Surname Serl - Meaning and Origin
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Serl: What does the surname Serl mean?
The surname Serl is of Germanic origin. It is derived from the personal name 'Serlo', which is formed from the elements ‘ser’ meaning ‘servant’ plus ‘lo’ meaning ‘warrior’.
The surname Serl is sometimes described as an occupational name for someone employed in the service of a noble (or ‘lo’) family. It is also thought that the surname may have been used as a nickname for a family member or friend who devoted himself to a member of the nobility.
The surname Serl first appears in records in the 12th century in Germany, and was also found in England in the 13th century. It is especially common in Austria and Bavaria.
Variations of the surname include Serle, Sarle, Sarll, Surl and Zerle.
People with this surname include English actor Richard Serle (1761–1825), American musicologist Henry Serl (1875–1929) and British singer Johnny Serl (1871–1941).
Overall, the last name Serl is thought to represent an individual as a servant and a loyal protector. It could also mean a beloved family member who looks after the interests of the nobility.
Order DNA origin analysisSerl: Where does the name Serl come from?
The last name Serl has its origins in German and is believed to be derived from the Old German word “serl”, which means servants or helpers. It likely became a surname when an ancestor took on a job serving someone of higher class or rank.
Today, Serl is most commonly found in Germany, Austria, and in the Germanic diaspora across the world. Specifically, the surname is most concentrated in the German state of Bavaria and the wider region of Franconia. The Franconian language, a dialect of German, is still spoken in the area, and records indicate that the surname is known to have been used in the region since the 13th century.
Outside of Germany and its environs, the surname Serl is known to have spread to many countries and regions of Europe, including Poland, Russia, Croatia, Romania, and Hungary. Records indicate that some instances of the surname came to the United States from Germany in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The surname can be found commonly in the United States today as a result of this emigration.
Variations of the surname Serl
Searle is the most common variant spelling of the surname Serl. Spellings of this surname can also appear as Serles, Searles, Searls, Sirls, Searl, and Surl.
This surname has English & French origins. It derives from Old French cerle (the modern French spelling being serrure) meaning ‘lock, bolt’. It is an occupational name for someone who made locks. As a result, the surname could be found throughout England and Scotland, and also in France.
In England, the word wassequently anglicised to Searle, & anglo-Norman variant to Serle. In Scotland, which has its own language, the Occitan form of the word became Usagell, and can also appears as Ugrill, Urgill, Yurgill, and Yurkel.
In the United States, some variants of the surname would have likely been altered to Smith or other less ‘foreign sounding’ surnames.
Overall, the surnames Serl, Searle, Serles, Searles, Searls, Sirls, Searl, and Surl all likely have the same origin.
Famous people with the name Serl
- Harriet Serle, a 19th-century English novelist.
- Minnie Serle, a 19th-century English operatic soprano.
- Auguste Serle, a French architect and creator of the French château style.
- Hugh Serle, a mid-20th-century Australian diplomat.
- Barbara Serle, an American author and the founder of the National Poetry Series.
- William Serle, a prominent 17th-century English clergyman.
- Willard Serle, an American film and television actor.
- George Serle, a late-19th-century British civil servant and politician.
- Jonathan Serle, a late-17th-century English poet.
- Lorna Serle, a 20th-century American author and playwright.