Surname Bitterle - Meaning and Origin
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Bitterle: What does the surname Bitterle mean?
Bitterle is a German surname of toponymic origin, indicating that its first bearers originally lived in a place named with the Old High German word "bittar" or "bitar" (bittern). This word is an epithet for a species of heron found in marshes and wetlands of Central Europe. The bird was called "Bitterling" in German, which became anglicized to Bitterle. The name has also been found in other German-speaking regions including Switzerland and Austria.
The surname Bitterle is thought to have been first established in the 13th century and it has been in common usage since then. One of the earliest recorded bearer of the name was Johannes Bitterle, of the city of Mandal, Norway, in 1402. Other records indicate the presence of the Bitterle family in England as far back as 1598 when the church registers of St. Nicholas Parish in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, listed two Bitterle family members.
Today, the Bitterle surname is found primarily in Germany where it is most common in Bavaria, although the family has also spread throughout Europe and the United States. It is likely that members of the Bitterle family were among the German immigrants to the United States in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Today, Bitterle family members have been successful in business, industry, corporate law, and politics, among other fields.
Order DNA origin analysisBitterle: Where does the name Bitterle come from?
The surname Bitterle is of German origin and was historically found mainly around the regions of Baden-Wurttemberg and Bavaria. It currently remains most popular in the German-speaking countries of Austria, Germany and Switzerland.
The Austrian town of Schruns in the Vorarlberg region is one of the stronghold regions for this surname. In the 2013 Austrian census, there were 127 people registered with the surname Bitterle in this town. German-speaking Switzerland also has a significant presence of this name in Zurich, Bern, Schaffhausen, and Basel-Land.
In Germany, the name Bitterle is primarily associated with the states of Bavaria and Baden-Wurttemberg. In Bavaria, there were 644 registered as of the 2019 German census. The city of Mannheim in Baden-Wurttemberg has the highest concentration of Bitterle with 150 people registered in 2019. The rural area of Backnang in Baden-Wurttemberg is also a major hotspot for this surname.
The surname Bitterle is also found in the United States, Canada, and Australia. However, these populations are significantly smaller than those in the German-speaking regions of Europe. There were an estimated 965 people with the surname Bitterle living in the United States as of the 2010 census.
Variations of the surname Bitterle
The surname Bitterle is an occupational surname of Germanic origin. It is derived from the Middle High German word 'biter', which translates to 'smith'. This title was used to refer to those who manufactured weapons and armor in the medieval times.
Variant versions of the name Bitterle include Bittel, Bitteler, Bitteling, Bittelman, Bittner, and Bittelman. Each of these variants typically describe the same profession, and can be found in Germany, Holland, and Sweden.
Bitterle is also occasionally spelled as Biteler. This spelling can be found primarily in Sweden and Norway, where the name is derived from the Old Norse word 'bitill', meaning 'farrier'. Similarly, the variant spelling Bitner is German in origin and is derived from 'bitzen', meaning 'to patch'.
The surname Bitterl, Bitters, Bittles, Bytters, Byttler, and Betteill are all phonetic spellings of the same German name. These spellings can be found in Germany and Austria, although it is generally assumed that all originate from the same source.
Finally, some surnames such as Bittrich, Bittermann, Bitterwerk, Betters, and Bettler are believed to be possible derivatives of the original Bitterle surname. These variations can be found in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, and each is usually associated with the same occupational title of a metalworker or armorer.
Famous people with the name Bitterle
1.Kevin Bitterle: American paleontologist known for his research on Eocene mammals. 2.Bob Bitterle: American football player who won a gold medal at the 1956 Olympics. 3.Kurt Bitterle: German cinematographer who worked on several classic films. 4.Oliver Bitterle: German actor and theatre director. 5.Gregor Bitterle: Austrian alpine skier who won a silver medal at the 1992 Olympics. 6.Doug Bitterle: Retired American football player who played in the NFL. 7.Albrecht Bitterle: Austrian-born Swiss biologist who discovered the gene responsible for the transmission of genetic traits. 8.Max Bitterle: German Alpine skier who won several world cup competitions in the 1950s. 9.Paul Bitterle: Austrian ice hockey player who won medals at several World Championships. 10.Sylvia Bitterle: American ballet dancer who was active in the 1940s.