Surname Schiefl - Meaning and Origin
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Schiefl: What does the surname Schiefl mean?
The name Schiefl (also spelled Schiefel, Schiefelbein, or Schiefelein) is a German surname indicating descent from a person who had physical characteristics of a sloping form or posture. Specifically, the name is derived from the Old High German word “scefalo,” which was used to describe the sloping stance of a person. This term was likely paired with “el” or “elen” which was a suffix that denoted the family or tribe.
The Schiefl surname likely came about during a time when families adopted particular surnames associated with tangible characteristics in order to distinguish themselves. This could have been especially helpful in the case of this surname, as the posture of the person was easy to identify. As German surnames began to rise in popularity in the Middle Ages, it is believed that the Schiefl surname was one of the earliest established names.
The early Schiefl families can be traced back to various regions throughout Germany. Documents have been found that show individuals with the Schiefl surname living in the regions of Pomerania, Mecklenburg, Saxony, and Silesia. Documents have also been found showing that family members immigrated to countries such as the United States, South Africa, India, Romania, and Australia.
Today, the Schiefl surname is still common throughout Germany, and present day family members still carry on the sloping posture or stance of their ancestors. It is a name that was born of physical characteristics and is now deeply steeped in the history of Germany.
Order DNA origin analysisSchiefl: Where does the name Schiefl come from?
The last name Schiefl is most commonly found in Austria and Germany today. It is believed to have originated in the region, with some have traced the earliest mention of the name in records to the 10th century in the modern German state of Hesse. The name was likely derived from the word “Schief”, which is the German word for “crooked”. It’s possible the name may have referred to an individual’s crooked physical features or was a nickname given to someone with a crooked personality.
The name is also common in other countries in Central Europe, such as the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Poland. In other parts of the world, the Schiefl surname is found in countries that have large populations of immigrants or descendants of European immigrants, such as the United States, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada.
Schiefl is not a very common name even within its German-speaking ancestral homelands. It is estimated that there are currently less than 5,000 people with the Schiefl surname worldwide.
In addition to its direct use as a surname, Schiefl has also been used to create various variants such as Schiefer, Schiefelbein, Schiefel, Schiefling, and Scheifl. In some cases, these variants are seen in different countries because of the immigration of individuals with the Schiefl surname.
Variations of the surname Schiefl
Schiefl is a surname of German origin. The variants and spellings of this name include Schiefel, Schiefell, Schiefele, Skeefel, Skeefell, Skeefele and Scheffel. These variations of the surname may have developed over time due to differences in dialect or spelling.
Schiefl was often used as an occupational name, referring to a slater or roofer. The surname may therefore have originally been “Schiefeler,” meaning “one who works with roof tiles.”
The Schiefl surname was also sometimes spelled with the German letters “ß” or “sz,” resulting in alternative spellings such as Schiëffel, Schiëfel, Sziefel, Sziefell or Sziefele. These spellings were used to distinguish the name from others, such as Scheffel or Scheffler, which have unrelated meanings and origins.
The German surname Schiefel is also recorded in the United States, with alternative spellings Schiefller, Shiefel, Shieffel, Shiefell and Shiefele. These versions are thought to be derived from the Americanization of the original German spelling.
Surnames related to Schiefl are Schefel, Schefler, Scheff and Scheffler, which have similar meanings but distinct origins. These names are derived from the Middle High German words “schaf” or “scaf”, meaning “sheep” and “l” meaning “guardian:” hence they were originally used as occupational names for keepers of sheep.
Famous people with the name Schiefl
- Jonas Schiefl, Astronaut
- Einhart Schiefl, businessman and co-founder of ODEM
- Rita Schiefl, German politician
- Ernst Schiefl, German lawyer
- Wolfgang Schiefl, German saxophonist
- Leon Leo Schiefl, Austrian clergyman
- Sepp Schiefl, Austrian football player
- Hedy Schiefl, Austrian opera singer
- Mathilde Schiefl, Austrian actress
- Margarethe Schiefl, Austrian film actress
- Christopher Schiefl, Austrian director
- Hans Schiefl, Austrian glassblower
- Reinhard Schiefl, German alpine skier
- Andreas Schiefl, German ornithologist
- Hermann Schiefl, Austrian cinematographer
- Hans Schiefl, German architect
- Marc Schiefl, German journalist
- Björn Schiefl, Swedish botanist
- Bernhard Schiefl, Austrian ski jumper
- Krista Schiefl, Austrian snowboarder