Surname Mittelbach - Meaning and Origin
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Mittelbach: What does the surname Mittelbach mean?
Mittelbach is a German surname derived from the words 'Mitte' meaning middle and 'Bach' meaning stream. The name originates from a habitation by a stream in the centre of a village.
The term 'Bach' was often added to names of communities, landscapes and even people to describe their location, such as Middle Creek (Mittelbach).
The surname Mittelbach indicates that the family originally lived in a village with a stream in the middle of it - such settlements were very common in areas of Central Europe including parts of present-day Germany, Czech Republic, and Poland.
Pronounced 'MIT-lle-bokh', the name may have been associated with a variety of trade-roles that reference water such as fishermen, millers and ferrymen. It may also have been adopted by families of nobility often referred to as “Knights of the Middle Stream” where landowners had a residence located by a stream.
Mittelbach is now used as a surname by families living throughout the world, most commonly in Germany as well as in the nearby Czech Republic, Austria, Switzerland, Netherlands and the United States.
In the 21st century, the name Mittelbach retains its association with water but now serves to distinguish a family and create a common bond of identity among its members.
Order DNA origin analysisMittelbach: Where does the name Mittelbach come from?
The surname Mittelbach is a surname primarily found in German-speaking countries. It is most prevalent in Austria, where it ranks as the 56th most common surname nationwide. It is also found in Germany, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, and Hungary. However, it is also found in small numbers in other countries, such as the United States and Canada.
In the United States, the latest census estimated that approximately 1,300 people bear the Mittelbach surname, most of them in Texas. Other states with significant numbers of Mittelbachs include California, New York, Illinois, Florida, and Pennsylvania. In Canada, the surname is more scarce, with only an estimated 200 people bearing this name.
The origin of the Mittelbach surname is believed to be derived from the German word “mittelbach”, which means “middle stream”. This refers to a stream that ran in the middle of a settlement, and would have been an important source of water for the community. The earliest known record of this surname dates back to the 13th century, when it appeared in documents from the state of Saxony in Germany.
Thus, the surname Mittelbach is still relatively common in countries where German is spoken. However, there are also small numbers of people bearing this name in other countries, including the United States and Canada.
Variations of the surname Mittelbach
The Mittelbach surname originated from the country of Germany in the early Middle Ages. This surname is also spelled Metelbach and Metelbank. It is believed that the name was derived from the Middle German words “middel” which means “middle” and “bach” which means “stream”. As such, the name was likely originally taken on by someone who lived near or along a stream in the middle of a valley or region.
Variant spellings of this surname are Metallbach and Mitellbach. Variations of the first name like Metel and Metall can also be found.
In some parts of Germany and Europe, the Mittelbach surname has evolved into other forms and surnames. Metelbhach and Metelshach can be found, and there are variants like Metzbach, Metallbach, and Metzler which can all be traced back to the original Mittelbach family.
The Metze and Metzel surnames are also derived from Mittelbach, and there are several other variants of the surname, including Mettebach, Metzler, and even Metzbacher which are most commonly found in Germany and Austria.
Other versions of the Mittelbach surname can also be seen in the United States. The surnames Tartelbach, Martelbach, and Martelbacher are all derived from this same name but are written in different forms.
Regardless of the variation, the Mittelbach surname is generally accepted and recognized as one of the oldest surnames in Europe. It is linked to a long family history and centuries-old tradition of the great country of Germany.
Famous people with the name Mittelbach
- Gábor Mittelbach, Hungarian journalist, commentator and political scientist
- Ruth Mittelbach, American screenwriter
- Stevens Mittelbach, American college football player
- Eric Mittelbach, Austrian canoeist
- Philipp Mittelbach, German football player
- Thomas Mittelbach, Austrian-German informatician
- Ferdinand Mittelbach, German painter
- Krista Anne Mittelbach, American actress
- Justine Mittelbach, German-born actress
- Norbert Mittelbach, German composer and conductor