Surname Sterzel - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'S'
Sterzel: What does the surname Sterzel mean?
The surname Sterzel is of German origin. It is derived from the Middle High German word "sterzel", meaning "assets or possessions, that which is owned". This surname is likely to have originally referred to a person or family with a large estate or a substantial amount of wealth and property.
Historically, the Sterzel surname was most commonly found in the areas of northern Germany and in Northern or Eastern Europe. It is possible that many of the families who bore this surname may have had military or trading connections to the area, as well as being landowners.
The original spelling of the surname is typically Sterzell, Sterzel, Sterzechel, Störchel or Sterzelts. The latter form may have been a corruption of "sterzel" due to dialect variations and centuries of phonetic change.
Today, the Sterzel surname is still prominent throughout Germany, but can also be found in the United States, England, Canada, and other countries of European descent. Even though most of the people who bear the name are of German descent, it can also be an amalgamation of shortened or mixed versions of other European surnames.
In the contemporary world, the Sterzel surname is still associated with wealth and property. Those who carry this surname, however, might or might not be aware of the history and mean of it.
Order DNA origin analysisSterzel: Where does the name Sterzel come from?
The last name Sterzel is most common in Germany and other parts of Central Europe, particularly Austria. Records of this name first appear in Germany under the rule of the Franconian emperors in the 11th century. This name was adopted by many Jewish families following the Edict of Toleration in 1782.
In the 18th and 19th centuries, the Sterzel family spread to other regions of Europe including Poland, the Czech Republic, Italy, and Hungary. At that time, it was most common in Silesia, a region that is now largely located within Poland.
In the 20th century, the Sterzel surname spread to other parts of the world. The vast majority of those with the name Sterzel today are descendants of Jewish immigrants. In the United States, the Sterzel name can be found most notably in the New York metropolitan area and to a lesser extent in California, Florida, and other states.
In Australia, the name is found in all the major cities, though it is rare. The Sterzel surname is also seen in Israel, where many descendants of Holocaust survivors settled after World War II, and in Canada, particularly among French-Canadian families in Quebec.
Variations of the surname Sterzel
Sterzel is a German surname and is also encountered in English-speaking countries. Its variants include Sterzl, Sterzle, Sturtzel, Sturtzle, Stutzl, Sturtzler, Stertl, Starzl, Starzle, Starzler and Starzler. It is also found as a surname in other languages, including Polish, where it is spelled Sierzucha.
The variants of the surname Sterzel all likely originated from the German word “Sturzel,” which is a derivation of the German word “Sturz” for “fallen.” This may suggest that the earliest individuals with this surname resided near a location where there was a steep slope or fall. Variations in spelling can also be attributed to the varying dialects of the region in which the surname was first adopted. Over time, these variants evolved into the most common spellings of Sterzel.
The most notable variations of this surname are Starzl and Sturtzel. Starzl is likely to have originally been derived from the Middle High German name “Starzel,” which is derived from the Old German name “Sturzel.” Sturtzel is likely to have been derived from the Middle High German name “Sturtzler,” which also ultimately derives from the Old German name “Sturzel.”
Though the variants of Sterzel may appear to be plentiful, they are all ultimately derived from the same origin. It is likely that the various variants of this surname were adopted due to regional dialects and the desire to diversify family names upon immigration to other countries.
Famous people with the name Sterzel
- Jimmy Sterzel: Swedish-born American former professional ice hockey winger.
- Arthur Sterzel: retired German footballer and manager.
- Brock Sterzel: American professional diver and social media star.
- The Sterzel Sisters: German female music group and YouTube sensations.
- Meskerem Sterzel: German Paralympic athlete.
- Kurt Sterzel: former German ice hockey player.
- Mary Sterzel: swimmer and water polo coach.
- Fernando Sterzel: Argentine professional football player.
- Friedrich Sterzel: German consequences cinematographer.
- Karl Sterzel: former prince bishop and prince abbot of the Imperial Abbey of Kempten and the Abbey of Ettal.