Zippel

Zippel is a surname of German origin. It is found in German-speaking regions and among descendants of German immigrants in North America. The name likely originated as a nickname or toponymic reference tied to a geographic feature, and over time various spellings have appeared in records, including Zippel and Zipfel in some examples.

In mathematics and computer science, the name Zippel is associated with the Schwartz–Zippel lemma, a probabilistic method used to test polynomial identities. The lemma provides a bound on the probability that a nonzero multivariate polynomial evaluates to zero at a randomly chosen input from a finite set, and it underpins many randomized algorithms for polynomial factorization and identity testing. It is widely used in areas such as computational algebra and complexity theory.

Geographically and culturally, the surname Zippel is carried by multiple families and has been used in place names and institutions in North America, reflecting historical immigration and settlement patterns. In biography and scholarship, individuals bearing the surname have contributed across disciplines, including science, engineering, and the arts.

See also: Zipfel (surname).