Surname Schwittal - Meaning and Origin

Schwittal: What does the surname Schwittal mean?

The last name Schwittal is of German origin and is derived from two Middle High German words: swinden, which means to turn or twist, and tal, which is a word for valley or dale. The literal meaning of Schwittal is a valley or dale that is twisted or curved.

The surname Schwittal is found in areas of Germany, Switzerland, and Austria, as well as former German-speaking regions like Bohemia and Silesia. It is possible that the name originated in Switzerland and migrated to the other countries over time. It is also found in areas of the United States which were heavily populated by German immigrants in the 19th Century, including the midwest and Pennsylvania.

Schwittal was likely a habitational name, given to the original family who lived in a dale or valley that twisted or curved. Over time, the family adopted it as their last name, and it was passed down through generations.

Schwittal is a rare surname, but is still found in German-speaking areas of the world. It refers to the geographical area where the original family lived and is a testament to their ancestry and family history.

Schwittal: Where does the name Schwittal come from?

The surname Schwittal is most commonly found in Germany and Austria today. It is most prevalent in the south and northeastern areas of both countries.

In Germany, the highest concentration of Schwittal families are in the states of Hessen, Bavaria, and Baden-Wurttemberg. In Austria, they are most populated in the states of Vorarlberg, Salzburg, and Styria. There are smaller numbers of Schwittal families to be found in the bordering countries of Poland, Switzerland, and the Czech Republic.

The Schwittal surname is likely of German origin, and seems to be derived from the word “Schwiete”, meaning a young and vigorous man. It is believed that the name was used as a nickname by the original bearer of the name, or could be a reference to their birthplace or occupation.

Outside of its geographic area of prevalence in Central Europe, the Schwittal name can commonly be found in the United States. It is most concentrated in Wisconsin, California, and Pennsylvania. This is likely due to the significant immigration of German descendants to North America in the 19th century.

The Schwittal name is relatively uncommon, and is not found frequently today.

Variations of the surname Schwittal

The Schwittal surname originates from the German area of Schwaben (Swabia). In old German, Schwittal means  “from the valley of the river Schwab.”

Variations of the Schwittal surname include Schwital, Schwiettal, Schwidtal, Schwitall, Schwitl, Schwitalke, Schwittel, Schwittl, Schwittel, Schwittell, Schwittelke, Schwedt, Schweda, Schwida, and Schwittlum.

The surname may have developed other spellings as the family moved to different countries or as nations changed their language or adopted new ones. It is also possible that there may be an entirely different surname with a similar pronunciation as Schwittl that originated from a completely different area.

Unrelated surnames may also sound similar to the original Schwittal due to similar pronounciations in different regions, such as Schwittauer, Schwitzer, Schwabauer, Schwiebert, Schwiesow, Schwinger, Schwippert, Schwob and Schwertner.

Famous people with the name Schwittal

• Robert Schwittal: Robert Schwittal is a former American football linebacker who played professionally in the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the fourth round of the 1982 NFL Draft.
• Mark Schwittal: Mark Schwittal is a former American Major League Baseball pitcher who played with the New York Mets and Detroit Tigers during the 1995 season. He also pitched in the minor leagues for the Pittsburgh Pirates and Florida Marlins.
• Marianne Schwittal: Marianne Schwittal is an American figure skater and choreographer. She is a four-time U.S. national champion and the 1981 World bronze medalist.
• Sally Schwittal: Sally Schwittal is an American former ballet dancer who was a principal with The Joffrey Ballet and a soloist with American Ballet Theatre.
• Oskar Schwittal: Oskar Schwittal is an American contemporary classical and experimental composer. His works are often written for non-traditional ensembles, combining instruments from various musical traditions.
• Henning Schwittal: Henning Schwittal is a German politician who currently serves as the Minister of Finance in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia.

Other surnames

Schwittalla