Surname Kislich - Meaning and Origin

Kislich: What does the surname Kislich mean?

The last name Kislich has multiple possible origins, though most linguists agree that it likely originates from the southwestern regions of Europe.

The most likely explanation is derived from the Old High German word 'Kissel', meaning 'marsh' or 'bog', and 'ich', meaning 'son of'. Thus, the name of Kislich could have been given to a family who lived near a marsh or other body of water.

Another potential origin is from the German word 'kisseln', meaning to sing softly, and 'ich', meaning son of. In this case, the name could have been assigned to the son of someone renowned for their singing ability.

The last name Kislich is also believed to have come from the name of the Slovak town of Kezlice, along with the suffix 'ich', indicating 'son of'. The original town name, thought to be derived from an archaic Slovak word meaning 'town', suggests that the last name could have originated from a family whose ancestors took up residence in the town in the distant past.

No matter their exact origin, the Kislich last name is believed to be of Slavic or Germanic origin, making it a common last name throughout Central and Eastern Europe.

Kislich: Where does the name Kislich come from?

The last name Kislich is commonly found in Austria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia and Germany. Historically, the Kislich family was originally from Germany and can be traced back to the medieval Black Forest region of central Europe. The earliest records of the spellings of the Kislich surname occurring there can be dated back to the 16th century.

In Austria, the Kislich family are mostly concentrated in the eastern half of the country, particularly in the state of Burgenland, which, until 1921, was still part of the Hungarian Empire.

In the Czech Republic the Kislich surname is widespread, especially in the southern and western regions with the highest concentrations being found in Prague and the northwest district of Bohemia.

In the neighbouring Slovakia, the Kislich surname is extremely rare but still occurs in some of the major cities such as Bratislava and Presov. The last known Kislich family member in this region was believed to have migrated to the USA in the 1940s.

Further down the east-western axis of Europe lies Hungary, where the Kislich surname is again fairly common, especially in the major eastern cities of Debrecen and Miskolc.

Finally, Germany also sees a number of Kislich family members today, many of which are descendants of the original Kislich group who migrated there in the 16th century. The Kislich surname is still found mostly in the Black Forest region, as well as the state of Bavaria.

Variations of the surname Kislich

The surname Kislich is of Slavic origin, which is most likely derived from the root word “Kislo”, meaning bitter, sour, or acidic. It is primarily found in the eastern parts of Slovakia, Poland, and Ukraine, as well as in Serbia and Croatia.

There are numerous variants, spellings, and surnames with the same origin as Kislich. In some cases, the letter “c” may be replaced with a “k” or a “ch”, or it may be written with an “s” in lieu of a “sh”. Other spellings and variants include Kischel, Kislich, Kiselich, Kyslich, Kyselich, Kisilich, Kisselich, Kisslich, and Kischl.

Alternate surnames with similar origins to Kislich include Kiselinsky, Kiselski, Kisilka, Kisyk, Kyselack, Kyselka, Kyselyk, and Kysela. When surnames were being assigned to immigrants who came over to America from the various Slavic countries, and due to the language barrier many names went through multiple variations and transformations. Thus, it is not uncommon to find Kishel, Kiselich, and Kisilich in American records.

The overall meanings of the names and the context in which they were used can provide clues as to the origin of these names. In its original meaning, Kislich was likely used as a surname that implied a person who was bitter or sour in temper, or acidic in nature — either in terms of literal bitterness or metaphorically in terms of their sharp wit. It could also have been used to describe a person who conducted their business in a sour fashion, or who was edgy in their manner.

Regardless of the original meaning, Kislich and its variants are now commonly found throughout Polish, Slovak, and Ukrainian families, as well as in America. As such, it is a surname with a rich history and culture that continues to be carried on by its descendants.

Famous people with the name Kislich

• Albert Kislich: An Austrian professional footballer who competed in the World Cup for the Austria National Team in 1954.
• Elisabeth Kislich-Bauch: An Austrian violinist and music professor who taught at the Academy of Music in Vienna.
• Paul Kislich: An Austrian-American professional soccer player who played and coached teams in the German-American Soccer League from 1915-1935.
• Peter Kislich: A German World War II veteran, awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross in 1944 for his service.
• Elemér Kislich: A Hungarian Renaissance painter, best known for his vibrant portrait paintings in oil paint.
• Mamuka Kislich: A Georgian-born former professional footballer who played as a midfielder for FC Torpedo Kutaisi and Georgia’s national team.
• Sally Kislich: An American opera singer who made her debut at the Met Opera in 1979.
• Johanna Kislich: An Austrian children’s book writer and illustrator, best known for her saga, “The Magic Rose Garden”. Published in 1961, it has been adapted into a number of German productions.
• Ernst Kislich: An Austrian native who, during World War II, owned many properties throughout the country. He was arrested by the Gestapo in 1943 and later died in prison.
• Sebastian Kislich: A German pianist and musical director who was named a “Young Artists of the Year” in 2002.

Other surnames

KislingKislinger