Surname Mählich - Meaning and Origin
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Mählich: What does the surname Mählich mean?
The last name Mählich is a German surname which translates to “belonging to the miller” or “miller” in English. The name is derived from the Old German word “mahal”, which refers to a miller’s house. The name is also recorded in other languages, including Dutch, with variants such as Maelick, Maalick, or Maalich.
The surname likely originated in areas of Germany populated by the Lower Saxons, where it has existed from at least the Middle Ages. During this period, surnames were often determined by occupation, and were based on the local language spoken at the time. Thus, Mählich was likely the recipient’s occupation-based name.
Mählich is still a common last name in Europe, and it is registered in several countries, including Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and the Netherlands. Aside from its origin as a miller’s name, it is not known to have any other roots or meanings.
Today, the name is used by a variety of individuals, some belonging to families who have kept the name intact for centuries, and some who have adopted it more recently. Although the surname is rather uncommon outside of Europe, it is believed that individuals bearing the last name Mählich are related in some form — either through marriage or descent.
Order DNA origin analysisMählich: Where does the name Mählich come from?
The last name Mählich is most commonly found in Germany today. It is a relatively common German surname, with more than 3,000 people bearing the surname in Germany alone. It is also found in other countries in Central and Eastern Europe including Austria, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary.
The name is derived from the Middle High German "mahal" or "mohle" meaning mill or grist mill. It is believed that the earliest individuals to use the name were millers. Those with this name would have held a valuable position in the local community as millers who could turn grain into flour.
The name is still heavily concentrated in Bavaria, in the southeastern part of Germany. However, it can also be found throughout the country and in surrounding countries. It often appears spelled differently – Mählicher, Mahlich, Mahl ec – but is still pronounced the same way.
The name has also been adopted in the United States, primarily among those of German descent. The American version of the name often appears as Mahliche or Mahlich.
Overall, the last name Mählich is most commonly found in Germany today, but can also be found throughout Central and Eastern Europe, as well as the United States. It is a relatively common German surname and is believed to have originated with millers.
Variations of the surname Mählich
The surname Mählich is an established, German surname derived from the Middle High German word malic, meaning “nimble” or “agile.” Variations of Mählich include Mählic, Mählig, Mählick, Mähly, Mahlich, Mahlic, Mahlig, Mahlickel, Mahlick, Mahly, and other variations. All of these variations are derived from the same Middle High German root word malic.
In some cases, Wehlich, Mehlich, and Mahlich have different origins. Wehlich is another German surname that originally meant “meal seller” and is derived from Middle Low German welen, meaning “to sell.” Mehlich is a Czech and Slovakian name that is derived from the German words mehl, meaning “flour,” and -lich, a suffix meaning “little.” This would imply that the original meaning was “someone who sold flour.”
The surname Mählich has also been anglicized to Mahley or Mahle in the United States. Mahley is based on the Middle German mehle, or “mill.” This anglicization was likely adopted by guests of Pennsylvania Deutch settlements in the 18th century.
In the United States, one can also find many people with the surname Mählich as a result of German immigration, which forced changes in spelling and pronunciation. Today, there are hundreds, if not thousands, of people with the surname Mählich in the United States.
Famous people with the name Mählich
- Bohuslav Mählich: internation footballer who won two Czechoslovak league titles, three Czechoslovak Cups, and four French championships.
- Václav Mählich: Czech painter, graphic artist, illustrator, and scenic designer whose work was inspired by Symbolism and New Objectivity.
- Bedřich Mählich: Czech sculptor, painter and draughtsman notable for creating a variety of small sculptures in his native country as well as works inspired by the indigenous cultures of California.
- Pavel Mählich: Czech chemist who developed a method for determining nitrogen levels in water.
- Josef Mählich: Austrian lawyer and state councillor who acted in the German-Austrian war of 1866.
- Emanuel Mählich: German architect from Dresden who helped build early residential neighborhoods and bridges in the city.
- Viktor Mählich: German composer and songwriter prominent during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
- Josef Mählich: Czech pastor and prison chaplain noted for his philanthropic works.
- Karel Mählich: Czech athlete and politician who participated in both the 1976 and 1980 editions of the Olympics and, later, was appointed Minister of Education of Czechoslovakia.
- Dr. Peter Mählich: German Businessman and former CEO European Chamber of Commerce Elektronik, Heidelberg, Germany.