Surname Schwittalla - Meaning and Origin

Schwittalla: What does the surname Schwittalla mean?

The German surname Schwittalla is of pattrenational origin, derived from the late Middle High German word "swite", meaning "slender". The surname usually belonged to a person who is considered physically attractive and slender, or possibly someone who is an excellent craftsman.

The noun, Schwittalla, is the result of the replacing an "i" with "a" in the Old High German name ”Swittila” or “Switila”. It likely originated during medieval times in the region of modern-day Germany. This specific name was likely formed from combination of two elements, with “swite” meaning "slender" and the diminutive suffix "-ila" or "-la".

Schwittalla is most prominently found in Germany, however, it has also spread to other parts of Europe, such as the United States, and it is believed to be scattered throughout Austria, Switzerland, and other parts of Europe.

When used in modern times, the name Schwittalla suggests a person of strong creative skills, physical attractiveness, or a person who is slender. With this, it is likely that the person seen as being a skilled craftsperson within the family. Moreover, one may have seen their relative as having a good eye for details and great resilience.

Schwittalla: Where does the name Schwittalla come from?

The last name Schwittalla appears to be mostly concentrated in Germany, principally in the western part of the country, particularly in the regions around Bavaria, North-Rhine Westphalia, and Lower Saxony. It is a fairly rare surname, and so its prevalence will vary from place to place.

In terms of worldwide distribution, Schwittalla is not especially common outside of Germany. It does, however, also appear in the United States, Canada, France, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, and the Netherlands. This indicates that some members of the family have emigrated and settled in other countries over the generations.

In Germany, the name is more likely to be found in rural and small-town regions rather than larger cities. Whilst it is still possible to come across the name in more urban areas, the chances of doing so are far lower.

Overall, Schwittalla is not a particularly common name, so it is fair to classify it as a relatively obscure one. Its origins are likely to be Germanic, as the spelling and pronunciation of the name remain very much unchanged from the 1920s onwards.

Variations of the surname Schwittalla

The surname Schwittalla is of German origin, deriving from the Middle Low German word "switel," meaning a bridle, or occasionaly a jewelled ornament attached to the bridle. The surname is also spelled as Schwittel, Schwitter, Schwitz, Switz, Switta, and Svittel.

Variants and other spellings of Schwittalla, as well as surnames with similar origins, include Schwichtenberg, Switzenberg, Schvitel, Switzel, Switalla, Svittel, Swittall, Swittsalk, Swittell, Svitel, and Svita.

Other surnames of similar origin include Schwidde, Scott, Shute, Swiden, Scheutel, Schwittell, Sweatt, Schwhittali, and Swyttall.

There are various other related surnames with alternate spellings derived from various German dialects. These include Schwitl, Schwidde, Schwiddt, and Swydet. There are also variations such as Scwittel, Schwiddle, and Schwiddel.

Some German and Central European surnames of different origin, but with similar-sounding spellings include Schwitter, Schwieters, Schwaitz, Schwetta, and Schwettes.

In addition to these variation, there are also similar surnames derived from other languages such as Sveta from Russian and Swiadek from Polish.

Famous people with the name Schwittalla

• Josef Schwittalla: German actor and director, known for his roles in Drei Tage Fever and Jesus im Taxi 18.
• Phil Schwittalla: American entrepreneur and marketing executive, founder of US company, SmartBug Media.
• Marc Schwittalla: American chess grandmaster.
• Julie Schwittalla: American track and field athlete and Olympic silver medalist.
• Stefan Schwittalla: German entrepreneur, founder of an online marketing company.
• Richard Schwittalla: German business consultant and executive, known for helping to develop Bayern Munich.
• Markus Schwittalla: German footballer, who plays for Bayern Munich.
• Gerald Schwittalla: Austrian ski jumper, who competed in the Winter Olympics.
• Paul Schwittalla: American jazz musician and composer, best known for his work on the Miles Davis albums.
• Michael Schwittalla: German photographer, best known for his portraits of Hollywood celebrities.

Other surnames

Schwittal