Surname Häfele - Meaning and Origin
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The iGENEA DNA test has been a transformative journey, fostering a profound connection to my personal heritage and identity associated with my surname, Häfele. This newfound understanding has symbiotically intertwined the past, present, and future in an intricate thread of identities, revealing the depth and extent of my lineage.
Z. Häfele
read moreHäfele: What does the surname Häfele mean?
The surname Häfele is derived from the German word “hafel,” which means “hawk.” This suggested that the original bearer of the name was likely a hunter or one who engaged in falconry, an activity that was once popular among the nobility in Europe. The name itself is a modern spelling of an old German word which itself was derived from the Latin word habaele, which translates to “falcon.” The Häfele surname can be found in various regions of Europe, although it was primarily identified in Germany.
The earliest records of the name date back to the 16th century and primarily consist of references to individuals named “Hafele” in various German texts. One early record of the name comes from a document dated 1532 in which a man by the name of Johannes Haverle is mentioned. In the early 19th century, the family migrated to the United States and many Häfeles remain in the country to this day.
Today, Häfele is a fairly common name in both the United States and Europe. People with the surname are spread out over multiple countries, and as such it is often difficult to trace its exact origin. Nonetheless, the name's connection to falconry and its Germanic origins remain intact and serve as a reminder of a time long past when individuals with the Häfele surname used their skills in falconry to hunt and provide for their families.
Order DNA origin analysisHäfele: Where does the name Häfele come from?
Häfele is a surname found mainly in central and southern Germany. It is also common in Austria, Switzerland, some parts of France, and even the United States, where it is sometimes anglicized to Hefley or Hefelfinger. Although the origin of the name is unknown, it is thought to have originally been a variation of the Middle High German word “hafel”, meaning “basket” or “basket maker”.
In Germany, Häfele is most common in Bavaria, with a significant presence in Baden-Württemberg, Hesse and Thuringia, as well as in the city of Berlin. In Austria, the Häfele surname is predominant in Styria, Upper and Lower Austria, and Vienna. In Switzerland, it is mainly found in Lucerne, Bern, and Zurich.
In the United States, the majority of people with the last name of Hefley or Hefelfinger were originally of German extraction. In the 1880s, when large numbers of Germans began emigrating to America, many took the Hefley or Hefelfinger version of the name with them. The name has since spread throughout the country, primarily in Pennsylvania, Missouri, Ohio, and Iowa.
Today, Häfele is still a common, widespread surname, especially in German-speaking countries. It is also occasionally seen in other parts of Europe, as well as in the United States.
Variations of the surname Häfele
Häfele is a German surname with several variant spellings and also forms of surnames that are related. The most common variant spelling is Haeffele, although other variants include Haeffeli, Hafele, Hafeli, Haefeli, Hafel, Haefele, Hafle, Hafly and Haefly. All of these variants are related to the German surname Häfele.
Some related surname forms that developed from the same origin as Häfele are Hafener, Hafelebauer, Haflein, Hafmaier, Haftl, Haffele, Haffner, Hanfle, Haenfle, Henffele, Henfflin, Hennglin, Henninger, Henfling, Hennigle and Henniglein.
Etymologically, the surname means “basket maker,” or it could be derived from the Middle High German “hevelen,” meaning “to turn,” as in to turn a basket over on the wheel while making it. The family is found in many areas of southern Germany including Bavaria, Wurttemberg and Baden, with records going back to the 16th century.
The surname Häfele has also spread to other countries due to migration, particularly in the United States and Canada. In the United States, the surname is found in states such as Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Ohio.It is also found in Canada, primarily in Ontario but also in other provinces.
Thus, while Häfele is the original spelling and form of the surname, there are several variants and related names that are connected to it, with the family present in both Europe and North America due to migration.
Famous people with the name Häfele
- Petra Häfele: Best known as a German professional beach volleyball player, winning both the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships in 2003 and the European Championships in 2003 and 2007
- Dr. Joseph Häfele: German geographer and namesake of the Häfele Memorial Prize for outstanding settlement research
- Johannes Häfele: Catholic Archbishop and assistant at the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity
- Dr. Lorenz Häfele: German ophthalmologist and scientist; known for inventing the so-called Häfele-Krause lens for refraction correction in the early 1900's
- Gebhard Häfele: German professor of musicology and Freiburg's university's president from 1992 to 1998
- Martin Häfele: German cavalry officer, hailing from the city of Ellwangen, who was in charge of the horse-drawn artillery at the Battle of Leipzig during the Napoleonic Wars
- Hans Häfele: Swiss cyclist, who won two gold medals at the 1949 and 1951 UCI Road World Championships
- Dr. Wolfgang Häfele: German chemist and physicist, specializing in lasers and known for his research into the development and implementation of laser-based atom-trapping technology.