Surname Hildl - Meaning and Origin

Hildl: What does the surname Hildl mean?

The surname Hildl is found primarily in Germany and can be traced back to the Middle Ages. It is generally believed to derive from the Old German words hild (war) or hill (battle) and lind (shield), thus suggesting it was an occupational surname referring to someone who manufactured or used shields in battle.

In the early records, the name is spelled in various forms such as Hildl, Hildel, Hilldel, Hilde, Hildele or Hilttela. Some modern variants of the name include Held, Hillary and Hild.

The name Hildl was also adopted by some Jewish people as their family name, however it can be difficult to distinguish between the Jewish and German bearers of the surname.

In general, the surname Hildl is associated with strength and courage, likely reflecting the values of those with the surname who went to battle with their shields. It is not known how many people around the world today continue to carry the name, though its connection to bravery suggests it could have spread far.

Hildl: Where does the name Hildl come from?

The last name Hildl is most commonly associated with people of German, Danish, and Swedish backgrounds. However, with the numerous migrations and population changes throughout the centuries, it is found in many other countries today.

In the United States, the last name is found in almost every state, particularly in the Midwest, from Wisconsin down to Missouri. In Canada, it is primarily found in Ontario and Quebec. In the United Kingdom, it is mainly found in London, Kent, and Essex. In Germany, it is especially prevalent in Bavaria, Baden-Wurtemberg, and Lower Saxony. It is also found in Austria, Switzerland, Holland, Denmark, Sweden, Poland, and Norway.

With the increase in globalization over the last few decades, the prevalence of Hildl has expanded even further. This last name can now be found in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India, China, and parts of South America as well.

This last name is obviously a very popular and widely spread one. The German-originated surname Hildl remains very much alive and in use today, especially in parts of Europe, North America, and other parts of the world with high populations of people of predominantly German descent.

Variations of the surname Hildl

The variant spellings and surnames of Hildl are Hild, Huld, Huldl, Huldt, Huldte, Huldtle, Hiild, Hiildte, Hilld, Hillde, Hilldt, Hilldte, Hilde, Hildel, Hilden, Hilder, Hildes, Hildt, Hillt, Hillte, Hilltle, Hulden, Huldin, Hulding, Huldle and Huldlin.

The surname Hildl can be traced to a medieval root in the Old High German language, where "hilth" or "huld" meant protection, or was used to refer to a beloved person. It can be assumed that the original bearer of the surname had some helpful or protective qualities.

Different variant spellings of the surname are found around the German-speaking areas of Europe, such as Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. The variants occur as a result of differing regional dialects and shifts in spelling standards.

The Huld forms of the name occur a number of times in Swedish and the Nordic countries as well, a result of the medieval Germanic migrations extending outwards from the German region into the wider Scandinavian region.

The root form of the name can still be found in its original form in Germany today, mostly in the form of the female given name Hulda or Huldah. The variants of the name Huldel, Hildel and the like are also still in use in Germany.

The Hildl variant is still encountered in the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, and other anglophone countries around the world, where it may have been adopted by an ancestor of German or Nordic descent, or it may be an altered version adopted by someone of a different descent who found the English translation simpler to pronounce.

Famous people with the name Hildl

• Conrad Hildl, Austrian actor
• Bernhard Hildl, Austrian architect
• Jonah Hildl, American actor and producer
• Robert Hildl, Austrian tenor
• Charlotte Hildl, German opera singer
• Claire Hildl, Irish actor
• Jonas Hildl, German-Austrian artist
• Maureen Hildl, American children's literature author
• Sidney Hildl, French actor
• Jakob Hildl, German-Austrian painter

Other surnames

HildHildachHildbrandHildbrandtHildebeutelHildebrandHildebrandsHildebrandtHildebrantHildebrechtHildelHildemannHildenHildenbeutelHildenbrandHildenbrandtHildenbrantHilderHilderickHilderingHildermannHilderscheidHildmannHildreathHildrethHildrithHildtHilduinHilduinenHildwein