Surname Birkle - Meaning and Origin
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Birkle: What does the surname Birkle mean?
Birkle is a German surname which is derived from the Germanic word “bergle” or “bergel”, both of which mean small mountain or hill. It is believed that the name was originally given to those who lived in mountain regions or were associated with them in some way, such as shepherds. The presence of the surname in certain regions of Germany makes it likely that it has been passed down through the generations since pre-medieval times. Alternatively, the name could be derived from the Middle High German word “bergele” or “pergel”, which means a bucket or pail. If this were the case, the name would be associated with those who manufactured buckets.
Today, the surname is still common in Germany, though not as much as in the past, and can be found in the United States, particularly in areas with high German populations, such as Pennsylvania. A notable bearer of the name is the American physicist Leo A. Birkle, co-founder of the Association of University Women.
Overall, the surname Birkle is associated with people of German or Swiss-German origin and traditionally meant someone who lived in or was associated with mountains, although it could also be related to those who made buckets and pails.
Order DNA origin analysisBirkle: Where does the name Birkle come from?
Today, the last name Birkle is most common in the German-speaking region of Europe. It is found mainly in Germany, Austria, and parts of Switzerland. The name is also found in some central European countries, though in lower numbers.
In Germany, the Birkle family is described as having origins in the Black Forest region of the country. Records of its members can be found in the archives of the state of Baden-Wurttemberg, located near the southern tip of the country. According to some records, the Birkles may have been among the earliest inhabitants of this region.
In the United States, the Birkle name is less common, but still found in areas where Germans settled in the early 1800s. The States of Pennsylvania, Iowa, and South Dakota all have populations of the Birkle family today, indicating that many of them traveled from Europe to the United States at some point.
Ancestry.com indicates that the name is also found in small numbers in other parts of the world, such as Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and South Africa.
The fact that the name is still found in many countries across the world shows that the Birkle family has held onto its family name for many generations. Even though it is not the most common name today, its presence is a testament to the strength of the family’s traditions and heritage.
Variations of the surname Birkle
The surname Birkle is frequently spelled in various ways, due to the various languages and cultures the surname was adopted from. Some of the spellings of the surname Birkle include Bircle, Birckle, Berkle, Birkly, Berkel, and Burkle.
The surname has its origin from a variety of German, Dutch, and/or Yiddish term meaning “bear,” or more specifically, “bear cub,” suggesting a certain strength of character. As such, the surname is related to the names Bär and Berle.
In Germany, spelling variations of the name include Bürkle, Birkle, Bürklin, Birkel, Burkle, Burklin, and Bürgel.
In the Netherlands, the spelling variants are Berckel, Berckelenbergh, Berkle, Birckle, Birkle, and Burkle.
In England, the surname could be found as Beaver, Bibby, Berkey, and Berkel.
In Jewish tradition, the surname appears as Burklin, Barkel, Berkhlin, and Birkle.
The surname has also been widely adopted by the English-speaking regions of the United States, where numerous spelling variations of the name are encountered, such as Birkle, Berkel, Birkel, Birkly, Burkle, and Burkley.
In conclusion, the surname Birkle is derived from a variety of German, Dutch, and/or Yiddish terms meaning “bear” or “bear cub,” and can be spelled many different ways due to the diversity of these languages. Additionally, other surnames related to Birkle include Bär, Berle, Bürkle, Bürklin, Birkel, Burklin, Bürgel, Berckel, Berckelenbergh, Berkey, Beaver, Bibby, Burklin, Barkel, Berkhlin, and Burkley.
Famous people with the name Birkle
- Brigitte Birkle: German pianist and composer, who has written an array of classical music, as well as television and film soundtracks
- Lovelyn Birkle: Professional chess player and four-times German Women's Champion
- Walter Birkle: Former German footballer who played for SpVgg Fürth
- Sanne Birkle: German writer and environmental scholar
- Timon Birkle: Former footballer for VfB Stuttgart who later became a manager
- Philip Birkle: Austrian author and political columnist
- Marcel Birkle: German professional footballer who plays for FSV Frankfurt and has previously represented clubs such as 1. FSV Mainz 05 and Eintracht Braunschweig
- Tom Birkle: German footballer of the 1970s who played for clubs like MSV Duisburg, Eintracht Braunschweig and Borussia Neunkirchen
- Florian Birkle: German footballer who plays for SV Werder Bremen and filed his first professional contract in 2018
- Ludwig Birkle: German musician and composer who worked for numerous ensembles, and is most known for his work on the operetta 'Der Vogelhändler'