Show ContentsBiel History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Biel

What does the name Biel mean?

The Biel surname finds its roots with the Low German word "bil," meaning "hatchet."

Early Origins of the Biel family

The surname Biel was first found in the duchy of Brunswick, where the family emerged in mediaeval times as one of the notable families of the region. From the 13th century the surname was identified with the great social and economic evolution which made this territory a landmark contributor to the development of the nation.

Early History of the Biel family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Biel research. Another 135 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1400, 1477 and 1791 are included under the topic Early Biel History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Biel Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Biel, Biele, Bielle, Biehl, Biehle, Biehlle and others.

Early Notables of the Biel family

Prominent bearers of the family name Biel at this time were

  • Gabriel Biel, a scholastic philosopher, who was born in Speier in the early 1400s...

Biel Ranking

In the United States, the name Biel is the 13,106th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1


Biel migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Biel Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Johannes Lutwig Biel, who settled in Philadelphia in 1750
  • Jacob Biel, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1765 2
Biel Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • P C Biel, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1850 2
  • Carl Biel, who settled in Texas in 1851
  • Carl Biel, who landed in Galveston, Tex in 1851 2

Biel migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Biel Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Miss Baltheisa Biel, (b. 1862), aged Infant, German settler, from German y travelling from London aboard the ship "Queen of Mersey" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, Southland, South Island, New Zealand on 20th October 1862 3
  • Mr. Frederick Biel, (b. 1831), aged 31, German farm labourer, from German y travelling from London aboard the ship "Queen of Mersey" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, Southland, South Island, New Zealand on 20th October 1862 3
  • Mrs. Mariah Biel, (b. 1841), aged 21, German settler, from German y travelling from London aboard the ship "Queen of Mersey" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, Southland, South Island, New Zealand on 20th October 1862 3


The Biel Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Propositi tenax
Motto Translation: Tenacious of my resolve.


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  3. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html


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