Surname Blaßl - Meaning and Origin

Blaßl: What does the surname Blaßl mean?

The last name Blaßl is a German name, deriving from Middle High German. It is most commonly encountered in the region of Bavaria. The name is thought to have descended from 'Blasyeon', a German term meaning 'pale or white'. This would indicate that the original bearer of this surname was either fair-haired or had a very light complexion.

The root of the surname likely indicated a physical characteristic as opposed to being the name of a place of origin or job title. Records from the 18th century and earlier show Blaßl among the various names given to the people of Bavaria. It was often used as a means to distinguish between individuals due to the large population of the region.

The literal translation of Blaßl is 'pale or white', but the surname was also used to describe the character of people who were considered pompous and vain. This likely indicated a sense of pride in their appearance and demeanor. Additionally, the name could indicate that the person was wealthy, as lighter colors were an indication of status and wealth.

Overall, the surname Blaßl is a German-Bavarian surname that was used to describe someone with a fair complexion or fair hair, and potentially indicated either a pompous character or a high socio-economic rank.

Blaßl: Where does the name Blaßl come from?

The last name Blaßl is quite rare today, as most people bearing the name have either changed it or are living in predominantly German-speaking areas.

In Austria, the States of Salzburg, Tirol, and Vorarlberg have the highest prevalence of the surname, with Salzburg and Tirol making up almost half of the total number of Blaßl families living in Austria. Salzburg is the home of a medieval castle with the Blaßl family name first appearing in records in 1490. Blaßl is also common in South Tyrol, where it was first mentioned in the 14th century.

The surname is also prevalent in Germany, where it is found mostly in the regions of Bavaria, North Rhine-Westphalia, and Lower Saxony. There is a Concentration Camp Memorial Cemetery in Germany which is dedicated to the memory of Jewish forced laborers with the last name Blaßl.

In the United States, the last known concentration of births with the Blaßl surname occurred in Iowa between 1900 and 1920. However, recent records show instances of the name in other states such as Pennsylvania and Ohio.

Generally speaking, the Blaßl surname is not very common today and those who bear the name are most likely descendants of people who lived during the medieval times.

Variations of the surname Blaßl

The surname Blaßl is derived from the German word ‘Blass’, meaning ‘pale’. It originates from the Middle High German word ‘blache’, meaning ‘white’, and ‘blanc’, meaning ‘pallid’. There are several variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for Blaßl.

The most common variant is the spelling ‘Blaß’. Other variants include ‘Blasl’, ‘Blasse’, ‘Blassel’, ‘Blasle’, ‘Blaesel’, ‘Blaßler’, ‘Blaseler’, ‘Blasseler’, ‘Blasz’, ‘Blass’, ‘Blas’, ‘Blaßer’ and ‘Blauß’.

The surname may have various meanings, depending on the dialect spoken by the person seeking the origin of the word. It can refer to a person with a pale complexion, a light complexion or color, a particular kind of cloak, a pallid color, a colorless hue or a bright, bluish white color.

The surnames associated with Blaßl include Blaßler, Blasler, Blasse, Blaßer, Blasen and Blassel. Additionally, the surnames Blassmann, Blassenmacher, Blassmueller and Blaze are also related to the original surname.

In the early 1500s, the spelling 'Blassel' was already established in Southern Germany and Austria, and later, in the 17th century, it can be found in North Germany. Today, the surname ‘Blaßl’ is most commonly found in Germany and Austria.

Famous people with the name Blaßl

• Persephone Blaßl, German fashion designer.
• Linda Blaßl, Austrian professional snowboarder.
• Laura Blaßl, Austrian snowboarder and winner of the World Cup in 2005.
• Franz Blaßl, Austrian World War I veteran.
• Friedrich Blaßl, Austrian professional cyclist.
• Uwe Blaßl, German runner who won a bronze medal in the 2003 European Athletics Championships.
• Marie-Theres Blaßl, Austrian hurdler who won a bronze medal in the 1988 Summer Olympics.
• Johann Blaßl, Austrian writer and poet.
• Eva Blaßl, Austrian professional volleyball player.
• Reinhard Blaßl, Austrian professional football player.

Other surnames

Bläßle