Surname Asfahl - Meaning and Origin
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Asfahl: What does the surname Asfahl mean?
The last name Asfahl is of Germanic origin and is thought to be derived from the name Aswald, which meant "Oh, rule". The root of the name is believed to be As, referring to a deity or god, followed by wald, meaning “ruler” or “mighty”. As such, the name likely originally indicated one who was of noble birth or otherwise of high status.
The surname is found in various forms throughout Germany, as Asfahl, Asfall, Asphal, and Asphall. It is found mostly in areas near the Rhine and Mosel Rivers, in areas such as Bergheim, Rhineland-Palatinate.
Asfahl families were known to be hardworking and devout brewers, vintners, and farmers. They were one of the oldest families recorded in Germany, and it is believed that they may have been a noble family before the French Revolution. They were also involved in various public service roles, such as mayors, administrators, and community representatives.
Today, the surname Asfahl is most highly concentrated in cities such as Frankfurt, Berlin, and Hamburg. To this day, the Asfahl name is still associated with hard work and generosity. They continue to be held in esteem by their home towns and remain part of the larger German community.
Order DNA origin analysisAsfahl: Where does the name Asfahl come from?
The last name Asfahl is most commonly found in English-speaking countries such as the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand. It is also found in German-speaking countries such as Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, as well as countries in East and Central Europe such as Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Slovakia.
The spelling of the name also varies across different countries. In English-speaking countries, it is often spelled as Osfahl, Asfahl, or Asphahl, while in German-speaking countries the spelling is often Osfahls or Asphahls. Similarly, the pronunciation of the name also varies: in English-speaking countries it is often pronounced as OF-ahl, AS-fahl, or AS-fahl, while in German it is often pronounced as OS-fahl or AS-fahl.
The meaning of the name is believed to derive from the German first name Aswin, which means "friend of the gods". Asfahl is a variant form of the name, which is derived from the Scandinavian and Old German name Ansfald, meaning "brave".
The population of people with the last name Asfahl is relatively small, with only about 2,500 people in the United States, and a few thousand scattered across other countries. Despite this, the name is quite common in certain areas, especially in Germany, where it is among the top twenty most common surnames.
Variations of the surname Asfahl
The surname Asfahl is typically of German origin and has multiple variants and spellings. In German-speaking countries, it is spelled Asfahl, while in other countries, it may appear as Aufahl, Asphal, Aufhal, Asphahl, Asfahle, Aspahl, Osfahl, or Oefahl. These variants likely emerged from variants of the German and Scandinavian languages and due to the phoneticization of words as spoken in various dialects.
The original spelling of Asfahl without the suffix “le” is the most common among contemporary users, while the surname with the suffix may be used to indicate multiple generations or branches of the same family.
In some cases, Asfahl may be used as an Italian variant of the Germanic name, Aspahler, or an American version of the German surname, Asphal. This may be due to past highlighting of the Germanic influence in cultures where the surname has traveled.
If a family in Scandinavia used the surname in place of an occupational title, their surname may also appear as Asfalsgar, which was a popular choice for military families. Similarly, the surname Asfall could refer to a person who practiced metalworking or manual labor.
The surname may also appear in various other spellings outside of Germany and Scandinavia, including Ishfahl, Aszhal, Afahl, or Aspaal.
Famous people with the name Asfahl
- Robert Asfahl: Swedish professional golfer
- Albert Asfahl: Danish Olympic medalist and modern pentathlete
- Gus Asfahl: NFL wide receiver and member of the the Green Bay Packers Championship team
- Franklin Asfahl: Military officer and decorated Commander of the Legion of Merit
- Morris Asfahl: American professor of accounting at the University of Central Florida
- Kris Asfahl: Professional basketball player
- Tom Asfahl: American race car driver and winner of more than 500 feature wins
- Rene Asfahl: Austrian politician and former Minister for the Environment
- Jens Asfahl: Danish professional soccer player and former Real Madrid striker
- Mathias Asfahl: German mathematician and professor at Technische Universität Braunschweig