Surname Knörlein - Meaning and Origin
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Knörlein: What does the surname Knörlein mean?
The last name Knörlein (or Knöhrlein / Knoehrlein) is a German surname of noble origin, descended from the knights of medieval times. It is thought to come from the Gothic root “knair” meaning “edge”.
Although it is most commonly associated with Bavaria and Franconia, it is also found in and around Saxony, Thuringia and Baden-Wuerttemberg.
The Knörlein family history dates back to the turn of the 13th century, when monasteries and churches granted nobleman Sir Konrad Knörlein the privilege of passing on his holdings to his descendants. In old documents, the family is referred to as “knörich” or “edgier”, a reference to their ancestors’ title of nobility.
In 1570, during the great Würzburg succession-suit, Knörlein was also known for its loyalty to the Franconian Oberfamilie and Duchy.
This surname is also linked to many renowned and influential people of German history. S.A. Dittrich Knörlein was an theologian and scientist who founded the Universität Altdorf. Edwin Knörlein was an architect in the late 1800s who is renowned for his street designs and public works. Finally, Hermann Knörlein was an ophthalmologist in Frankfurt during the early 1900s.
It is a respected surname that carries a rich and proud family legacy.
Order DNA origin analysisKnörlein: Where does the name Knörlein come from?
The surname Knörlein is most commonly found in Germany, particularly in the southwestern region known as Swabia. It is also present in larger numbers in the Czech Republic and in smaller numbers in other European countries. The roots of the name can be traced back to the Middle Ages when settlers from Germany began moving into this area.
The meaning of the name is derived from the Old German words "knörez" which means "hound” or “dog" and "lein" which means "little". This suggests that the original bearer of the name was a small, loyal dog.
Today, the name is still quite common in Germany, particularly in the southwest. However, it has become a bit more dispersed over time. For example, the name is now also found in Horten, Norway and some parts of the United States. These members of the Knörlein family are likely descendants of those who migrated during or after the Middle Ages.
Although the original meaning of the name is lost to history, the strong associations with loyalty and companionship remain. The Knörlein family continues to represent these values and is an important part of German and European culture.
Variations of the surname Knörlein
The surname Knörlein is a German surname derived from the word ‘Knödel’, which is a type of German dumpling. The origin of the surname is most likely linked to tradesmen or cooks who specialized in making the German Knödel. Other variants and spellings of the surname Knörlein include Knoerlein, Knoerle, Knoerl, Knöerlein, Knoeerlein, Knörl, Knorlein and Knorl.
In some instances, foreign language translations of the surname have appeared, such as Italian, Knurle, Knörli and Knorli. Other surnames with possible relation to the original surname include Knorz, Knoerzer, Knorzer, Knöri, Knoeri, and Knowerl.
At one time, the surname may have been adopted as a hereditary surname, meaning that only a specific family carried the name for generations. Therefore, some Knörlein may have changed or altered the spelling of their surname in order to differentiate it from other Knörlein-variants. Therefore, other variations may also exist such as Knöhrlein, Knodle, Knaurle, Knaurli, Knaurl, Knarahl, Knoobel, Knooble, Knorel and Knörzel.
Additionally, the surname is sometimes combined with other family names. For instance, some names include variations of both the Knörlein and Meier surnames such as Knoerlemeier, Knorlemeyer, Knorlemeier, Knoerlimaier, Knorlemayer, Knorlmeyer, Knoerlmeier, Knorlmeier and Knöerlemaier.
In summary, variations of the surname Knörlein that could be indicative of the same origin include Knoerlein, Knoerle, Knoerl, Knöerlein, Knoeerlein, Knörl, Knorlein, Knorl, Knurle, Knörli, Knorli, Knorz, Knoerzer, Knorzer, Knöri, Knoeri, Knowerl, Knöhrlein, Knodle, Knaurle, Knaurli, Knaurl, Knarahl, Knoobel, Knooble, Knorel, Knörzel, Knorlemeyer, Knorlemeier, Knoerlemeier, Knoerlimaier, Knorlemayer, Knorlmeyer, Knoerlmeier, Knorlmeier and Knöerlemaier.
Famous people with the name Knörlein
- Marlene Knörrlein, a German classical philologist and archaeologist.
- Sybille Knörlein, a German actress.
- Peter Knörlein, a former member of the German national ski team.
- Willi Knörlein, a German football manager who played for FC St. Pauli and also managed VfR Mannheim.
- Christian Knörlein, a German footballer who played for SV Wehen Wiesbaden and Borussia Dortmund.
- Wolfgang Knörlein, a pianist from Germany.
- Andreas Knörlein, a German tenor and singing pedagogue.
- Ulrich Knörlein, a German orthopedist and sports medicine specialist.
- Erich Knörlein, a German alpine skier.
- Fritz Knörlein, a Swiss referee and Bishop of the Catholic Church.