Ockl History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Germany

Etymology of Ockl

What does the name Ockl mean?

The name Ockl evolved in ancient Germany in the state of Bavaria. It is a patronymic name. Patronymics are derived from the given name of the father of the bearer. Names derived from the name of the mother of the bearer, which are less common, are called metronymic names. Patronymic names were generally formed from traditional, German given names, rather than the names of saints or biblical figures, as is the custom in many other European cultures. Ockl comes from the Germanic personal name Eckhart. The name Ockl is a short form of this Germanic personal name, which is derived from the Old German word "ecka," which means "corner" or "edge." Thus, the original bearer of this name resided at the edge of a settlement or on the corner of a street.

Early Origins of the Ockl family

The surname Ockl was first found in Bavaria, where the family became noted for its many branches within the region, many houses acquiring a status and influence which rivaled that of the landed aristocracy. In their later history some branches were elevated to the ranks of nobility as they distinguished themselves through their contributions to the social, political, and economic developments of the nation.

Early History of the Ockl family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Ockl research. Another 159 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1103, 1108, 1486, 1543, 1760, 1766, 1774, 1778, 1792, 1801 and 1854 are included under the topic Early Ockl History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ockl Spelling Variations

One can encounter great variation in the spelling of surnames: in early times, spelling in general, and thus the spelling of names was not yet standardized; and later, spellings would change with branching and movement of families. Variations of the name Ockl include Eck, Ecker, Ecke, Ekker, Eker, Ekert, Ekke, Eckher, Eckherr, Echer, Eckermann and many more.

Early Notables of the Ockl family

Johann Maier Eck (1486-1543), who was a powerful opponent of Martin Luther and the Reformation; Johann Peter Eckermann (1792-1854) was an author in his own right, but was most famous for his friendship with Goethe; he was the latter's literary executor and his recorded conversations with Goethe gave the public many insights into the character of Germany's greatest author. Johann Friedrich Eck was an eminent violin-player, born 1766 at Mannheim, where his father was a member of the band. He was a pupil of Danner, and soon rose to be one of the best violin-players in Germany. Reichardt of Berlin speaks of...
Another 130 words (9 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Ockl Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Ockl family

The great European flow of migration to North America, which began in the middle of the 17th century and continued into the 20th century, was particularly attractive to those from Bavaria who wished to escape either poverty or religious persecution. For many Bavarian tenant farmers, the chance to own their own land was a major incentive. So the widespread colonization of the United States began in 1650, when many immigrants from Germany settled in pockets in Pennsylvania, Texas, New York, Illinois, and California. In Canada, German settlement centered in Ontario and the prairie provinces. Among those of this surname listed in various historical records were: Christopher Ecker, age 42, who arrived in Philadelphia in 1741; Peter Ecker, age 40, who arrived in Philadelphia in 1741; William Ecker, who settled in New Jersey in 1755.