Surname Herdle - Meaning and Origin
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Herdle: What does the surname Herdle mean?
The last name Herdle is of German and British origin. It is derived from the Middle German word “herdeler” or “herdle”, which were terms used in the Middle Ages to refer to a herdsman, someone who looked after a herd of animals. The surname Herdle may also be an occupational name for a person who tendered to or reared herds of animals, or for someone who worked at a large estate looking after livestock.
The name Herdle could also have originated from the place names Herdlingen or Herdle in the region of Eastphalia in Germany. The place name Herdlingen is derived from the Old German words “herti”, meaning “hard”, and “lingen”, meaning “little”, and was first recorded in the year 1196. Herdle was first recorded in the year 1346, and also has a German origin, derived from the word “herti”, with the suffix “le”, meaning “meadow”.
The surname Herdle is found in the records of Germany, Britain, and other countries, with the earliest record coming from the year 1595 in Germany. The Herdle surname is still quite common in German-speaking regions and is also found in countries such as the United States, Australia, and New Zealand.
Order DNA origin analysisHerdle: Where does the name Herdle come from?
The last name Herdle is most common today in Germany, Scandinavia, and the United States. Research indicates that the name first originated in Germany with the spelling Hertle and was prominent particularly in Bavaria and the surrounding regions from at least the 13th century.
In the centuries following the 13th, the surname made its way to Scandinavia, likely through emigration of some of the German bearers, and was adopted mainly in Norway and Sweden. In both countries, it was predominantly spelled Herdle, however, the many variations of the spelling, including Herdel, Hertl, Hirdle, Hurtle, and Hirdl, are still found in Norway and Sweden.
By the mid-eighteenth century, immigrants with the Herdle surname began to settle in the United States. Many of this family came from Germany and Scandinavia, typically settling in the Northeastern and Midwestern states. There, the surname has remained relatively popular, particularly in states such as Minnesota, Illinois, and Ohio.
Today, the Herdle surname is common in German and Scandinavian countries, but is also widely used in the United States and the United Kingdom. Researching its origin can be quite interesting, and the name is likely to be found in many parts of the world.
Variations of the surname Herdle
The surname Herdle is a spelling variant of the surname Hirdle, and both likely have the same origin. It is believed to have originated in Scotland, where the MacIntyres, MacQuarries, and other related clans of the area had a heritage of this surname.
The spelling variant of Herdle is often seen as Hirdle. This is the traditional spelling of the surname in Scotland, but some Records of the time show it spelled as Herdle. In England, it is often seen as Hird and Hirdl.
In North America, the spelling variants are sometimes seen as Heartle and Hartle, and in Canada as Hardel.
People with the variant surnames of Herdle are believed to have descended from the same source. It is likely that the spelling of the surname was altered during immigration to the New World, as well as due to changing dialects over time.
Herdle is also sometimes seen as Hurle. It is believed Hurle is another spelling variant of Hirdle which came into existence in the 17th century, likely due to an immigration to the area where the Scottish family settled.
The most common alternate spelling of Herdle is Hirdle. This is the traditional spelling of the surname in Scotland, and with it being the original spelling, it is the most common variant. It is seen in records in Scotland, England, Canada, and the United States of America.
Famous people with the name Herdle
- Paul Herdle- a German actor and director, known for his role in the German television drama Polizeiruf 110.
- Georg Herdle- a German physicist known for his research on extraordinary optical phenomena and for perennial contributions to the theory of magnetic hysteresis.
- Martha Herdle: a German astronaut who served as Payload Specialist on STS-50. She was mission specialist on the Spacelab 12 mission.
- Wolf Herdle: a German writer, filmmaker and a professional underwater photographer.
- Jonas Herdle: a German violinist and composer, who has given hundreds of performances throughout Europe, in both the classical and contemporary genres.
- Gerhard Herdle: a German ornithologist and the author of several books, including a study of migratory birds.
- Markus Herdle: a German cyclist and former Olympian, who won multiple medals at the World Championships and the European Championships.
- Kirsten Herdle: a German chef, author and television personality who has appeared on television shows, including Iron Chef Germany and Serving Time in the Kitchen.
- Tom Herdle: a German professional rugby union player who has played for several teams in Germany, Austria, and France.
- Alex Herdle: a German baseball player and member of the Baseball Bundesliga, who made his major league debut in 2017 with the Los Angeles Dodgers.