Hi Tim

I was given this info from a shop who deals in family crests
And I Don't know what book he obtained it from as it was a computer
printout in 1993

Details are:
Early refrences to the German family name Zirbel and it variants Zwirbel
date back to the 13th century, where one Burkart der Zwirbeler was
mentioned in documents for the year 1294.

The surname Zirbel is of nickname origan, deriving fram a personal or
physicial characteristic of the original bearer.  Her, the surname Zirbel
derives from the Middle high German"zirben". 'zirbelen", meaning to whirl
or turning in circles.

The name indicates a person who is confused and unable to focus his
thoughts or actions.. Nicknames were common in the Middle Ages and wer
given to people indicating the colour of their hair, beard or eyes.
Sometimes people received their nicknames after cerain events, that are
long forgtton since that time.

The nicknames became the hereditary name for generations to come. It is
interesting to point out, that German surnames came into existence in the
12th century, when the nobility used the name of their ancestral seat or
the place from where they came from as their surname or family name. Later
on the rest of the populatin followed using the name of their father, the
occupation of their father of their own, or the name of the place from
where they came from.

The suirname Zirbel and its variants forms of Zwirbel, Zwirler, Zwirkel and
Zwirbler can be found in documents dating back to the 13th century.
The above mentioned Burkart der Zwirbeler was a resident, citizen and judge
in the city of Vaihingen in the year 1294.  Documents for the year 1332
indicate one fritzo Zwirler resided on Vaihingen.  one named Zwirggel "mit
der einen Hand" with one hand was a resident of Augsburg in year 1350.
Research did not indicate a coat of arms for a family named Zirbel.

I really don't know how much of the information is right as I have not
researched back that far. No real sure about the confused or unable to
focus bit.

I can only at this stage focus on my family research!

All the best wishes
Phyllis Zirbel (nee Horton)
Goondiwindi. Qld. Australia