Surname Schlegl - Meaning and Origin
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Schlegl: What does the surname Schlegl mean?
The last name Schlegl is of German origin and it is derived from the Old German word "schlang," which means snake. The name is also found as Schlegel in some parts of Germany.
Schlegl is a habitational name, a surname derived from the name of a place or region. In its root form, it can be traced back to the Middle Ages, when the first Schlegls were peasant farmers living in the region known today as Schlangen in Germany. Its occupants were known for their hard work and labor.
Through the centuries, the Schlegls have migrated and spread throughout different parts of Europe. As they moved, their surname changed slightly to reflect the regional dialects. Schlegl remains a common surname throughout Germany, as well as Austria, Switzerland, and Scandinavia.
Today, many Schlegls adopt the suitable nicknames or shortened versions of their surname. Popular nicknames include Schlem, Schelm, Schell, and Scholl. The Schlegl surname is associated with strength, dependability, and loyalty.
Overall, Schlegl is an old German surname with a long history, connecting generations of people all around the world. It is a well-known name that is both meaningful and unique.
Order DNA origin analysisSchlegl: Where does the name Schlegl come from?
The last name Schlegl is a German-Austrian surname and is still quite common throughout much of Germany and some parts of Austria. It is most commonly found in the southeastern states of Germany, specifically in Bavaria, Saxony and Thuringia.
The greatest proportion of people with the last name Schlegl are found in the states of Saxony and Thuringia, which together make up the historic region known as Saxony-Thuringia. It is also quite common in the more populous areas of Bavaria, particularly in the north, such as around the cities of Munich and Nuremberg.
The name Schlegl has also spread to parts of the former Austro-Hungarian empire, with significant populations in Vienna, Lower Austria and Styria. Further afield, there are Schlegls living in Switzerland, Croatia, the United States, Canada and beyond.
The Schlegls in the US mostly originated from German immigrants who arrived in the 1800s, with the majority settling in Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York. In Canada, they are more concentrated in the major cities such as Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal.
The surname meaning is ‘sloe or blackthorn’, and it is derived from the Middle High German word ‘schlagel’, meaning ‘a type of shrub’. Other forms of the name include ‘Schleggl’, ‘Schlegle’, ‘Schögl’, and ‘Schlagel’. Today, the name Schlegl is most prevalent in parts of England, Austria, Germany, and the United States.
Variations of the surname Schlegl
The surname Schlegl has several variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. It is most commonly spelled Schlegel, followed by Schlegelberger and Schlegelberger. Other variants include Schlegelmacher, Schlage, Schlegler, Schlinger, Schleegl, Schliegel, Schliegelbaumer, Schlegelmilch, Schloegel, Schloegelmacher, Schegl, Schoegel, Slegel, Sleegl, Slegle, Schlagle, and Scholler.
The most common variations of this name come from Germany and are derived from the Middle High German word ‘slegel’, meaning a heavy hammer for forging metal. In Old High German, this name is also spelt ‘schlegel’ which means ‘to hit’ or ‘to strike’. The name is thought to have referred to a blacksmith or metalworker.
In Austria, ‘Schlegel’ is an alternative to ‘Schegel’, the Austro-Bavarian word for ‘sky’. In Czech and Polish, the name is ‘Szlegel’, derived from the Old Czech word for ‘hammer’. Elsewhere in Europe, Schlegel is simply a variation of the surnames Schlögel or Schlösser, both of which mean ‘door locks’.
The Schlegel name is also found in countries like the United States, where it is spelt Schlagle, and in New Zealand, where it is spelt Schloegel. In Germany, the name is common in cities such as Munich, Berlin and Hamburg.
Overall, the surname Schlegl can take many different forms. The most common spellings are Schlegel, Schlegelberger, and Schloegel, however, there are many more variant spellings, which can vary from country to country.
Famous people with the name Schlegl
- Bernhard Schlegl: Actor, Writer, and Director
- Herbert Schlegel: Member of the German Bundestag
- Heidi Schlegel: Award winning textile artist
- Manfred Schlegl: Former Member of Parliament in Germany
- Jochen Schlegel: Bird Whisperer, Songwriter, and Author
- Johannes Schlegel: German alpine skier
- Christian Schlegl: German badminton player
- Sven Schlegl: German basketball player
- Annette Schlegl: German diver
- Anna Schlegl: German sport shooter