Surname Kneissl - Meaning and Origin
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Kneissl: What does the surname Kneissl mean?
The last name Kneissl is a German word and is derived from the Middle High German word "Knezel". It is thought to come from the Latin word "nucalis", which is derived from the word "nux" meaning "nut". The name is a topographical name that was given to someone living near a knoll or hillock, or it could have been used as an occupational name for someone who harvested and sold nuts.
The surname Kneissl is more commonly found in Austria, and is one of the oldest and most common surnames in the region. It is found in many different variations, with about 250 different spellings, such as Kneisel, Kneiszl, Kneiselbaum, Kranzpappel and Kneizel. In the United States, the name is sometimes spelled Knessl.
The name Kneissl is often associated with a long history of Austria, as it was a popular name among early immigrants who settled in the country during the 19th and 20th centuries. Additionally, it is believed that many of the Kneissl families that reside in Austria and America today are descended from the same ancestors who migrated to the country many years ago.
Although the origins of the Kneissl surname are unclear, it is believed to be connected to ancient times and has come to represent an important family name in Austria today.
Order DNA origin analysisKneissl: Where does the name Kneissl come from?
The last name Kneissl is mainly associated with the German language, and is particularly common in Austria and Germany. It is also present in some other European countries, including the Czech Republic, Switzerland and Slovakia. The Czech version of the surname is Kneisl, and the Swiss version is Knysli.
The origins of the last name Kneissl are thought to be related to the Middle and Old High German words knie and kniuzel, which mean "knee" and "knee bend". It is believed that the name could have been given to someone with a physical feature or disability related to their knees, or it could have been given to kneeling members of a fealty (as a sign of loyalty).
The most prominent bearer of the surname was the Austrian ski racer Elisabeth Kneissl, who competed in the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary.
The Kneissl surname can be found in several records and databases, such as the White Pages in Austria, the Bundesarchiv Records in Germany, and the MyHeritage database in Central and Eastern Europe. In addition, it is possible to find Kneissl-related family trees and genealogical research databases such as the Charles de Kneissl and Lena Kneissl Family Tree. According to a 2011 census, there were a total of 9,500 people in Austria bearing this surname.
Variations of the surname Kneissl
The surname Kneissl is of German origin and has various alternative spellings as well as variants. The common spellings for the Kneissl surname are Knößl, Knüßl, Kniesil, Kneizel, and Knösel. All these spelling variants are derived from the German word “Knirschen” which means “to crush”. This could be in reference to an ancestor who was known to be a hearty individual.
One of the numerous variations, Knößl, is derived from the Middle High German word “knödel”. This word is most commonly used in the Bavarian and Austrian regions. It means dumplings, most probably because an ancestor was known for his role in the manufacture and sale of these delicious treats.
Surnames derived from the Kneissl surname include Knieser, Kneifel, Knußmann, Knusfeld, Kneisel, Knauss and Kneissel. These suranmes can be found mainly in the Palatinate region, where some of the descendants of the Kneissl surname still live.
The Kneissl surname is also said to have branches in countries such as Austria, Switzerland and the Czech Republic. It is distinct from other German surnames, as it is written with a double “ss”. This is seen as a mark of historic German heraldry and indicates that the bearers of this name descend from a distinguished line.
Overall, the Kneissl surname has many variations, spellings and surnames of the same origin, all of which can be traced back to an ancestor who lived in the Palatinate region.
Famous people with the name Kneissl
- Hans Kneißl: Austrian billionaire businessman who is the founder of the Kneißl Group, an industrial corporation that specializes in the construction of roads and real estate development
- Harry Kneißl: Austrian alpine skier who competed in four Olympic Winter Games
- Sabine Kneißl Mörtl: Austrian figure skater, coach, and choreographer who most recently worked with Team Japan in the ladies’ single skating
- Brooke Kneissl: American news anchor for Reuters
- Wolfgang Kneißl: Austrian professional football player
- Marcus Kneißl: Former Austrian professional football player
- Martin Kneißl: German mechanical and plant engineer and the former head of the Laboratory for Machine Tools and Production Engineering at Technische Universität München
- Dr. Alexander Kneißl: Austrian economist and policy specialist
- Cornelius Kneißl: German-born former football player based in country of USA
- Eduard Kneißl: Austrian composer and music educator who lived between the years of 1905 and 1948. He was the father of Harry Kneißl, the alpine skier who competed in four Olympic Winter Games.