The ancestral home of the Zettel family is in the German state of
Bavaria. The name Zettel is an
occupational hereditary surname, a type of surname that was taken from a word describing or common to the profession of the original bearer. It is a name for a person who held a position of high prestige and may have been a courier or a diplomat. The name Zettel is derived from the German word "zedel," which means "drawing up" or "dispatching." It is also possible that the original bearer of the name Zettel was involved in the judiciary, or in the drawing up of legal documents.
Early Origins of the Zettel family
The surname Zettel was first found in
Bavaria, where this family name became a prominent contributor to the development of the district from ancient times. Always prominent in social affairs, the name became an integral part of that turbulent region as it emerged to form alliances with other families within the
Feudal System and the nation. Chronicles first mention Merten Zettelschreiber of Altburg in 1560.
Early History of the Zettel family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Zettel research.
Another 199 words (14 lines of text) covering the years 188 and 1882 are included under the topic Early Zettel History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Zettel Spelling Variations
In the medieval era, many different cultural groups lived in the German states. There are thus many regional variations of German surnames from that era.
Westphalians spoke Low German, which is similar to modern Dutch. Many German names carry suffixes that identify where they came from. Others have phrases attached that identify something about the original bearer. Other variations in German names resulted from the fact that medieval scribes worked without the aid of any spelling rules. The
spelling variations of the name Zettel include Zettel, Zettle, Zettl, Zettels, Zettler, Zedel and others.
Early Notables of the Zettel family (pre 1700)
Another 21 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Zettel Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the Zettel family to the New World and Oceana
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 Among those of this surname listed in various historical records were:
Zettel Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
- Jacob Zettel, who arrived in Philadelphia in 1733
Zettel Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
- Frederick Zettel, who arrived in Georgia in 1856
Contemporary Notables of the name Zettel (post 1700)
- Louis A. Zettel, American Democrat politician, Candidate in primary for U.S. Representative from Michigan 6th District, 1934 [1]CITATION[CLOSE]
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, December 10) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html - Charlene Zettel (b. 1947), American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from California, 2004 [1]CITATION[CLOSE]
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, December 10) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html - Kathrin Zettel (b. 1986), Austrian alpine skier
Historic Events for the Zettel family
Bismarck
- Werner Zettel (1921-1941), German Matrosengefreiter who served aboard the German Battleship Bismarck during World War II when it was sunk heading to France; he died in the sinking [2]CITATION[CLOSE]
Bismarck & Tirpitz Class - Crew List Bismarck. (Retrieved 2018, February 06). Retrieved from https://www.bismarck-class.dk/bismarck/crew/bismarck_crew.html#crew_details
- Mr. German Zettel (1901-1937), German Chief Mechanic from Buchschlag, Hessen, Germany, who worked on board the Hindenburg LZ-129 and survived the Airship Fire [3]CITATION[CLOSE]
Hindenburg Disaster Passenger List | Airships.net. (Retrieved 2014, April 11) . Retrieved from http://www.airships.net/hindenburg/disaster/hindenburg-passenger-list/