Surname Spänle - Meaning and Origin
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Spänle: What does the surname Spänle mean?
The German surname Spänle is of patronymic origin, derived from the personal name Span, which was a medieval given name. It is thought to come from an old Germanic word meaning "spear". It was probably given as a nickname to a person armed with a spear or one who was thought to possess the qualities of a skilled fighter.
The name is likely to have emerged in the Middle Ages and as such, is one of the earliest family surnames found in the German language. It was likely used as a reference to distinguish members of the same family living in the same region.
Over the centuries, the surname has spread far and wide and is now found in many countries, including Germany, Austria, Switzerland, the UK, and the US. In some languages, the surname has been anglicized to Button, Spence, and Spann.
Today, Spänle is most frequently associated with southern German regions, particularly Bavaria. It may also be found in Swabia, a region where the original spelling of the surname has been retained. The name has also spread to other regions of the German-speaking world, like Austria and Switzerland.
The modern-day Spänle family have likely given rise to numerous other surname variations with time. Nevertheless, all of these variations likely share a common heritage, having derived from the same ancient personal name. Since the surname is so old, it is likely that many current family lines involving the surname trace their ancestry back hundreds of years at least.
Order DNA origin analysisSpänle: Where does the name Spänle come from?
The last name Spänle is most commonly found in South-West Germany, specifically in and around the Black Forest in the state of Baden-Württemberg. This region is renowned for its striking scenery and picturesque landscapes, ranging from alpine meadows and mountain peaks to quaint villages and rolling hills.
The origin of the Spänle name is quite mysterious, but it is believed to be derived from the old German word "spänlein," which translates to "tiny spear." Folk etymology has turned this into the name "Spänle" over the years and it is thought that it was likely given to someone in the past because they were either known to be a proficient spear-thrower, or perhaps because of their slender physique.
The Spänle surname is mainly found in the countryside in and around the Black Forest, in areas such as Freudenstadt, Schiltach, Lauffen, Sulz, Böblingen, Schwanau, and Oberndorf. It is also very common in the nearby German-speaking canton of Switzerland, particularly the city of St. Gallen and the surrounding area.
Despite its regional concentration, the Spänle name is found in many countries around the world, including the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the UK.
Variations of the surname Spänle
The surname Spänle has several origins and a few variants and spellings. This common surname began as a German nickname for a craftsman or a merchant, derived from the Old High German terms “span”, meaning cloth, and “lîh,” meaning ‘light”. It also had a more spiritual connotation, derived from the Old High German terms “span”, meaning “god” and “lîh” meaning “to honor” or “to serve”, referring to a venerated person in a community.
The most common spelling of the name is Spänle, which is found mainly in Germany and Austria. Other variants of this name include Spännle and Spannel. Common spellings of this name outside Germany are Spahns, Spehnle, Spehnley, Speence, and Spann, to name a few.
Surnames of the same origin include Spanner, Spanbauer, Spannagel, Spannaus, Spannenbrink, Spannhoff, Spannhut, Spannring, Spannemann, Spannert, Spannholz, Spannies, Spanheimer, Spaniel and Spanuth, amongst many others.
In conclusion, Spänle is a common surname of German origins, primarily found in Germany and Austria. It has several variants and spellings, including Spännle, Spahns, Spehnle, Spehnley, Speence, and Spann. Other surnames of the same origin include Spanner, Spanbauer, Spannagel, Spannaus, Spannenbrink, Spannhoff, Spannhut, Spannring, Spannemann, Spannert, Spannholz, Spannies, Spanheimer, Spaniel and Spanuth.
Famous people with the name Spänle
- Axelle Spänle: Axelle Spänle is a French actress, born on December 26, 1983. She is best known for her parts in such films as The Girl from the Port of Le Havre, Mes stars fourmis and The Psychology of Fear.
- Jan Spänle: Jan Spänle, born in 1977, is a German composer and producer of music for motion pictures, television and computer games.
- Florian Spänle: Florian Spänle is a German musician and music producer. He has produced albums for various artists, such as the Nu-Jazz group TrippieLex and the electro / rock act Pygmy.
- Willi Spänle: Willi Spänle is a German actor, born on May 16, 1941. He has performed in various German television series and films, including Tatort, Ganz oder gar nicht, Ein Fall für zwei and many more.
- Heinz Spänle: Heinz Spänle is a German Classic Experimental film director, most notable for his experimental documentary films Berserk! and Stalingrad.
- Elmar Spänle: Elmar Spänle is a German writer, director and producer. His films include Wazahrachtun, Otta 2020 and Überwinden.
- Robert Spänle: Robert Spänle is a Swiss-born Austrian actor. He is best known for his roles in the films Augustin and Venuszeit.