Surname Széchy de Felsolendva - Meaning and Origin
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Széchy de Felsolendva: What does the surname Széchy de Felsolendva mean?
The surname Széchy de Felsolendva is a Hungarian name that originates from the town of Felsolendva, a community located in the Zala county of Hungary. The word Széchy is derived from the old Slavic root sěča, which means also or likewise. Felsolendva translates literally to “above the sand,” likely referring to the location of the town.
Felsolendva was first mentioned in 1267 as “Fehleseulandwa” and was given town rights in 1527 by King Louis II. It was then populated by German settlers known as the “Saxons of Transylvania.” The Saxons are known for their strong cultural identity, as seen in Felsolendva, which continues to be a center of Saxon history and culture.
The Széchy family is first noted in 1565 as a prominent family in the region. The first mention of the Széchy family uses the Latinized spelling of Secheli, while the more modern Széchy spelling was officially adopted when the family was granted the title of nobility in 1717 by Emperor Charles VI.
The surname Széchy de Felsolendva is a combination of the family’s home town and their title of nobility, which harkens to a time of when an aristocratic class still held much of the power in Hungarian society. Today, the surname stands as a testament to the town of Felsolendva and the Széchy family’s long history in the town.
Order DNA origin analysisSzéchy de Felsolendva: Where does the name Széchy de Felsolendva come from?
The surname Széchy de Felsolendva is most commonly found today amongst members of Hungarian nobility, particularly within the Széchy and Felsolendva families. The Széchy family, a branch of the ancient Gedey and hereditary Wesselenyi clan, first settled in Hungary in the late 1700s and rose to prominence prior to the first World War, producing a string of prominent aristocrats, politicians, and military officers. The Felsolendva family, similarly, has a long and distinguished history in Hungary and is thought to have descended from a powerful Moravian Lord in the early 12th century.
Both families have tremendous influence in modern Hungarian political and business circles, though they are more rarely seen in the public eye today. There are still some members of the Széchy de Felsolendva families who continue to bear the surname, living around the country, and a few who hold positions of prominence within their various circles.
The Széchy de Felsolendva name is often a source of great pride and respect among those of Hungarian descent. Thanks to the long and noble histories of both families, it is a name that is still held in high regard across Europe and serves as a vivid reminder of Hungary’s rich and illustrious past.
Variations of the surname Széchy de Felsolendva
Széchy or Szécsei is an old Hungarian surname originating from Szécsény in Nógrád county, Hungary. The root of the name comes from the ancient Slavic word “szekěl” – “sheep”; thus the surname is etymologically linked with sheep and sheep herding.
Moreover, Széit is a variant spelling of Széchy and is one of several spellings favoured by members of the Széchy family. In Hungary, Széit is the most common of the Széchy variations and is used by almost 63% of the members of the family. Another common Hungarian spelling is Sz-é-c-h-y, which is used by almost 11% of the members of the family.
The Széchy de Felsolendva name is an aristocratic name derived from the Széchy surname, as those who were members of the Széchy family living in Felsolendva (now known as Forró, Hungary) were given the privileged to attach their location to the surname, thus creating the version Széchy de Felsolendva.
Variants of the Széchy de Felsolendva name include Szeit de Felsolendva, Szécsei de Felsolendva, Szits de Felsolendva and Szechy de Forro. As with the Széchy name, other variants are possible depending on where the descendant of the Széchy family live and have adopted their surname.
Famous people with the name Széchy de Felsolendva
- Count Antal Széchényi de Felsolendva (1743–1820), Hungarian politician and jurist.
- Count István Széchényi de Felsolendva (1773–1830), Hungarian politician and diplomat.
- Prince János Széchényi de Felsolendva (1880–1955), Hungarian statesman, Prime Minister of Hungary in 1918.
- Count Zsigmond Széchy de Felsolendva (1715–1772), Hungarian nobleman and statesman.
- Prince Imre Széchényi de Felsolendva (1830–1906), Hungarian sculptor and diplomat.
- Count Tivadar Széchényi de Felsolendva (1846–1912), Hungarian politician and hereditary chief of Transylvanian Saxons.
- Count György Széchy de Felsolendva (1775–1844), Hungarian statesman.
- Count Károly Széchy de Felsolendva (1740–1811), Hungarian academic and statesman.
- Count György Széchy de Felsolendva (1711–1782), Hungarian magistrate and statesman.
- Prince Béla Széchényi de Felsolendva (1812–1890), Hungarian bishop of Transylvania and Sweden.