Surname Svehla - Meaning and Origin

Svehla: What does the surname Svehla mean?

The last name Svehla is of Czech origin and it translates to the word "squirrel" in English. This surname is considered to be an occupational or descriptive surname, originally used to describe a person's characteristics or profession. The name may have been assigned to someone who was quick and agile, or someone who gathered and hoarded items, much like a squirrel. It is not uncommon for surnames in Europe to have been derived from animals. However, the direct connection between the surname Svehla and its significance remains a part of speculation and can vary based on family histories and locations. Today, the surname is found in many countries, including the Czech Republic, Slovakia, the United States, and Canada. Regardless of the specific origins, surnames offer a fascinating glimpse of past societies, the things they valued, and the way they lived.

Svehla: Where does the name Svehla come from?

The Svehla surname is most commonly found in Central and Eastern Europe today. It originated in the Czech Republic, where it is still one of the most popular surnames. In the Czech Republic, "Svěhlavý" is the masculine version of the family name, and "Svěhlová" is the feminine version. It is also commonly found in Slovakia, Poland, Germany, Ukraine and Slovenia.

Outside of Europe, the Svehla surname is quite rare. In the United States, the surname is only found in small pockets, mainly among ethnic European immigrants. In Canada, there are a few scattered records of the name. In Argentina, descendants of Czech immigrants who arrived during the late 19th century may still carry the name.

In addition to being a family name, Svehla is also a common Czech name given to businesses and geographic locations. Svehla is the name of several hamlets, small villages and even some larger towns in the Czech Republic. Many of these communities were likely founded by members of the same Svehla family. The name is also used on regional roads, bridges and other infrastructure projects in the Czech Republic.

Overall, the Svehla surname is much more prevalent in Central and Eastern Europe than elsewhere in the world. Its popularity in the Czech Republic is the main factor contributing to this.

Variations of the surname Svehla

Svehla is a Czech, Slovak, and Slovenian surname originating from the word svehlý, which means shrewd or crafty. Common variants and spellings of the surname Svehla include Svehlak, Svehle, Svehli, Svehlik, Svehlikova, Svehlova, Svehly, and Svehlyk. In the United States, the name Svehla became Sewell and Sewele.

In Czech, another variant phonetic spelling of the surname Svehla is Svaba. In German, it became Zwaba. In Latvian, it became Zvaiba and in Lithuanian, it became Svabauskas. In Russian, Ukrainian, and Belarusian, it became Svebdo or Svoboda. In Yiddish, it became Svabl, Svaval, or Svobod.

In Slovak, alternative forms and spellings of the name Svehla include Seval or Sevalo. In Slovenia, it is also spelled Svival, Svobod, or Svoboda. Common surname alternatives include Swaaley, Zwaal, Swaal, Zwalg, Svab, Zwaab, Zwab, Svabik, Svobik, Svabova, Svoboda, and Svovoda.

In northeast India, the surname is pronounced and spelled as Swella. In Ireland, the name was anglicized as Swoley.

In Germany, it is sometimes pronounced and spelled as Swell, but this could also be an Anglicized form of a German surname that is pronounced and spelled similarly. In Dutch, it is pronounced as Swell. In English, it is sometimes spelled Sewell or Sewel, and in France, it is sometimes pronounced with the French phonetic spelling of Sewal.

Famous people with the name Svehla

• Pavel Svehla: Czech basketball player and coach.
• Alice Svehla: American student best known for her involvement in the 1927 mystery of the disappearance of Charles Lindbergh's infant son.
• Chris Svehla: Former National Hockey League player and coach.
• Sig Svehla: American professional wrestler and actor.
• John Svehla: Former professional American football player for the Chicago Bears.
• Steve Svehla: Former professional American football cornerback for the Kansas City Chiefs, Indianapolis Colts and Baltimore Ravens.
• Prily Svehla: Indonesian actress, model and singer.
• Joseph Svehla: Musician and composer from Austria.
• Karel Svehla: Czech chemist and professor.
• František Svehla: Czech writer, photographer and ethnographer.
• Stanislav Svehla: Czechoslovakian luger who competed in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
• Caleb Svehla: American painter, sculptor, and teacher.
• Jaroslav Svehla: Czech artist, illustrator and teacher.
• Milda Svehla: Latvian poet and translator.
• Bohumil J. Svehla: Czech ethnologist, historian and folklore collector.
• Christian Svehla: German TV producer and journalist.
• Sonia Svehla: British actress, most known for Golden Hour.
• Debra Svehla: American actor and producer.

Other surnames

Svehlak