Surname Jäckl - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'J'
Jäckl: What does the surname Jäckl mean?
The last name Jäckl is a German surname from the Middle High German and Old High German words jac and loc, which roughly translates as "hunter." Historically, this name was given to a person who worked as a hunter (especially of birds or smaller game animals). This surname is sometimes spelled as Jaeckl, informally Jaekl, and Jaikl.
In Bavarian, the surname is often written as a 'J' with an umlaut, but the correct spelling should include an 'ae' as it is a German Umlaut. It is considered to be a rather rare last name today with fewer than 2,000 people having it in Germany, the majority of which live in the Bavarian area.
The surname Jäckl is also found in the Czech Republic and Austria as well as some other countries outside of Germany. This indicates that the origins of the surname could possibly stem from Germanic tribes bringing it to other parts of Europe such as Bohemia and Austria.
Typically, a person with this last name is thought to be of great integrity and trustworthy, which explains why they may have been chosen to work as a hunter. These attributes may also be seen in those with this last name today, as it is still a popular choice for many people in the areas where it is used.
Order DNA origin analysisJäckl: Where does the name Jäckl come from?
The last name Jäckl is fairly common throughout Central Europe and can still be found in countries like Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Poland, and The Czech Republic.
In terms of the origin of the name, it is an occupational surname meaning "jackdaw" and is likely derived from the Middle High German word jeckel.
In Germany, the Jäckl name is most prevalent within the Bavarian and Upper Palatinate regions in the southwestern part of the country. The name is fairly rare in Northern Germany. Austria also has some Jäckl's, mainly in the Vorarlberg and East Tyrol Provinces. It is primarily centred around the cities of Bregenz, Lienz, and Innsbruck.
In Switzerland, it is mainly concentrated in the Canton of Schwyz. For example, the village of Wollerau where the internationally known Hoffmann-Jäckl family are from.
In addition to the countries mentioned above, Jäckl's can also be found in other parts of Central Europe, including the Czech Republic and Poland, as well as some countries in the Balkans.
Overall, there are no exact numbers indicating how many Jäckl's there are, but considering its origins and distribution in Europe, it is likely a fairly common surname in Central Europe.
Variations of the surname Jäckl
The surname Jäckl is of German origin and has numerous variants, spellings, and surnames that follow the same origin. Some variations of Jäckl are Jaegel, Jakl, Jaegl, and Jaeckle. Spellings of Jäckl include Jaegel, Jakl, Jaegl, Jaeckle, Jäckle, Jackel, Jeckl, Jäkl, and Jäkel. Surnames associated with Jäckl can include Jaegelmeir, Jeckle, Yakar, Jaeckl, Jaeckles, Jakob, Jakubowitz, and Jacol.
Jäckl is a patronymic surname, a type of surname that is derived from the given name of a father or ancestor. As such, Jäckl is derived from the German personal name Jakob, Jakub, Jacob, and Jacobs. In many regions across Germany, this surname was used as an occupational name to describe a hunter, and thus was alternatively known as Jaeger or Jäger. Others believed to be of direct ancestral origin trace the name back to a nickname since it is derived from the Middle High German term jechel, meaning “proud, haughty, overweening.”
In more modern times, Jäckl has become a fairly common surname found in numerous countries including Germany, Austria, and the United States. Variants, spellings, and other surnames of the same origin all point to the patronymic roots of Jäckl as well as a wide range of potential ancestral roots.
Famous people with the name Jäckl
- Gustav Jäckl (1848-1917): A German entomologist and botanist who was one of the main founders of modern urban ecology. He was known for his study of the urban environment and the factors that affect it.
- Werner Jäckl (1883-1964): widely known author, historian and statesman from The German Empire. He was also a former member of the Prussian army. He is best known for his work on the Prussian military and the rise and fall of the Prussian Monarchy.
- Eric Jäckl (1908-1937): A German-born geologist who worked extensively in the South American Andes Mountains. He was best known for his explorations of the most remote parts of the suites range.
- Karl Jäckl (1851-1914): A Bavarian painter and teacher who is credited with the invention of the famous ‘baden-masken’ masks. He was part of the back-art movement and was also an accomplished religious painter.
- Alfred Jäckl (1882-1976): A famous Austrian mathematician and philosopher who worked extensively in mathematics and transcendental philosophy. He was a student of Edmund Husserl and is known for his works on Husserl’s philosophy.
- Karl Friedrich Jäckl (1807–1889): A German-born physician in the German Imperial Navy. He was especially interested in tropical medicine and fought a long battle against the prevalence of malaria in the tropics.
- Johann Jäckl (1936-2013): German politician and leader in the Green Party in the state of Bavaria. He was known for his progressive views on environmental protection, human rights and other topics. He was a strong proponent of solar energy and supported green energy initiatives.