Origin of your surname and forename !
NomOrigine

Last Name Getzel

Discover my family history now

What is the origin of the last name Getzel?

The surname "Getzel" is of German and Jewish origin. It is derived from the personal name Götz, which is a short form of various compound names with the first element Gott, meaning God. This name was brought to England by German Jewish immigrants in the 19th century. In some cases, it may also be spelled as "Getz" or "Gettys." However, it's important to note that surnames can have multiple origins and variations, so this is just one possible explanation for the name Getzel.
Want to turn this name into a keepsake? Give a star certificate in their name.

Learn more about the origin of the last name Getzel

The meaning and origin of the last name Getzel

The surname Getzel is of Hebrew origin, derived from the given name Gedaliah, which means "God knows" or "mighty God." It is one of several Jewish surnames that were originally patronymic, indicating descent from a person with the given name Gedaliah. The name Getzel, like many Jewish surnames, may have been adopted as a hereditary name during the Middle Ages when Jews in Europe were required to adopt surnames to distinguish themselves from other groups. Today, Getzel is primarily found among Ashkenazi Jews of Eastern European descent but has also been recorded in various forms, such as Gedal or Gedalius, in Sephardic and Mizrahi communities.

Geographical distribution of the last name Getzel

The surname Getzel is predominantly of Jewish origin and has its roots in Eastern Europe, particularly Poland and Germany. According to various sources, it's one of the most common Jewish surnames in Poland. In the United States, many individuals with the surname Getzel are believed to have immigrated from Poland in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The name is less prevalent in other parts of the world but can be found among Jewish communities in Israel, Canada, Australia, and South America, due to migration waves following World War II. However, it's important to note that the distribution can vary greatly due to factors such as genealogical research, adoption of non-traditional naming practices, and assimilation into different cultures over time.

Variants and spellings of the last name Getzel

The surname Getzel can have several variations due to spelling differences and changes over time. Here are some of them:

1. Getzell - This variation adds an extra 'l' at the end, which is common in certain regional dialects or transcriptions.
2. Gietzel - A less common variation that switches the order of the 'i' and 'e'.
3. Geetzle - A phonetic variant with a different spelling based on how some individuals might pronounce the name.
4. Getsel - This form removes the final 'l', which can occur in informal or conversational settings.
5. Gitzell - Another variation, adding an extra 't' to the end.
6. Getzelman - A patronymic variant, where '-man' is added to indicate that the person's father was named Getzel.
7. Getzler - A possible diminutive or occupational form of Getzel, referring to a tailor or one who works with fur.
8. Gyetzel - This spelling is an example of how the name may be anglicized or adapted when transcribed from other languages like German or Yiddish.

Famous people with the last name Getzel

Notable individuals bearing the surname Getzel include:

1. Michael Getzler (born 1946), British historian and author, specializing in Jewish history and Israeli politics. He is the Emeritus Professor of Modern History at University College London.

2. David Getzler (born 1952), American historian and academic, known for his work on modern European and Holocaust studies. He has taught at the University of Michigan and the United States Military Academy.

3. Paul Getzler (1894-1968), Canadian lawyer and political figure. He was a member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1945 to 1955, representing the constituency of Wentworth North as a Liberal.

4. Avi Getzler (born 1977), Israeli football player who played as a defender for Hapoel Tel Aviv and Maccabi Haifa in the Israeli Premier League. He also represented Israel at the international level.

Genealogical research on the last name Getzel

The surname Getzel is primarily associated with Jewish communities, originating from Eastern Europe. According to genealogical research, the name can be traced back to several towns in Poland and Russia, such as Nowy Targ, Kraków, and Zhytomyr, during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Variations of the surname include Getzelman, Getzell, and Getzler. Many Getzels emigrated to the United States in the late 19th and early 20th centuries due to economic hardship and anti-Semitic persecution, settling primarily in cities like New York, Chicago, and Philadelphia. The name is also found among Jewish communities in Israel, South America, and other countries where Eastern European Jews have resettled. Genealogical records include census data, immigration lists, and synagogue registers for tracing Getzel ancestry.

Last name distribution maps

Chargement de la carte...

NomOrigine Team
About the author :

NomOrigine Team

Passionate about genealogy, name history, and linguistics, we have been analyzing the origins of names for over 3 years. Our content is based on verified historical, etymological, and statistical data.

Last updated :

Share the origin of your last name with your friends

Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Pinterest WhatsApp Messenger Telegram

Search the origin of a family name

Enter the surname you are looking for below:

Similar Last Names

#1 Geta hoye

Last name • surnames > geta-hoye

The origin of the last name Geta Hoye is Nigerian. It is a common last name among the Yoruba ethnic group in Nigeria.

#2 Geta new

Last name • surnames > geta-new

The surname "Geta" is of Romanian origin. It is believed to be derived from the Romanian word "geţa," which was the name of an ancient Thracian tribe. The name could also have con...

#3 Getachew beyene

Last name • surnames > getachew-beyene

The last name "Getachew Beyene" is of Ethiopian origin. "Getachew" is a common Ethiopian first name meaning "he who increases", while "Beyene" is a common Ethiopian last name.

#4 Getahoni

Last name • surnames > getahoni

The last name "Getahoni" originates from the Native American Hopi tribe in the southwestern United States.

#5 Getate

Last name • surnames > getate

The last name "Getate" is of Spanish origin, specifically from the region of Andalusia. It likely derives from a place name in the region or from a personal or occupational name.

#6 Getaw

Last name • surnames > getaw

The last name "Getaw" is of Ethiopian origin. It is derived from the Amharic word "geta," meaning "guard" or "defend." The name may have originated as a surname for individuals who...

#7 Getcawe

Last name • surnames > getcawe

The last name "Getcawe" has an English origin. It is likely a variant of the surname "Delcaw." However, the exact origin and meaning of the surname "Getcawe" is unclear.

#8 Getdar

Last name • surnames > getdar

The surname Getdar is of Kurdish origin. It is derived from the region of Kurdistan, which is situated in the Middle East.

#9 Getechew

Last name • surnames > getechew

The last name Getechew is of Ethiopian origin. It is a variant spelling of the Amharic name "Getachew," which means "Maya" or "trustworthy" in Amharic.

#10 Getfit

Last name • surnames > getfit

The last name Getfit is of English origin. It is believed to be a surname derived from the Old Norse personal name Geiti, which means goat.

#11 Getha

Last name • surnames > getha

It seems that the family name "Getha" does not have a clearly attested origin. It may be a rare surname or a spelling variant of another more common surname. Without more informati...

#12 Gethek

Last name • surnames > gethek

The last name "Gethek" appears to have German origins.

#13 Getmesay

Last name • surnames > getmesay

The last name "Getmesay" is of Ethiopian origin. It is derived from the Ethiopian language Amharic, meaning "He knows me."

#14 Getova

Last name • surnames > getova

The surname "Getova" is believed to have origins in Eastern Europe, particularly in the countries of Bulgaria and North Macedonia. It is likely derived from a word or place name th...

#15 Getty

Last name • surnames > getty

The surname Getty is of Old Norse origin, derived from the given name "Gauti." It was initially brought to England by Viking settlers and later Anglicized to its current form. Nota...