Surname Söll - Meaning and Origin
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Söll: What does the surname Söll mean?
The last name Söll is a German name that means "timbermonger". It is derived from the Old German word “sele,” which means “sawmill” or “timber yard.” This name likely originated in Middle Ages Germany, when the wealthiest citizens were timber merchants.
Timber was a highly sought after resource in Medieval Germany, as it was used for a variety of purposes, including building materials, crafting furniture, and constructing ships or other vessels. The Söll family likely established itself as a powerful merchant house in these times, utilizing their wealth and power to become the premier timber suppliers of the area.
Today, the surname Söll is still relatively common in Germany, and may be seen throughout central and eastern Europe. In present times, it likely connotes wealth and status, as many German timber barons remain quite powerful and influential in the region. It may also be used to connote hard work and strength, given the physical labor required to timber cut and process.
Overall, the last name Söll is associated with the power and wealth of timber merchants in Medieval Germany, as well as the hard work and strength required to harvest and supply timber in the region.
Order DNA origin analysisSöll: Where does the name Söll come from?
The last name Söll is most commonly found in Austria and Germany today. It is believed to be derived from a former German soil name, so the surname has likely been in existence since the Middle Ages.
In Austria, Söll is a fairly common surname, occurring in more than 20 states throughout the country. It is found most frequently in Niederösterreich, oberösterreich, and Steiermark, but also appears in Salzburg, Tirol, Vorarlberg, and Wien.
In Germany, Söll is also a relatively common name, with several hundred variants being found throughout the country. It is particularly frequent in the Nordrhein-Westfalen region, where it is often spelled Söhl and is derived from the old German word for soil, and is used to designate someone living near a soil-covered area. Other popular variants include Sölle, Soll, and Söllner.
Besides Austria and Germany, the surname is also found in other parts of Europe, such as the Czech Republic, where it is spelled either Zell or Sell. The name has also been recorded in other countries such as the United States, Argentina, and Brazil.
Variations of the surname Söll
The surname Söll can have a few variations, spellings and surnames of the same origin. The most common variations are Solle, Söhl, Söhle, Soehle, Söller, Soller, and Sollre.
Söll is derived from the German word sohl, meaning “sulky or drenched by rain” and was likely a descriptive nickname for an individual characterized by that trait. It is also possible that the name is a shortened form of a personal name such as Soell, Soel, or Kunzsoell, which was common in early Germany.
Another variation of the name could be Solle or Sulle, which is a low German short form of the name Konrad. In the 13th century, many people in German adopted Konrad as their surname, and it eventually became Söll.
The surname Söll can also be the spelling used in many other parts of the world, including England, Scotland, and Ireland. In Scotland, the surname Söll is derived from the Old English words seolh and selh, and it refers to a willow tree.
In Ireland, the Söll name is a variant of the Gaelic surname O'Síolla, which means “one who is happy”. This surname is very rare in Ireland, having been recorded only three times.
Finally, Söll can also be spelled Shell, which is derived from the Old English word schel, which means "clearing" or "bright shinning". This spelling is typically found in the United States.
Famous people with the name Söll
- Benjamin Söll: German sculptor, photographer, and media artist.
- Erich Söll: Austrian biochemist, professor, and pioneer in the field of biotechnology.
- Karl Söll: Austrian architect and author of several books on architecture.
- Ulrich Söll: German genetic biologist and emeritus professor of molecular genetics at the Department of Biochemistry at the University of Freiburg.
- Fritz Söll: German politician and a member of the Christian Democratic Union.
- Nicolas Söll: Austrian biologist and co-founder of the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics in Berlin.
- Christof Söll: Austrian molecular biologist and professor at the Institute of Molecular Biology at the University of Vienna.
- Barbara Söll: Austrian former alpine skier and former governor of Tyrol.
- Benedikt Söll: Austrian contemporary classical composer, violinist and conductor.
- Rudolf Söll: Austrian psychologist and author who specialized in the area of Labor Psychology and Organizational Development.