indicate the level to which a name has been verified.Type Surname
Usage Anglo-Saxon, German, Dutch, Germanic, English (American)
Pronounced Pron. /ˈni.pel/(Old English) /ˈnɪ.pəl/(German, Dutch, American English) /ˈni.pəl/(Dutch) /ˈni.pu.lɑz/(Germanic) [key·simplify]
Other Forms FormsKnippel, Nippel, Nippold, Nipel, Nipulaz
Meaning & History
It could relate to someone who lived near a small hill or mound, as nipple in English can colloquially describe a rounded hilltop. It could also be a variation or corruption of a German or Dutch surname, such as Knippel, Nippel, or Nippold. It’s possible (though less likely) that it originated as a humorous or nickname-based surname, particularly in post-medieval English-speaking contexts.