Hertel
A German surname, probably from a pet form of a personal name beginning with Her- or Hart-, rather than a descriptive word.
The #7,562 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 70,249 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Hertel is best understood as a German surname built as a diminutive or affectionate form, probably from a personal name starting with Her- or Hart-. In German naming, the ending -el often forms a pet name or shortened form, so Hertel likely began as “little Hert” or “son/descendant of Hert,” rather than referring to an occupation or place. The exact first name behind it is not certain from the excerpt alone.
History
The name is found in German-speaking areas and later appears in other countries through migration. Related forms such as Herter and Herting suggest a broader family of surnames built from the same name stem. In the United States, Hertel is uncommon but established, consistent with German immigrant ancestry.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
The ending -el is a common German diminutive, which is why surnames like Hertel often started as familiar or affectionate forms of a given name.
From the historical record
“^Hersleue 489. Hertel 137, 184. Herter 209, 623. Herting 199. *Hertninch 248. *Hertum 477. Hertwich 211.”
— Die Personennamen, insbesondere die Familiennamen