Surname Söldner - Meaning and Origin
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Söldner: What does the surname Söldner mean?
The last name Söldner is derived from the German word ‘söldner’, which translates as ‘mercenary soldier’. As such, it would have originally been a name given to a mercenary soldier or to their descendants. This type of soldier would have served in Europe during the medieval period, when armies were made up of feudal levies and those hired from outside. In particular, the Söldners were a type of Free Corps soldier - a special status meaning they were not subject to certain restrictions such as a requirement to fight alongside their lord or duke.
The term Söldner was Machiavellian in origin, and it referred to troops serving the ruler of a state in return for payment. It was intended to provide an extra large number of mercenaries to supplement existing levies, and their job was to fight in wars for their rulers. Over time, as Europe shifted from a system of feudalism to one of mercantilism, the Söldners were used less and eventually faded out in the early nineteenth century.
The name Söldner has continued to be used in various occupations today, from military personnel or mercenaries to security personnel, to even political mercenaries carrying out campaigns for candidates or causes. It has also been somewhat adopted as a last name, meaning descendants of medieval mercenaries or now just as a symbolic way to acknowledge an individual'sSome people may also simply choose it as a surname for its ‘edginess’ or as a way of expressing some level of solidarity with the historical role of the mercenary soldier.
Order DNA origin analysisSöldner: Where does the name Söldner come from?
The last name Söldner is most commonly found today in Germany, Austria, and other parts of Central Europe. It is a German and Swiss surname meaning “soldier”, and is derived from medieval times when it was a common occupational name for a soldier. It can also refer to a mercenary, or someone hired to fight for another person or country for a fee.
In Germany, the name is most common in the northern states of North Rhine-Westphalia and Bavaria. It is also found in Austria, Switzerland, and the Czech Republic. Smaller pockets of people bearing this last name are also found in Estonia and other parts of Eastern Europe.
In the United States, the surname is found in the Midwest and the Northeast in states such as Michigan, Wisconsin, New York, and Pennsylvania. It is also common among families of German or Austrian descent in states with large German-speaking communities, such as Texas, Missouri and Minnesota.
Outside of Europe and America, the last name is also found in other countries that have adopted German as their primary language, including Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, and Chile. It has also spread to Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and South Africa.
Variations of the surname Söldner
The surname Söldner is derived from an ancient German word meaning “soldier” or “mercenary,” and it can appear with a variety of spellings. Common spellings of this surname include Soldner, Soldaner, Solttner, and Soeltner. In the United States, this surname can also appear as Soldier, Sultner, or Solinger.
In Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, the most common variant of this surname is Söldner. This spelling is derived from a German dialect called Bavarian, and it is pronounced with the same rolling “ö” sound as the word “schöner.”
In Denmark, the surname Söldner is spelled Söldner or Soldner, and it is pronounced with the same vowel sound as “ö” in the word “schöner.” In Sweden and Norway, the surname is spelled Soldén and is pronounced with the same vowel sound as “ö” in the word “schön.”
Other variants of this surname can also be found in Finland, where the surname is spelled Soldan, and in Hungary, where it is spelled Solyom.
In addition to its various spellings, the surname Söldner has numerous surnames of the same origin. These include Solymosi, Soldanovic, Soldano, Soldnerov, Solyhousen, Solymanovic, Soldánszky, and Soltmanovic.
Famous people with the name Söldner
- Michael Söldner-Rembold, television presenter and journalist
- Terry Söldner, Olympic-level gymnast
- Karl Söldner, German World War II fighter pilot
- Jürgen Söldner, former German football goalkeeper
- Guntram Söldner, WW2 German Luftwaffe ace
- Lothar Söldner, former Major League Baseball pitcher
- Sean Söldner, professional golfer
- Rüdiger Söldner, footballer and trainer
- Alfred Söldner, Austrian-American jazz trombonist
- Herman Söldner, coach of the German tennis team
- Nikolai Söldner, Russian short track speed skater
- Konrad Söldner, South African aviator
- Johann Söldner, German violist and composer
- Jörg Söldner, German skier and ski teacher
- Hans Söldner, German water sportsman and swimmer
- Franz Söldner, German skier and ski teacher