Surname Schwertzel - Meaning and Origin
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Schwertzel: What does the surname Schwertzel mean?
The last name Schwertzel derives from the Germanic and Old High German terms "swert" and "swertil" which mean "sword" and "sword-like." This surname is likely derived from an ancestor who resided in a region where swords were commonplace in society. This could indicate a military or domestic connection. It is also possible that "sword" is also symbolic in origin, hinting at a history of strength and protection.
The Schwertzel family name originated in the Middle Ages in the Rhineland. From there, it spread to other parts of Germany and eventually to other parts of Europe. During the Middle Ages, the Schwertzel family held a prominent position in the noble class and held important mercenary positions in European wars.
Today, the last name Schwertzel is found throughout Europe and the United States. It still maintains some of the military and symbolic associations that it held in the past centuries. As a surname, it carries with it a sense of strength and protection, indicative of its original place in society.
Order DNA origin analysisSchwertzel: Where does the name Schwertzel come from?
The last name Schwertzel is primarily found in Germany and Eastern Europe, particularly in the modern-day nations of Austria, Hungary, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic. Within Germany, it is found mostly in the south and southeastern parts of the country, such as Bavaria, Hesse, and Baden-Württemberg.
The surname is likely derived from the Middle High German term 'schwertzâl', which means 'swordsman'. Alternatively, the family name may have its roots in the Proto-Germanic words 'sker-', meaning 'to cut', and 'hitil', which means 'battle'.
The many generations of descendants bearing the Schwertzel name can be traced back to the 11th and 12th centuries in the Rhineland region of Germany. During this time, wealthier, land-owning families who could afford to support their own armies could climb the social and political rankings, and many took on the Schwertzel surname as a sign of their power.
In modern times, the Schwertzels are largely found in Germany and throughout Eastern Europe. Around the world, there are likely tens of thousands of people with the Schwertzel last name.
Variations of the surname Schwertzel
The surname Schwertzel is a German surname stemming from the Middle High German word schwertezel which translates to "small sword." Variations, spellings, and surnames of the same origin stemming from this surname include:
- Schwertel: This is the German spelling of the surname that is used more commonly as a variation.
- Schwertzell: This spelling of the surname is most likely a regional variation used in some places.
- Schwertzler: This variation of Schwertzel is most likely an alternate German spelling of the surname.
- Schwertz: This is an alternate spelling of the surname which is mostly used in German.
- Schwertley: This spelling of the surname is a more rare variation and may be found in some German regions.
- Schwertzky: This is an Eastern European spelling of the surname.
- Schwertner: This is a German variant of the surname and is found in some German-speaking regions.
- Schworen: This is an alternate spelling of the surname found in some German-speaking regions as well.
- Schwertfeger: This is another variant of the surname where feger means “sweeper” in German and is most likely derived from the occupation of a sword smith.
- Schwertl: This is a variant of the surname used in some areas of Germany.
- Schwerdtel: This is an alternate spelling of the surname which is found in some German-speaking regions.
These are just a few of the variants of this surname. It may also be spelled in various ways depending on region, dialect, and language. Ultimately, the original spelling is Schwertzel and all the other spellings stem from this variation.
No matter the location, all of these variants of Schwertzel are of the same origin and share the same meaning.
Famous people with the name Schwertzel
- Kallan Schwertzel: Marketing expert and CEO of ‘CampusKnot’, a college student career platform.
- Richard Schwertzel: Former Olympic-level swimmer, three time national champion and world-record holder in the butterfly stroke.
- David Schwertzel: Award-winning author and professor of English at Boston College.
- Andy Schwertzel: Golf instructor and coach for the PGA Tour.
- William Schwertzel: Retired Major General of the US Army and current Senior Advisor for the George C. Marshall Center.
- Bernd Schwertzel: Honorary Deputy State Consul in Hamburg, Germany and past chairman of the Seafarers Fund.
- Michelle Schwertzel: Director of the Vocal Arts Program at the University of Indiana.
- Marilyn Schwertzel: Grammy-nominated artist and five time award-winning singer and songwriter.
- Howard Schwertzel: Award-winning mental health therapist and professor at St. John’s University.
- Lauren Schwertzel: Emmy-winning producer and showrunner.