndel.
Famous people with the name Wendel
- Justin Wendel: American actor and writer, known for films such as My Suicide, Girl on the Edge and Band of Robbers.
- Jessica Wendel: American television journalist, best known as a co-host of WXYZ-TV's 7 Action News before leaving to become an independent correspondent.
- Gabriela Christina Garcia Wendel: Miss Colombia 2019, representing the country at Miss Universe 2020
- Darrin Wendel: Professional golfer on the PGA tour.
- Fritz Wendel: German World War II Luftwaffe ace with 197 missions and 27 individual victories.
- Margaret Wendel: A German baptist missionary who wrote extensively about her work with the Nuer people of Sudan.
- Mark Wendel: American watercolour painter known for painting landscapes, florals, and figures.
- Charles Theodore Wendel: American banker and philanthropist.
- Harry Wendel: Former American football player and mayor of Granger, Texas.
- Lucas Wendel: Brazilian serial entrepreneur and investor.