MAISEL Origin of surname
MAISEL, MAIZEL, MEISEL, MEIZEL
Surnames derive from one of many different origins. Sometimes there may be more than one explanation for the same name. This family name is a patronymic surname based on a male ancestor's personal name, in this case of biblical origin.
In some cases Maisel (literally "little mouse" in German and Yiddish) is derived from the biblical personal name Michael. Many Jewish and non-Jewish given and surnames are based on Michael, among them the German Michel/Michl, frequently used to symbolize the typical German, the French Michel, the Italian form Michele, the Russian Mikhail, the Hungarian Mihaly, and the Rumanian Mihai(l). Various spellings include the diminutives Meisel and Maisel to Meysel and Meusel, and could have produced the forms Miss and Miess.
Some sources connect Michael with house signs which pictured a mouse (in German, Maus) or a Titmouse (in German, Meise). Before the 19th century, prior to the modern system of addressing property by number and street name, European houses generally were identified with a picture sign or shield hanging in front.
As a Jewish surname, Michael is recorded in 1212 in Wuerzburg in Germany, Michaleis in 1261 at Main (Germany), Michahel in 1334 in Strasbourg, France; Mikiel in 1337 in the Hainot, France; Michelin in 1392 in Colmar, France, Michaellis in 1400 in France; Meisel in 1477 in Prague (Bohemia); Michel in 1550 in Hessen, Germany. Mischelis (1678), Michelis and Michelupp (1720), Miess and Miss (1721), Mischke (1731), and Machelopp (1745) are documented in the lists of visitors who attended and Leipzig fairs in Germany. Misch, Maechel, and Meishchel are recorded in 18th century Alsace, Germany.
Some sources connect Michael with house signs which pictured a mouse (in German, Maus) or a Titmouse (in German, Meise). Before the 19th century, prior to the modern system of addressing property by number and street name, European houses generally were identified with a picture sign or shield hanging in front. In some cases there fore Maisel is derived from one of the house-signs in the Jewish quarter ("Judengasse") of medieval Frankfurt am Main, Germany, where each house had a sign, usually an animal or a flower. With time, many of the signs became fixed hereditary family names.
Meisel is documented as a Jewish family name in the 16th century with the Polish physician Abraham Meisel.
Distinguished bearers of the Jewish family name Meisel include the Lithuanian scholar and author, Moses Ben Mordecai Meisel (1760-1838); the 20th century German composer, Edmund Meisel, who wrote the music for Eisenstein's famous film 'Potemkin'; and the Latvian medical and health officer, and member of parliament, Noah Meisel (1891-1956).
Distinguished bearers of the Jewish family name Maisel include the Polish talmudist Elijah Maisel (1821-1912); the 20th century American merchant Edwin Maisel; and the 2oth century American author, business executive and community leader Melvin Maisel.
Surnames derive from one of many different origins. Sometimes there may be more than one explanation for the same name. This family name is a patronymic surname based on a male ancestor's personal name, in this case of biblical origin.
In some cases Maisel (literally "little mouse" in German and Yiddish) is derived from the biblical personal name Michael. Many Jewish and non-Jewish given and surnames are based on Michael, among them the German Michel/Michl, frequently used to symbolize the typical German, the French Michel, the Italian form Michele, the Russian Mikhail, the Hungarian Mihaly, and the Rumanian Mihai(l). Various spellings include the diminutives Meisel and Maisel to Meysel and Meusel, and could have produced the forms Miss and Miess.
Some sources connect Michael with house signs which pictured a mouse (in German, Maus) or a Titmouse (in German, Meise). Before the 19th century, prior to the modern system of addressing property by number and street name, European houses generally were identified with a picture sign or shield hanging in front.
As a Jewish surname, Michael is recorded in 1212 in Wuerzburg in Germany, Michaleis in 1261 at Main (Germany), Michahel in 1334 in Strasbourg, France; Mikiel in 1337 in the Hainot, France; Michelin in 1392 in Colmar, France, Michaellis in 1400 in France; Meisel in 1477 in Prague (Bohemia); Michel in 1550 in Hessen, Germany. Mischelis (1678), Michelis and Michelupp (1720), Miess and Miss (1721), Mischke (1731), and Machelopp (1745) are documented in the lists of visitors who attended and Leipzig fairs in Germany. Misch, Maechel, and Meishchel are recorded in 18th century Alsace, Germany.
Some sources connect Michael with house signs which pictured a mouse (in German, Maus) or a Titmouse (in German, Meise). Before the 19th century, prior to the modern system of addressing property by number and street name, European houses generally were identified with a picture sign or shield hanging in front. In some cases there fore Maisel is derived from one of the house-signs in the Jewish quarter ("Judengasse") of medieval Frankfurt am Main, Germany, where each house had a sign, usually an animal or a flower. With time, many of the signs became fixed hereditary family names.
Meisel is documented as a Jewish family name in the 16th century with the Polish physician Abraham Meisel.
Distinguished bearers of the Jewish family name Meisel include the Lithuanian scholar and author, Moses Ben Mordecai Meisel (1760-1838); the 20th century German composer, Edmund Meisel, who wrote the music for Eisenstein's famous film 'Potemkin'; and the Latvian medical and health officer, and member of parliament, Noah Meisel (1891-1956).
Distinguished bearers of the Jewish family name Maisel include the Polish talmudist Elijah Maisel (1821-1912); the 20th century American merchant Edwin Maisel; and the 2oth century American author, business executive and community leader Melvin Maisel.