The Frankl's Frankel is from German and Ashkenazic origins. It was used for people who lived in the town of Franconia or Franken in Germany. Franconia or Franken is a region of south-west Germany and its called that because there was a Frankish settlement there. But I am following my mothers side which is the Hershkowitzes who go back to the Sofers. My great grandmother who we call Oma, lived in Hungary. She is a descendant from the Chasam Sofer. After the war she lived in Belgium for a few years and then came on a boat to America and resided in New York.