Surname Hirtsel - Meaning and Origin
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Hirtsel: What does the surname Hirtsel mean?
The last name Hirtsel is a German name which is derived from the old German word "hirsel," which means herd or flock. Herds of livestock would often be taken from place to place in order to graze, or as produce offerings to local lords. As a result, the name Hirtsel came to represent those who had herding or flocking duties.
It is believed that this name was initially derived from the outskirts of the Holy Roman Empire, and is most closely associated with Germany and Austria. Specifically, it is found primarily in the area of Bavaria, which is the province of Germany.
The original spelling of the name is said to have been "Hirtzell," and many variations exist depending on the area. In the Lower Saxony area of Germany, people with the surname Hirtsel can have a variety of spellings, such asHurzel, Harzell, Hertsel, or Hirzell.
The person with the last name Hirtsel was likely associated with sheep and cattle herding, though the work was not always done by a single individual. It's likely that a family would take on the task together, often a father and his sons.
Although the name became associated with flocking and herders, it could also refer to individuals who were mercantile traders, carrying goods from suburb to suburb in addition to caring for livestock.
This surname is still in use today, and is a proud reminder of the rich Germanic heritage of those who carry it.
Order DNA origin analysisHirtsel: Where does the name Hirtsel come from?
The surname Hirtsel is a variation of the German surname Hirz, which is derived from the Middle High German hirtz, meaning "small, slender person". The name has a long and documented history, with records in various parts of Europe and the United States.
The Hirtsel surname is most prevalent today in Germany and Austria. According to the most recent population records, in 2019 Germany had 7,349 people with the surname Hirtsel, making it the 95th most common family name in the country. Austria had 6,373 people registered with the name, ranking it the 44th most common surname in the country.
Outside of the German-speaking world, the Hirtsel name is especially common in Poland. In recent census data, there were 4,332 people with the name listed in the country and is the 197th most popular surname there. The United States also has a significant population with the surname, with the most recent population census recording 1,137 people.
Other areas of Europe where the surname appears with some frequency are Denmark, the Czech Republic, and the Netherlands respectively, with each country having registered up to 200 people on their most recent population census.
Variations of the surname Hirtsel
Hirtsel is an old Germanic name derived from the word “Hirt,” meaning herder or shepherd, and “sel” for “sea” or “pool.” Thus, the name can be translated to “a person associated with a pool of water, or one who shepherds or tends sheep.”
The variants of Hirtsel include Hurstell, Hurtsel, Hurtell, Hillders, Hirdsel, and Hurstel. Spellings and surnames are Hirtzell, Hirtzelle, and Hertzel.
The surname is not particularly common but may be found in areas of Germanic influence, such as Austria and Germany. It has also been adopted by members of the Jewish population in certain countries, such as Russia.
The origin of the surname is believed to date back to the Middle Ages when surnames were adopted as a way of distinguishing one family from another or identifying members of a certain social class. In some cases, the names were taken from the occupation, land or dwelling place of the person. In the case of Hirtsel, the person likely tended sheep or worked with land that had a pool or pond on the property.
With the expansion of the population due to immigration in the 19th and 20th centuries, some individuals with the surname Hirtsel have moved to different countries, which may explain why it is present in more countries than just the ones initially mentioned.
Famous people with the name Hirtsel
- Bill Hirtsel: A former MLB pitcher who spent his career with the Detroit Tigers from 1989 to 1993.
- Charles Hirtsel: A professional baseball player and manager in MLB from 1901 to 1925, managing the Brooklyn Superbas and the Pittsburgh Pirates.
- Margaret Hirtsel: A prominent social worker and activist, known for her work in promoting and aiding Native American reservations in the United States.
- Mark Hirtsel: A producer, composer and arranger from the 1980s to present, who has worked on films and television shows such as Star Trek and The X-Files.
- John Hirtsel: A former NFL linebacker who spent two seasons in the late 1970s with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
- Victor Hirtsel: An American ice hockey player and Olympic silver medalist who participated in the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid.
- Elizabeth Hirtsel: An American novelist and playwright, best known for her best-selling comic novel Missing Out!
- Ross Hirtsel: A professional golfer who competed on the PGA Tour in the late 2000s.
- Laura Hirtsel: An award-winning documentary filmmaker from Canada, who has directed and produced several films on social issues.
- Art Hirtsel: A former professional football player who competed in the National Football League from 1939 to 1945.