Grätzel

Grätzel is a surname of German origin. It is believed to derive from the word "Grät", meaning bone or spine, and could have referred to a person who worked with bones, perhaps a butcher or a bone setter. Alternatively, it might have been a topographic name for someone who lived near a prominent ridge or bone-like feature.

Notable individuals with the surname Grätzel include Michael Grätzel, a Swiss chemist renowned for his pioneering work in dye-sensitized solar cells, often referred to as Grätzel cells. His research has significantly contributed to the field of renewable energy. The Grätzel surname is not exceptionally common but is found in German-speaking countries and among those with German ancestry. Its distribution is spread across various regions, with no single area exhibiting a disproportionately high concentration of the name. The name's etymological roots suggest a historical connection to medieval occupations or geographical descriptions.