Surname Erl - Meaning and Origin
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Erl: What does the surname Erl mean?
The last name Erl is of German and Scandinavian origin. It is an occupational last name, derived from the Middle High German word 'erle' or 'erlo', which means 'eagle', and was used to refer to a person who worked as an eagle keeper or hawker.
The first recorded spelling of the surname Erl appeared in 1244, when Henricus Erle was registered in Munich, Germany. Over the centuries, the surname has spread across the world, with notable examples of the name being found in the United States, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand.
One of the earliest bearers of the surname, Hans Erl, lived in Regenwalde, Germany in 1750, and his son, Melchior Erl, later moved to St. Louis, Missouri in 1837. There he started up a business that sold leather goods and owned a chopping mill on the banks of the Little Meramec River. The Erl surname is still prominent in St. Louis today.
Historically, the use of the last name Erl reflected a person's occupation. Today, the name is still a sign of a person belonging to the same family or clan, despite the change in usage. It can also represent a relationship through marriage or adoption, especially in countries such as Germany and the United States.
Order DNA origin analysisErl: Where does the name Erl come from?
Erl is an unusual last name that is not particularly common today. According to records from Ancestry.com, the Erl family has been identified in a variety of countries, including the United States, England, Scotland, France, Italy, and Germany. The most commonly associated locations for the Erl name are the United States and Germany. Data from Ancestry.com's World Collection indicates that in the United States, the Erl family is primarily concentrated in the Midwestern states, including Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan.
In Germany, the Erl surname has been identified in some of the bigger cities such as Cologne and Nuremberg, and in smaller villages such as Freyung and Neuburg-Schrobenhausen. This means that today, the Erl family is more popular in the Midwestern United States and in Germany. Records also suggest that the Erl family is likely descended from a Lower German or East Bavarian background.
Despite not being particularly common, the Erl name is still in use today and can be found in both the United States and Germany. Additionally, other countries in Europe and the United Kingdom may also be associated with the surname.
Variations of the surname Erl
The surname Erl is a shortened version of the German surname, Erle, which was derived from the Middle High German word, eorl, meaning “nobleman” or “noble leader”. The English transliteration of the name is Earl.
There are several variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin for the Erl surname, including Erle, Erlies, Erling, Erlinger, Erlacher, Everlt, and Erlach.
The Erl surname was popular in many regions of Germany, such as Bavaria and Baden-Wurttemberg, during the Middle Ages. In other regions, such as in Austria and in the Netherlands, the Erl surname was also popular and appears in records from the 16th and 17th centuries.
In addition to the Erl surname, other variations of the same origin include the surnames Carle, Erlacher, Erlinger, Erling, Everlt, and Erlach. However, the Erl surname was the most popular variant and is still common among German expatriates.
The surname Erl is also common in many other countries, including the Netherlands, United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom. In these countries, the name may be spelled differently, such as Erl or Earle, and some of the other variations of the same origin may also be found.
Notable people with the Erl surname include Erlend Erlendsson, a church administrator from the Middle Ages; Erlend Ofstedal, a Norwegian short story writer; Erl White, a Canadian politician; and Erl Wever, an Austrian psychotherapist.
Famous people with the name Erl
- Dave Erl: Dave Erl is a New York-based actor best known for his roles in the films Swim Little Fish Swim and Borderline, as well as appearing in the television shows Elementary, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, and Rescue Me.
- Petra Erl: Petra Erl is an Austrian dressage rider. She competed in the 2012 Olympic Games, where her team placed seventh, and won the bronze medal at the 2009 European Dressage Championships.
- Jean-Michel Erl: Jean-Michel Erl is a French former swimmer, who competed at the 1988 Summer Olympics. He started his career as a coach in 1989, and has coached the French national team, as well as swimming clubs and triathlon teams.
- Henrik Erl: Henrik Erl is a Swedish ice hockey player who played for team Modo in the Swedish Hockey League. He is also a member of the national team and holds the record of most penalty minutes in a SHL single season.
- Manfred Erl: Manfred Erl is an Austrian Ice hockey player who played most of his career in the East German Ice Hockey League and became the top scorer of the 1972–73 season.
- Kaspar Erl: Kaspar Erl is an Estonian cross-country skier who represented Estonia at the 2010 Winter Olympics in both the individual sprint and the 15 km event.
- Larry Erl: Larry Erl is a Navajo-Hopi contemporary artist who was born in Ganado, Arizona, where he still resides. His art has been featured in the Peabody Museum and the Heard Museum in Phoenix.