Surname Unterpaul - Meaning and Origin

Unterpaul: What does the surname Unterpaul mean?

The last name Unterpaul is a German-language surname which generally refers to a person from the Lower Paul area of Germany. The origin of the name itself likely refers to the area which was located along the river-areas of northern Bavaria. The term "Unter" has a twofold meaning in German, as it means both "below" and "under". This suggests that the person from which the name is derived either lived in the lower Paul area or had a profession related to the area, such as working in the fishing or agricultural industries.

The Unterpaul surname is likely to have first appeared sometime during the Middle Ages, as this was when the area along the River Paul first began to experience widespread settlement. By the 1700s, the area now known as Unerpaul had become populated by a number of different families, and the Unterpaul name had become established. Today, many families still bear the Unterpaul last name, although it is mainly associated with the Bavarian region of Germany. As a result, it is most common in Germany, Austria, and other parts of Central Europe.

Unterpaul: Where does the name Unterpaul come from?

The last name Unterpaul is most commonly found in parts of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland today. It is thought to be of German origin, with the term ‘unter’ meaning ‘under’ or ‘below’ and ‘paul’ being derived from the Latin word ‘paulus’, meaning ‘little’.

The first recorded use of the name dates back to the 13th century, when Peter Unterpaul, a German knight, appears in a document from the Bavarian state of Oberpfalz. The name then appears sporadically in place names and in church records throughout the region over the centuries.

Today, the surname is most commonly found in the states of Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, and North Rhine-Westphalia in Germany, as well as Vorarlberg in Austria and the Swiss canton of Basel-Stadt. Unterpaul is considered a rare name in all these locations, with less than 500 assumed to bear the surname in each region.

While Unterpaul is a popular last name in certain parts of Austria, Germany, and Switzerland, it is not a very common name globally. That said, the name is not unheard of, with a few individuals with the surname present in other countries, including the US, Canada, Australia, and the UK.

Variations of the surname Unterpaul

The surname Unterpaul is derived from the German word 'Unterpahl'. It is derived from the German phrase 'unter der pahl', which translates to 'under the pole'. It was most likely used to describe an area or settlement near a post, stake, tree or pole.

The surname Unterpaul has many variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin, including: Unterpahl, Unterbold, Unterbohl, Unterbohle, Untarpohl, Onderpole, Onderpool, Unterpole, Unterpoll, Untervoll, Unterwoll, Unterfall, and Unterstall. Many of these variants and spellings are used to refer to different locations and toponyms in Germany.

The surname Unterpaul is also closely related to the surnames 'Unterweger' and 'Unteregger', both of which also share the same origin as Unterpaul. The Unterweger and Unteregger surnames are derived from the German word 'Unter' meaning 'under' combined with the words 'weger' and 'egger' which mean 'meadow' and 'rock' respectively.

The surname Unterpaul is also associated with the surnames 'Unterberger' and 'Untereger'. The Unterberger surname is derived from the Old German compound 'unter-berg' meaning 'under the mountain', whilst the Untereger surname is derived from Old German 'unter-ager', meaning 'under the field'.

In addition to these related surnames, the surname Unterpaul is also associated with many other surnames which are derived from the old German word 'Unter', such as Untermark, Unterback, Unterdock, Unterlinden, Unterhofer and Untermayer.

In conclusion, the surname Unterpaul is related to many other surnames which also share the same origin in old German language. These surnames include Unterpahl, Unterberger, Unterweger, Unteregger, Unterbold, Unterbohl, Unterbohle, Untarpohl, Onderpole, Onderpool, Unterpole, Unterpoll, Untervoll, Unterwoll, Unterfall, Unterstall, Untermark, Unterback, Unterdock, Unterlinden, Unterhofer and Untermayer.

Famous people with the name Unterpaul

• Elisabeth Unterpaul: a composer and musician who trained at the Mozarteum University in Salzburg, and has gone on to become a professor at sthe University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna.
• Erwin Unterpaul: an Austrian impersonator, author, and actor who starred in various musical cabaret revues and other theatre roles in Vienna.
• Peter Unterpaul: an Austrian writer, stage actor and director best known for his works for children, that were also adapted for television and film.
• Günther Unterpaul: an Austrian singer-songwriter who wrote both original material and covers of folk songs.
• Fritz Unterpaul: an Austrian photographer best known for his photos of landscapes and nature scenes.
• Franz Unterpaul: an Austrian architect and sculptor who designed and created artworks depicting historical or cultural themes.
• Hans Unterpaul: a tenor who performed concerts across Germany and Austria, and was active in the Carinthian folk music scene.
• Reinhold Unterpaul: an Austrian landscape and nature photographer, active in the early 20th century.
• Anna Unterpaul: a former Austrian skier who competed in the Olympic Games in 1980, and the 1975 World Ski Championships in Oberstaufen.
• Karl Unterpaul: an Austrian illustrator and draftsman who depicted and sketched the royal buildings and courts of Vienna.

Other surnames

Unterpaintner