Surname Störtzel - Meaning and Origin

Störtzel: What does the surname Störtzel mean?

The last name Störtzel is a German occupational surname, which translates to mean “dealer,” or more specifically, “wine dealer.” It emerged from the eastern Germany state of Saxony, and was primarily used to identify the members of families connected to the wine dealing industry. Surnames were derived from work functions and skills, and Störtzel was most often associated with dealers in beverages, such as wine and brandy, or wine merchants.

Störtzel was also sometimes used as an occupational name to identify carters or wagoners—people who transported goods by wagon or car. As such, the name was particularly associated with cities in Northern Germany, such as Berlin and Hamburg, where the transport of goods was an important source of income.

The name was also found in eastern Germany, where it is believed to have first been used. It was popular in Thuringia and Saxony, with many members of the Störtzel family residing in small towns and large cities in the region. The name is particularly associated with the villages of Holnstein and Kerzell, both located in Saxony.

Today, the name Störtzel is scattered throughout Germany, Canada, the United States, and Australia. It is still most commonly associated with wine dealers, and members of the Störtzel family in these countries are often found to be involved in the beverage industry in some capacity.

Störtzel: Where does the name Störtzel come from?

The last name Störtzel is German in origin and is most common today in Germany and other German-speaking parts of Europe. Census records show that in Germany, the largest concentration of Störtzel families is in the western region of North Rhine-Westphalia. There is also a considerable population of Störtzels in Lower Saxony, Bavaria, and Hesse.

In other parts of the world, the name Störtzel is still present but less common. The United States Census Bureau records show that there are over 1,000 Störtzel households in the U.S., with the greatest concentration in the Midwest. These dates back to the 1800s and early 1900s, when waves of immigrants from German-speaking parts of Europe brought the last name to the United States. In Canada, the last name Störtzel is also present in small numbers, primarily in the western provinces of British Columbia and Alberta, and there are a few cases in Mexico as well.

Overall, the Störtzel last name is still relatively uncommon, but pockets of Störtzels can be found in German-speaking countries and their expatriate populations around the world.

Variations of the surname Störtzel

Störtzel is a German surname derived from the Middle High German term 'stotz' or 'stoz'. It is also a variation of the old German word ‘storz,’ meaning ‘stout man.’ It was likely given to someone with a strong, stocky appearance. The Störtzel surname has numerous variants and spellings, including Stortz, Storten, Stortzel, Stortzle, Storz, Stoetzl, Stoertz, Stoerzle, Stoerzen, Storzel, storezel, and Storzeln.

The variant surnames of Störtzel all likely originated from the same maker or region. For example, Stoetzl likely originated from the east German Stotzel, while Storz may have been derived from the German court name Sturz. Many of these surnames are likely linked to neighboring regions and provinces in Austria and the Czech Republic, where they presumably shifted and amalgamated over time.

The Störtzel surname can also be found in several forms, including Sturtz, Strotz, Strutz, Stroz, Stroh, Strohweiler, Strohbein, Strohl, Stroner, Störzel, Störtz, and Störtzler. Each variant likely has its own origin, likely linked to the Old German root word ‘Storz.’ Some variants also refer to other common German surnames, such as Strotz for Strotzmann, a name originating from the early German family of Strotzen, while Strohbein comes from the Germanic ‘Strah’s bain’ meaning ‘brave bear.’

In contrast, Störtzel is a more commonly found surname in Germany compared to its variants. However, in the United States, variants like Strettz and Struacker have been reported. Today, the Störtzel surname exists in the areas of Austria, Germany, Switzerland, and the Czech Republic, and has been carried to other parts of the world through emigration.

Famous people with the name Störtzel

• Karl Störtzel: Karl Störtzel (1826–1907) was a German classical philologist, historian, and archaeologist. He is best known as a collaborator of the renowned scholar Ernst Curtius, contributing to the editing of C.Justus Heine's Collection of Roman Law.
• Friedrich Störtzel: Friedrich Störtzel (1863–1933) was a German politician and parliamentary deputy of the German Empire.
• Andreas Störtzel: Andreas Störtzel (1927–2005) was a German psychiatrist and psychotherapist who worked extensively in the field of posttraumatic stress disorder.
• amp; Klaus J. Störtzel: Klaus J. Störtzel (active since 2000) is a German organist, composer, and musicologist.
• Richard Störtzel: Richard Störtzel (1837-1895) was a German historian, theologian and philosopher, and professor at the University of Göttingen.
• Heinrich Störtzel: Heinrich Störtzel (1822–1892) was a German philologist, fountain of knowledge and academic teacher.
• Franz Störtzel: Franz Störtzel (1890–1960) was a German politician and democratic member of the Reichstag in the Weimar period.
• Martin Störtzel: Martin Störtzel (1899–1972) was a German lawyer and academic.
• Bernhard Störtzel: Bernhard Störtzel (1910–1988) was a German artist best known for his expressionist paintings and sculptures.
• Magnus Störtzel: Magnus Störtzel (born 1990) is a German basketball player who currently plays for the Giessen 46ers.

Other surnames

StortzeStörtzer