Eitel Family History

German:: from a short form of an ancient Germanic personal name formed with agi ‘point edge (of a sword)’. nickname from Middle High German ītel ‘pure genuine’ also ‘bare only’. In the days before surnames had begun to make their mark bearers of common personal names would often have a second personal name as a distinguishing feature;

someone who did not have a second such name could be distinguished by this fact in itself as for example ītel Hans (‘just Hans’) as against Hans Joachim. The meaning ‘vain conceited’ is comparatively late and has probably not contributed to the surname.