Surname Senftle - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'S'
Senftle: What does the surname Senftle mean?
The last name Senftle is of German origin, and is believed to be derived from a German place name. The literal translation of the name means ‘soft ground’, a descriptor of the area's landscape. Historically, citizens often adopted the name of the place they lived in as their last name in order to identify themselves and distinguish themselves from neighboring towns and villages.
Senftle is a relatively rare surname that can be found in Germany, Austria, and the U.S., where it can be pronounced as either ‘zoung’ or ‘sanft’. The spelling can also vary slightly between generations, as in the form of 'Senflt' or 'Senftly’ due to regional popularity and dissimilation. The derivatives of the root, ‘senf’, tend to mean ‘gentle’ or ‘soft’, depending on the dialect and composition. In relation to the meaning of the name, the associated family crest incorporates a partridge, a symbol that stands for gentleness and friendship.
Historically, the surnames of Germany can indicate a person's social status and origins, and the papers to prove their heritage can be necessary to gain access to certain privileges or to mention one's family in one's will. Although the meaning of the name is what would have most likely been the initial factor in deciding on the adoption of the name, it still remains an important factor today. It is a meaningful name of German heritage that indicates the residence and character of the family.
Order DNA origin analysisSenftle: Where does the name Senftle come from?
The last name Senftle is most commonly found in Germany today, although there are also some occurrences of it in Austria. In Germany, it is most frequently located in the North Rhine-Westphalia and Rhineland-Palatinate states. It is less frequently located in the other federal states of Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, Hesse, and Saxony, as well as in Berlin.
The name is believed to have Germanic origins, and is a patronymic surname meaning "son of Senft Wulf," and is derived from the given name Senft Wulf, which means "bold wolf." The name has been documented since the 15th century, in both its German and French forms, and is found in records held in the communities of Eppelheim, Höpfingen, Ringsheim, and Langenau.
Outside of Germany, the last name is known to be found in the USA, mostly concentrated in the Midwest and some locations in California. It is also known to be found in other countries around the world, such as Australia, Canada and the UK, although these occurrences are comparatively much rarer.
Variations of the surname Senftle
The surname Senftle is a German surname with multiple variants, spellings, and other surnames that are thought to be of the same origin. Some of the variants of the Senftle surname include Sanftleben, Sanftlehner, Sanftle, and Sennfel. Other surnames similar in origin include Santleben, Sandfleben, Sandflebahna, and Santfleber.
Spellings of the Senfle surname include Schanfel, Sanfel, Schanful, Sanftluft, and Sanftleve, as well as the previously mentioned spellings of the surname.
Similarly, there are other surnames that are thought to be of the same origin as the Senfle surname. These surnames are not the same as Senfle, but may have derived from it and share a common point of origin. Some of these family names include Sanfelt, Sanfelter, Sanfieser, Sanfeltzer, Sanfor, Sanberg, and Sanflar.
Overall, the surname Senfle has a variety of variants, spellings, and other surnames of the same origin. This is most prominent in Germanic families, which is likely the area of origin for the surname.
Famous people with the name Senftle
- Cameron Senftle, Major League Baseball player
- Jacob Senftle, NASCAR driver
- Adam Senftle, PGA golfer
- Kurt Senftle, senior editor of Rolling Stone Magazine
- Steve Senftle, former professional baseball player
- Carla Senftle, U.S. national women's weightlifter
- Elizabeth Senftle, two-time Olympic soccer player
- Herbert Senftle, former major league player and coach
- William Senftle, former professional basketball player 10.Linda Senftle, former vocalist in the all-girls band The Donnas.