Ancel

Ancel is a surname and, less commonly, a given name. It appears in historical and contemporary records primarily in French-speaking regions and among descendants of French communities, but it is also found in other countries through migration.

The exact origin of Ancel is uncertain. The name is generally considered of French origin and is linked to medieval forms such as Ancel and Ancelin. It may derive from personal names built from Latin elements such as angelus (angel) or from earlier Germanic names. As with many short medieval names, the form likely reflects a diminutive or pet form that later became a surname.

As a surname, Ancel is most common in France and in Francophone areas of Belgium, Switzerland, Canada, and the United States. It is relatively uncommon as a given name in modern times, more often appearing in historical records or as a family-name-based given name.

The surname has appeared in local histories and contemporary contexts, but there is no universally recognized figure strongly associated with the name in widely used reference works.

See also: Ansel, Anselm.