Surname Sly/Schly - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'S'
Sly/Schly: What does the surname Sly/Schly mean?
The surname Sly or Schly is of German origin and is derived from the word “schlief”, which is an Old German word meaning “peaceful” or “calm”. It became associated with the word “shlief”, which has the same meaning, suggesting that it was used both to describe someone who was peaceful and calm but also to describe someone who was sly or cunning.
In German, the surname Sly is commonly spelled as Schly, and has multiple variants such as Schlief, Schliesser, Schleef, and Shly. The pronunciation of the surname varies, depending on the region and type of German being spoken, but it is commonly pronounced “Shleef” or “Shly”.
The surname is most common in Germany and other German-speaking regions, particularly in Prussia and Bavaria. It is also found in other parts of Europe and the United States, but is not as common as it is in German-speaking regions.
The surname Sly/Schly is associated with individuals who are known for their cunning or entrepreneurial spirit, which can be interpreted both positively and negatively. Positive interpretations suggest that someone with this surname is intelligent, ambitious, and creative. Negative interpretations suggest that someone with this surname is using trickery or deception to gain an advantage.
Order DNA origin analysisSly/Schly: Where does the name Sly/Schly come from?
The last name Sly/Schly is most commonly found in Europe, particularly in the Czech Republic, Poland, Germany, and Hungary. In the Czech Republic, specifically, the surname is reported to be the 272nd most common surname, with over 4,400 people estimated to bear the last name Sly/Schly. In Germany, it ranks 221st, with over 4,800 Schly’s living in the country. The surname appears to have originated from areas of western and central Germany, since records of the Schly family date as far back as the 14th century. Their ancestral home is believed to be in Bavaria, in the former Duchy of Württemberg. Records show that Schly is a variant of the word ‘schlösser’, which was used to describe people living in a royal castle or palace.
The surname is now present in other countries worldwide, particularly North America. Here, it is a rather rare name, but it is still found in some areas. It is most commonly found in the United States, Canada, and Australia. In the United States, the Schly name is found mainly in Illinois, Mississippi, Michigan, and Georgia.
Overall, the surname Sly/Schly is most commonly found in central and western Europe, particularly in Belgium, Germany, and Austria. However, as with most surnames, its distribution varies from country to country. It has also spread to North America, where it is relatively rare but can be found in select areas.
Variations of the surname Sly/Schly
The name Sly or Schly is a spelling variation of the surname Schlü or Schlüssel which is German in origin and likely derived from the Middle High German slüssel, meaning “key” or “lock”. This likely refers to a person who either made locks and keys or had some other association with them. The German names Schlü or Schlüssel are typically found in the regions of Bavaria and the Rhineland and it is likely that the surname Sly is a variation of these names which appear in different spellings throughout Europe.
Variant spellings of the surname Sly or Schly can include Slü, Schlu, Schluesser, Schlueser, Schley, Sli, Schlitt, Schlit, Schly, Sley, Sligh, Sleigh, Slei, Sley, Sleigh, Sleie, Slys.
Variations of the surname Sly can also include alternate surnames such as Schlittler, Schlits, Schlier, Schlies, Schoettler, Schoettl, Schoettler, Scholle, Schölln, Schönl, Schül, Schülle, Schülli, Schuer, Schuerer, Schur, Shlee, Sleeth, Schliemann, Schliewe, Schlösser, Schlüter, Scholley, and Schuule.
These surnames may have also evolved overtime and acquired alternative spellings in other regions. In addition, the surname Sly may have resulted from a surname adaptation when immigrants moved abroad and needed to change the spelling to make it easier for English-speaking locals to read and pronounce their names. There are also variations of the surname based on dialects of different regions. In France, for example, it could be spelled as Slyssois or Schlyssois, while in Northern Germany it could be written as Slyssen or Schlyssen.
Famous people with the name Sly/Schly
- Sylvester Stallone (Sly): American actor, director, producer and screenwriter, widely known for his action roles in films such as Rocky, Rambo and The Expendables.
- Fredric Sly: Australian actor and television presenter, best known for co-hosting the Australian version of the game show Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?
- Frank Sly: Polish actor and screenwriter, best known for his work on films such as Man of Steel and Superman.
- David Schlyer: German composer and musician, best known for his work on films such as The Pianist and Lola.
- Jean Schlyer: French film actress, best known for roles in films such as Cabaret and The Night Porter.
- Earl Schlyer: American actor and director, best known for his work in television series such as Cheers and Frasier.
- Diane Schlyer: American actress, best known for roles in films such as Steel Magnolias and The Color Purple.
- Peter Schlyer: German actor and producer, best known for his work on films such as Der Schrei Der Eule and Bei Der Toilette.
- Izzy Schlyer: American singer-songwriter, best known for her work in the pop-rock music scene.
- Diane Schlyer-Hill: American actress, best known for her work in the horror film genre, most notably as a victim in The House on Haunted Hill.