Goebel
A German surname most often from a diminutive of a personal name, especially one related to Godfrey/Goibert forms.
The #3,920 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 34,070 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Goebel is generally explained as a German surname formed from a diminutive or pet form of an older personal name. In many cases it is linked to names built on the element for "God" or to related Germanic given-name forms such as Godebert/Gottlieb-style names, with the suffix giving the sense of "little" or "son of" in a loose onomastic way. Because medieval spelling was fluid, the surname could also reflect regional pronunciation variants of similar-sounding names.
History
The name is found in German-speaking areas and later appears in North America through immigration, especially in the 19th century. English-language scholarship from the early 20th century cites it in German literary and academic contexts, but the provided excerpts do not give a direct surname etymology. In modern usage it is established in the United States, where it is less common than many other German surnames.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
The spelling Goebel often reflects an umlaut that was simplified to "oe" in English-language records and immigration documents.
From the historical record
“JULIUS GOEBEL, Leland Stanford, Jr., University. J. T. HATFIELD, Northwestern University.”
— Studies in Pennsylvania German Family Names