Surname Hirtl - Meaning and Origin
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Hirtl: What does the surname Hirtl mean?
The last name Hirtl is an Austrian surname of Bohemian origin. It is a dual derivation from the German "Hirt", meaning "shepherd", and the Slavic "Hřídel", which can refer to either a rotating rod or a species of freshwater fish.
The most common interpretation is the Germanic meaning of "shepherd". This is because in Austria, a large portion of Hirtl families reside in rural areas and there is a history of shepherding and pastoralism among them. The etymology of the name reflects this heritage, as the surname’s roots are shaped by the culture of its earliest bearers, many of whom were herders in their respective communities.
The name has spread from Austria to various other countries, with bearers found in the Czech Republic, Germany, Poland, and the United States. Today, many Hirtl’s live outside of their native Austria and have assimilated into various foreign cultures. As a result, the surname has yet again experienced a shift in meaning, but continues to be associated with the bygone age of nomadism, where it historically belonged.
Order DNA origin analysisHirtl: Where does the name Hirtl come from?
The last name Hirtl is a surname of Germanic origin with the meaning of "guardian,""land holder," or ”kin guard”. It is one of the oldest documented surnames in Austria. Today, Hirtl is a fairly common family name in Austria, Germany, and throughout Central Europe.
In Austria, the surname Hirtl is particularly common in the southern province of Styria and the city of Vienna. In Germany, the surname can be found primarily in the southeastern state of Bavaria and the greater Berlin metropolitan area. In addition, the surname can also be seen scattered across parts of Switzerland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Romania.
To a lesser extent, the surname can be found in the United States, Canada, Australia, and other parts of Europe. According to the United States Census Bureau, the Hirtl surname is present in more than 1,000 households across the United States. The majority of residents with the Hirtl surname live in New Jersey and New York, followed by Pennsylvania, Texas, and Florida.
Given its origins, the name Hirtl likely has variations around the world. Examples of this include Hirtel and Hirtlsperger in Germany and Hyrtl in places like Hungary and Romania. Additional places where Hirtl is present today include France, South America, India, and the Philippines.
Overall, the last name Hirtl is common in areas of Europe and has a presence in other parts of the world including the United States. Hirtl is the Germanic word for “guardian,” and has been passed down in Germanic and Central European families for generations.
Variations of the surname Hirtl
The surname Hirtl is an Austrian and German patronymic or occupational surname. It is derived from the Middle High German word hirte, meaning a shepherd. The surnames Hirtl and Hirtel are variants of Hirtl that originated from Austria and Germany. There are various other spellings of the surname Hirtl, including Hirzel, Hirnle, Hürtle, and Hürndle.
Hertl, Hetzl and Hartl are surnames that were derived from the name Hirtl during the High Middle Ages and are still used today in Upper, Middle and Lower Austrian dialects. The variants that originate from Austria today are usually spelled with an umlaut (ö, ü).
In Germany, the surname is spelled as Hirtle, Hurle and Hirle. These variants were popular in southern Germany during the 18th century and have become increasingly popular in recent years.
Other variants of Hirtl are Hertel, Hertl, Hertalka, Hartl and Hartle. The variants Hertalka, Hartl and Hartle are mostly found in Slovenia, Croatia, and the Czech Republic. They are derived from Middle High German words such as hart (strong) and hartig (brave) and are more common in Eastern Europe.
The variants Hirtz, Hilbert and Hilburt are not derived from the surname Hirtl, but are similar in spelling and pronunciation. From the 19th century onwards, these variants can be found in Germany, Switzerland and other Germanic countries.
Famous people with the name Hirtl
- Kurt Hirtl: Austrian actor best known for appearing in the films Dragonheart, Hurry Sundown and Race You to the Bottom.
- John Hirtl: Grammy Award winning sound engineer known for his work with the likes of U2, Prince, Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen.
- Alfred Hirtl: Austrian violinist and professor notable for his contributions to the Vienna Boys' Choir.
- Heinrich Hirtl: Austrian missionary who evangelized in Korea and championed female education and social reform.
- Franz Hirtl: Austrian footballer who enjoyed success as both a player and manager for Admira Wacker, an Austrian football club.
- Nikolaus Hirtl: Austrian football coach who was inducted to the Hall of Fame of the Football Association for his contributions to football in the region.
- Wilhelm Hirtl: Austrian composer most famous for his church hymns and commemorative chorals.
- Heinz Hirtl: Austrian astronomer who made numerous contributions to optical astronomy including the modelling of cometary tails and stellar winds.
- Gerhard Hirtl: Austrian climatologist and mountaineer known for his research into high altitude meteorological phenomena and discovery of high altitude oases.
- Franz Hirtl: Austrian alpine and cross-country skier who won numerous medals in the 1950s.