Abels is a patronymic Dutch surname meaning "son of Abel". The name Abel derives from the Hebrew name (Hevel) meaning "breath" or "vapor." In the Old Testament, Abel is the second son of Adam and Eve, famously murdered by his brother Cain out of envy (Genesis 4:1–16). The root of the naming chain is Adam, the Hebrew word for "man," possibly from ʾaḏam meaning "to be red" (referring to the ruddy color of human skin) or from Akkadian adamu meaning "to make." According to Genesis, Adam was the first human, created from the dust of the earth. The name Adam became popular in England during the Middle Ages and received a boost after the Protestant Reformation. A notable bearer is Scottish economist Adam Smith (1723–1790). The patronymic suffix s in Abels is common in Dutch surnames, indicating a familial relationship akin to the English suffix son. Variants of Abels include Abelen (another Dutch form) and, in other languages, Abel (Spanish) and Abelli (Italian). The surname also appears in Sweden where it is a genitive form of Abel, though it is rarer outside the Netherlands. Meaning: "son of Abel" Origin: Patronymic from the Hebrew name Abel Type: Surname Regions: Dutch-speaking regions; also found in Sweden