Surname Franzl - Meaning and Origin
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Franzl: What does the surname Franzl mean?
The last name Franzl is derived from the German word “franz”, meaning “free”. It was originally used as a name for a person who was born of or descended from a noble, or a free man. Historically, it also indicated someone who had received his freedom from a master in return for a certain service or price.
The name was popularized in the medieval period, but its true origin is uncertain. Some theories suggest it originated from a nickname for a brave person or a person granted freedom. It is believed to have been used as a surname before the 16th century, and it is still used in Germany today.
The name Franzl has various variations throughout the world, such as Franzel, Français, Franchini, Franco, Franczak and Frankl. It was popular throughout Europe and, as regards Jewish surnames, it was popular among Jewish immigrants to the United States.
Franzl is often translated as Frank, but it originally indicated someone who was free or of noble origin. Today, the name Franzl is primarily associated with names of Germanic origin and is often used in Germany as a surname. It is also used in many other parts of the world, including Canada, the United States and many countries in Europe.
Order DNA origin analysisFranzl: Where does the name Franzl come from?
The surname Franzl is a Germanic name found mainly in Austria, Switzerland, and southern Germany. It is also a fairly common surname in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Hungary, Croatia, Romania, and the Balkans. It is believed to have begun as a nickname from the personal name Franz and later evolved into a surname. The modern version is now mostly Franzl, which originated in eastern Switzerland and western Austria.
Today, Franzl is a mostly rural and agricultural surname, found mainly in villages and town centers of Austria and across the Germanic speaking world. It is also found in small numbers in major cities such as Vienna and Munich, usually due to migration from the countryside.
Outside of the traditional Germanic regions, Franzl is also found in various parts of Canada and the United States. There are a number of families of German origin who emigrated to North America in the late 1800s and early 1900s carrying the Franzl name.
In sum, Franzl is a popular name in German-speaking regions and other northern and eastern European countries. It is also found in small numbers in North America, Canada, and the United States.
Variations of the surname Franzl
The surname Franzl is an alternative form of the German surname Franz. It is also sometimes found spelled as Fransl or Frantzl in older records. It is also commonly found spelled with variations such as Franczl, Franchl, Fransel, Fransl, Frantsl, Francsl, Francolez, Franzell, and Franczle.
The surname is derived from the given name Franz, a German form of the Latin name Franciscus which is derived from the Roman nickname Francus meaning “Frank”. This was a descriptive nickname for someone from the "Land of the Franks", that is, modern-day France, which was intentionally chosen to distinguish the immigrant population from the main Germanic population. Over time, the name Franz ultimately became a given name and thus a surname.
Those bearing the Franzl surname may also encounter related names such as Frankel, Franze, and Francolini. These are patronymic or matronymic forms derived from the root of the Franz surname, indicating descent from or association with a progenitor of that surname.
There are many notable people bearing the surname or its variants, including German-Austrian composer and violinist Johann Strauss Jr., psychoanalyst Wilhelm Reich, and Nobel Prize-winning scientist Karl von Frisch.
Famous people with the name Franzl
- Werner Franzl: Austrian clarinetist and saxophonist
- Margarete Franzl: Austrian figure skater
- Karl Franzl: Austrian actor
- Robert Franzl: Austrian youth lifter
- Leonhard Franzl: Czech-Austrian landscape painter
- Franzl Lang: Austrian volksmusik singer
- Friedrich Franzl: Austrian painter
- Artur Franzl: Austrian footballer
- Mathias Franzl: Austrian footballer
- Elisabeth Franzl: Austrian figure skater