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ArchivesGerman surnames Buettel & Kofahl
Would like to know the origin of the german surname Buettel, also spelt with the umulet over the u replacing the 1st e. Have read somewhere about it being a beadle, jailer or court messenger.
The 2nd surname Kofahl, is it possible from one of the variations of the polish Kowalski, being a blacksmith?
Here's 2 to delve into!
The 2nd surname Kofahl, is it possible from one of the variations of the polish Kowalski, being a blacksmith?
Here's 2 to delve into!
This message was edited 8/29/2008, 11:10 PM
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Replies
You're right about Büttel as you can see at http://dict.leo.org/ende?lp=ende&lang=de&searchLoc=0&cmpType=relaxed§Hdr=on&spellToler=on&chinese=both&pinyin=diacritic&search=b%FCttel&relink=on
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You're spot on with Kofahl, same as Polish Kowal. It's one of those Slavo-German names from east of the Elbe, indicative of Sorbian/Lusatian origin, not a Germanised Polish name. It's surprising how many "German" surnames are really Slavic in origin.
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