Surname Winterl - Meaning and Origin
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Winterl: What does the surname Winterl mean?
The last name Winterl is of German origin and is a surname of toponymic or habitational origin, derived from a place name which may be derived from one of several possible sources. In German, Winterl means "from winter". Originally, the surname could have been used to identify someone who lived in a place associated with the frigid season of winter.
A distinct possibility is that the surname refers to those who lived in Winterlberg, a borough of Berlin, Germany founded in 1800. Winterlberg is a combination of the words Winter (‘winter’) and Berg (‘mountain’). Alternatively, the name could have been derived from Winterland, the name for a mountain range located in the Zillertal Alps in Tyrol, Austria.
In the religious context, the names could have been derived from Winterhausen, a municipality in the Bavarian district of Neustadt an der Aisch-Bad Windsheim in Germany which is known for its pilgrimage church. The church is dedicated to Mary of the Passion and its name is derived from the old Germanic word Winnithrahusun, meaning ‘house of the goddess Winnithra’, referring to a Germanic goddess of winter. The church was destroyed during the 30-year war in the 17th century and re-built in 1777 by Bishop Michael von Frundsberg.
Regardless of the source, those who are part of the Winterl family are connected to the season of winter and its various cultural associations, such as comfort, celebration, and the passage of time. In some parts of Germany, Winterl may still be associated with the long-standing tradition of Christmas celebrations.
Order DNA origin analysisWinterl: Where does the name Winterl come from?
The last name Winterl is most common in Germany today. It is also present in Poland, the Czech Republic, Austria, Switzerland, Denmark, and the Netherlands.
In Germany, the name is most popular in the region of Bavaria, with more than 2,500 people carrying the name. The majority of those who hold the name live in the north-central state of Saxony-Anhalt, with 1,400 people having the surname. It is also quite common in the states of Baden-Württemberg and Thuringia.
In Poland, the name is most popular in the region of Greater Poland (Wielkopolska), where over 1,500 people carry the name. It is also present in the Lesser Poland region (Małopolska), with more than 300 people having the surname.
The Czech Republic, Austria, Switzerland, Denmark, and the Netherlands have smaller populations of people with the last name Winterl. However, it is present in some parts of all of those countries.
In the United States of America, the name Winterl is not very common, with less than 200 people carrying it. Most of them are concentrated in some states, such as Pennsylvania, Florida, and California, with some being in Wisconsin, Ohio, Minnesota, and Illinois.
Overall, Winterl is a surname that is common today in Germany and Poland, but present in small numbers in other parts of Europe and in the United States of America.
Variations of the surname Winterl
Winterl is a German surname with Saxon origins. It can also be spelled as Winterle. Other variants of the surname include Winterley, Winterli, Wintler, Winterling and Wintlerling.
Winterle and Winterley can be found in the surname registry from Silesia, Germany, in the 19th century. Winterle had a spread throughout Prussia around the same time. In Bavaria, the version of Winterl was Wintherl, which is now mainly found in Bavarian-speaking areas.
In the United States, the surname is found in the general record of immigration between 1800 and 1900 with the spelling being Winterl. From then on, people with the surname Winterl have spread across America and are now found across the country with the variant spellings in between.
In some cases, surnames of the same origin have blended together over time and become assimilated. For instance, the name Winter was used to substitute Winterl in some cases, as Americans looked to simplify their names upon arriving in the United States.
Similarly in English-speaking countries, the name Winterley has become as prevalent as Winterl. This is due to the Anglicization of the spelling Winterl.
Overall, the surname Winterl is thought to have originated in Germany and can now be found in other countries and cultures, having taken on some similar but different spellings over the years.
Famous people with the name Winterl
- Fritz Winterl: Austrian actor, director and playwright.
- Lorna Winterl: Australian actress and soap opera producer.
- Florian Winterl: German sculptor, painter and printmaker.
- Martin Winterl: Austrian actor, director and producer.
- Sophie Winterl: Austrian singer and songwriter.
- Tim Winterl: German director, writer and producer.
- Robert Winterl: Austrian actor, director and voice actor.
- Christian Winterl: German actor and director.
- Johannes Winterl: German composer and pianist.
- Sissy Winterl: Austrian singer and actress.
- Rudi Winterl: Austrian painter and sculptor.
- Maria Winterl: Austrian actress and dancer.