Surname Blässle - Meaning and Origin

Blässle: What does the surname Blässle mean?

The last name Blässle is a German surname, derived from the German word blass, meaning pale. The surname indicates an ancestor who was pale in complexion or even blonde in hair color.

The surname could also be derived from the Old High German word blasi, meaning ‘flame’, and suggesting a predilection for bright red or fiery colored hair as well as a temperament to match. This could also suggest a link to a past family of professional fire fighters, or of those interested in the profession.

More likely, however, is that the translation of Blässle implies an ancestor with a history of craftsmanship or artisanal trade associated with metal-working, or with gem-cutting. The German language employed in this context often suggests this type of distinction. For example, ‘Blässle’ is also found combined with other German words such as Schwarzer, denoting ‘black’ as in blacksmith, and Goldbrauer, which suggests metal working combined with brewing.

The discrete 'el' at the end of 'Blässle' may also suggest some kind of higher social standing, or significance gained through a family trade.

For many generations, the Blässle family has upheld these roots, with many members of the family taking up the mantle of engineering, smithing, or other crafting activities. Its origin story remains mysterious, however, and the general meaning of Blässle still remains ambiguous.

Blässle: Where does the name Blässle come from?

The last name Blässle is most commonly found in Germany, where it is the 252,084th most popular name. It is one of the more unusual German surnames and is believed to be derived from the German word “blessen,” meaning “to bless or to praise.” As such, it likely dates back to a person who provided spiritual guidance of some kind. Historically, Blässles have made their home in the Sauerland region of western Germany, although the name is now found throughout the country.

In addition to Germany, the Blässle surname is also found in Austria, Switzerland, and other German-speaking parts of Europe. It is far less prevalent in other parts of the world, though there are some families in the United States and Canada that trace their lineage to Germany.

The most famous member of the Blässle family may be Gustav Blässle, a German entomologist active in the late 19th century. He made many significant contributions to insect taxonomy, particularly in the area of Diptera. His work helped shape the way that entomology is studied today. There is also a Blässle family foundation, dedicated to the preservation of the last name and its centuries-old connection to that particular region of Germany.

Variations of the surname Blässle

The surname Blässle has multiple variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin, which are all derived from the German word "blasse", meaning "pale". The most common of these are Blässl, Blässel, Blässell and Bläsel. Less common surnames related to this are Blaes, Blaesel, Blaessle, Blass, Blassel, Blässe, Blaessel and Blaesser.

Blässl is the most common form, and is a variation of the name that arose in the southern German-speaking countries including Bavaria, Austria, Alsace and Baden. It is found mainly in the southwestern parts of Germany. The spelling Blässle is also used, but it is slightly more rare.

Blässel is another form of the surname, which appears mainly in northeastern Germany in the states of Brandenburg, Mecklenburg and Pomerania.

The spelling Blässel is the most frequent among German migrants to the United States, and is found mainly in the states with high German-speaking populations such as Pennsylvania, Ohio and North Dakota.

The spelling Blässell is most frequent among German migrants to Australia, and is found mainly in the states of Victoria, New South Wales, and South Australia.

The surname Bläsel is the most common form in Switzerland and is found main in the cantons of Bern, Aargau and Basel-Landschaft.

The other variants of the surname are much less common and are found in various parts of Europe. They are usually variations of the original spelling or a combination of two or more of these forms.

Famous people with the name Blässle

• Peter Blässle: German politician from the Christian Democrats (CDU) party and member of the Bundestag from 2002-2009.
• Arthur Blässle: German soccer player who played in the Bundesliga for 1860 München in the 1970s.
• Ludwig Blässle: German-Austrian actor who turned to directing in 1951. He worked in Germany and in several other countries, including Austria, France, and Italy.
• Markus Blässle: Austrian journalist and author, recipient of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany.
• Jutta Blässle: German opera singing professor at the Music Academy in Karlsruhe since 2008.
• Franziska Blässle: German actress who has mainly appeared in films and television series.
• Stefano Blässle: Italian singer and songwriter, signed to the music label Sony Music Switzerland.
• Annabelle Blässle: Swiss figure skater who has competed in the European Figure Skating Championships since 2011.
• Eva Blässle: German author, speaker, and coach known mainly for her 2011 book “The Lioness Within�� about female empowerment.
• Christian Blässle: Swiss painter, active in Munich and later Rome until his death in 2009.

Other surnames

Blassl