Show ContentsWentzell History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The German surname Wentzell comes from the male given name Wenzeslaus which was derived from the Czech given name Václav or Venceslav, meaning "praised with glory". Some etymologists believe the name ultimately derives from the Slavic given name Wenze to which the Germanic diminutive suffix "el" was added.

Wenceslaus I (c. 907-935), also known as Wenceslas I or Václav the Good was the Duke of Bohemia from 921 until his death, probably in 935. According to the legend, he was assassinated by his younger brother, Boleslaus the Cruel. He was posthumously declared to be a king and patron saint of the Czech state.

Early Origins of the Wentzell family

The surname Wentzell was first found in Germany, where the name Wentzell came from humble beginnings but gained a significant reputation for its contribution to the emerging mediaeval society. It later became more prominent as numerous branches of the same house acquired distant estates, some of which were located in other countries. Through the acquisition of these estates as well as their important contributions to society, the family successfully elevated their social status.

Early History of the Wentzell family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Wentzell research. Another 116 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1507, 1561, 1578, 1585, 1696, 1711, 1718, 1742, 1763, 1769, 1772, 1773, 1794, 1825, 1830 and 1859 are included under the topic Early Wentzell History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Wentzell Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Wentzel, Wentzl, Wentzzel, Wentzell, Wenttzel, Wentzels, Wentzls, Wentzlls, Wentzells, Wenttzels, Wentzele, Wensel, Wentsel and many more.

Early Notables of the Wentzell family

Notables of the time with the name Wentzell included Wenzel Thomas Matiegka (1773-1830), Bohemian composer; Prince Klemens Wenzel von Metternich (1773-1859), German-Austrian politician and statesman; Josef Wenzel, Prince of Liechtenstein (1696-1772), Prince of Liechtenstein; and Franz Wenzel, Graf von Kaunitz-Rietberg, (1742-1825), Austrian general, son of Wenzel...
Another 45 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Wentzell Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Wentzell migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Wentzell Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Johann Adam Wentzell, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1750 1
  • Johann Andreas Wentzell, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1764 1
  • Philip Wentzell, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1765 1
  • Daniel Wentzell, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1765 1


  1. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)


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