Surname Burgstaller - Meaning and Origin

Discovering My Roots: An Ancestral Journey through the lens of the Burgstaller Surname

Discovering my roots with an iGENEA DNA test, an unexpected revelation about the origins and historical background of my surname, Burgstaller, left me astounded. As a gateway into the past, the surname illustrates a rich narrative, rooted in Middle High German origins, taking on a journey from ancient Bavarian castles to Alpine migrations.

H. Burgstaller

Burgstaller: What does the surname Burgstaller mean?

The last name Burgstaller is a German occupational surname. In German, the word "Burgstaller" translates to English as a "fortress dweller," most likely referring to someone who lived in or near a fortress.

The Burgstaller family likely lived in or near a fortified structure dating back to the Middle Ages. The Burgstallers likely belonged to the noble classes and worked as guards, military commanders, foresters, and other positions in these fortresses.

Some historians believe that the first Burgstallers were the descendants of the royal bloodline in Europe during the Medieval period. This would explain why, in various parts of Europe, the last name Burgstaller is a common surname.

Today, Burgstallers are scattered around the world, mainly in Europe but also in the United States. The Burgstaller family name continues to be carried up to this day, and is an enduring reminder of the family's roots and its ancient place in history.

Burgstaller: Where does the name Burgstaller come from?

The Burgstaller surname is believed to have originated in the historic region of Austria known as Styria, in present-day Central Europe. Its spread throughout the region continues today, and the surname can be found in all of Austria's nine federal states, as well as neighboring countries.

In terms of numbers, the Burgstaller surname is most commonly found in Austria, where approximately 1 in every 700 people bears this name. It's also present in Bavaria, Germany, where it's estimated to be the 15th most common last name. Hungary also has a significant Burgstaller population, as does the small country of Liechtenstein.

In the United States, the Burgstaller surname is very rare, but it does exist and is typically found in Oregon, Pennsylvania, New York and Wisconsin. The surname is also scattered across other countries, from Canada in North America to England in the United Kingdom.

Tracing the surname's family origins is made possible because of the surname's regional concentration. This makes it relatively easy to identify related Burgstaller surnames in other parts of the world, allowing lifelong friendships to be established and helping to preserve and strengthen family bonds.

Variations of the surname Burgstaller

The surname Burgstaller is derived from a combination of the German words "Burg" (fortress or castle) and "Staller" (stable man or groom). It is a relatively uncommon surname, especially outside of German-speaking nations.

Variants of the spellings of Burgstaller include Burgsteller, Berghsteller, Bergsteller, Burgstell, Berghstell, Bergstell and Burgstel.

Surnames of similar origin include Burgdofer, Burgdoff, Burgdorf, Bergstorff, Bergstrom, Berghstorff, Berghstrom, Burghdorf, Burghdorff, Burghstorff, Burghstrom, and Byersdorf.

Many of these surnames are derived from the German language and denote someone from a castle or fortress. For example, Burgstaller meant that someone was a tenant of a castle or fortress, whilst Burghdorf was someone from a fortified town.

In the US, one of the earliest settlers of the surname Burgstaller was Emil Burgstaller from Germany who settled in Baltimore in 1885.

Other notable people with the surname Burgstaller are Emmanuel Burgstaller, the French director who released the movie Le Parfum d’Yvonne in 2005, and Austrian cyclist Maximilian Burgstaller who competed at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

Famous people with the name Burgstaller

• Lothar Burgstaller: Austrian alpine ski racer
• Ewald Burgstaller: Austrian classical pianist
• Alfred Burgstaller: Austrian former footballer
• Thomas Burgstaller: German former football player
• Marlies Burgstaller: Austrian footballer
• Harald Burgstaller: Austrian bobsledder
• Monika Burgstaller: Austrian hurdler
• Arnold Burgstaller: Austrian former footballer
• Christina Burgstaller: Austrian model
• Boris Burgstaller: Austrian slalom kayaker

Other surnames

Burgstaler