Hansel
A surname with several possible roots, but most often treated as a Germanic form related to Hans or John.
The #8,622 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 80,929 Americans shares it.
Etymology
The surname Hansel is most commonly explained as a diminutive or familiar form built on Hans, the German short form of Johannes, meaning “John.” Some older writers also treated it as a local or occupational-style name, but that explanation is less secure and seems to reflect speculative 19th-century etymology. In practice, Hansel is best understood as a Germanic family name associated with the personal name Hans.
History
The name appears in German-speaking areas in several related forms, including Hansel, Hänsel, Hensel, and Hansler, and it also occurs in English records. In English surname dictionaries it was sometimes linked to other place-name ideas, but that interpretation is not strongly supported. In modern usage it is uncommon in the United States, where it is found as a relatively rare surname.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
The same Hans/Häns/Hänsel name-family also appears in German folklore, most famously in the tale of Hansel and Gretel.
From the historical record
“place, a common. HANSEL. Local. (Saxon.) A free market or hall, from haunse or hanse, a society, hansa, Gothic, a multitude, and sel, a hall. HANSON. The son of Hans or John, same as Johnson. Bailey derives it from Han, the diminutive of Randall, the son of Randall. HANWAY. A native of Hainault, which country was…”
— An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names