Wendel m
German: from an old Germanic personal name, in origin an ethnic byname for a Wend, a member of the Slavonic people living in the area between the Elbe and the Oder, who were overrun by Germanic migrants in the 12th century. In part it was also used as a short form of various compound names with that first element (cf. WENDA (SEE Wenda)). St Wendel was a 6th- or 7th-century shepherd and confessor, who is venerated especially at Sanktwendel on the River Nahe.
First names dictionary. 2012.