What's in a name?

Did you ever wonder what our name “Troxel” means or where it came from. First there are many variants of the name. Troxell, with two L's is also common. Also every vowel has been used with one L or two. Traxel, Truxel, Trexel and Trixel. The X is sometimes replaced by an S or SS. The T can be replaced with a D as in “Draxel” or “Drexel”. These words can also have an “er” ending as in Troxler.

The name (or names) are actually Americanized or Anglicized variants of the old German “Drachsel” or the old Swiss German “Trachsel”. Don't be thrown by different spellings, they actually sound alike, it takes a sharp ear to hear the difference. The German pronunciation is “trawk” (as in awk-ward) “sel”. It is also best if you can blend “D” and “T” and roll the “R”. OK, you won't sound like a German but for English speakers the Germanic “ch” is difficult to master. Perhaps it is easier to think of the composer Johann Sebastian Bach, the “ach” in Bach is pronounced in the same manner in Trachsel. Drop the “B” from Bach and replace it with Tr and add sel. Perfect!

So what does it mean? Look at this illustration.Do you recognize this tool? In English it is called a “Lathe” and is used for turning wood or metal into spindles, tools, baseball bats and all types of crafted objects. In Switzerland, the tool was called a “Trachsel”. The craftsman was a “Trachsler”, or one who operated a Trachsel. A turner.

In old Europe craftsmen were very highly regarded and held high honor in the commoner society. They were also highly paid.

The modern German word for the Lathe is Drechselband. Languages are always dynamic and changing. Note: In German the Tr and Dr sounds are virtually indistinguishable to the English ear.