Surname Wittl - Meaning and Origin
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Wittl: What does the surname Wittl mean?
The last name Wittl is of Germanic origin and is thought to have evolved from the medieval German phrase "wilt". This phrase was derived from the word "wiltan", meaning to protect or guard, and likely referred to someone who served as a protector of their family or community.
The name Wittl has a long and proud history; it was first recorded in ancient records dating back to the 10th century in what is now the German state of Bavaria. The earliest mention of the name comes from when the Alemannen dynasty, the rulers of Bavaria, granted the Wittl family a small strip of land near Nuremberg in the 11th century. As a result of this grant, the Wittl family were made noblemen and was bestowed with nobility titles. From then on, the Wittl family were associated with the nobility of Bavaria.
Throughout the centuries, the Wittl family distinguished themselves in a range of occupations including that of mayor and solicitor. Although there are a number of different variants of the name Wittl, it still retains its distinctive Germanic roots.
Today, the Wittl name is still quite common in Bavaria and other areas of Germany, as well as in other parts of the world including the USA, Canada, Australia, South Africa, and Brazil. Although the modern spelling may be different to that used centuries ago, the Wittl surname is a proud reflection of its Germanic heritage.
Order DNA origin analysisWittl: Where does the name Wittl come from?
The last name Wittl is a fairly common German surname, primarily found in Germany, Austria, Liechtenstein, and Switzerland. According to the 1990 census in East Germany, Wittl was the 166th most common last name in the country.
The most recent 2019 data compiled by genealogically.net estimates that there are just over 7,000 people with the last name Wittl in Germany, with a much smaller population in Austria and Liechtenstein. According to surname distribution maps, many residents with this last name live in the south-western states of Bavaria and Baden-Wurttemberg.
Wittl is a surname derived from German terms meaning “Witt” (meaning “man” or “person”) and “l” (meaning “like”). This could suggest that the surname originated with someone who was considered to have the characteristics of a wise man. It’s also possible that it came from the Middle High German word “Wütl”, which means “wood”, suggesting that the surname may have started out as a nickname describing someone who lived in or near a forest.
While the surname Wittl is relatively common in Germany and its surrounding countries, it is not found in the United States. This is likely due to a lack of German immigration to the U.S. throughout the twentieth century, as well as the natural assimilation into more common American surnames over time.
Variations of the surname Wittl
The surname Wittl is an occupational surname of Germanic origin, derived from the English root “witt” meaning "wise". The original spelling of the surname was Wittel; however, variations in spelling, including “Wittell”, “Wittel” and “Witt” are still commonly used today. There are also possible variants in spelling, including “Whittle”, “Whittel” and “Whitel”.
In terms of surnames with the same origin, “Witthöft” is derived from the same root and is believed to be a variation of the Wittl surname. Additionally, the surname “Wittmann” is derived from the same root and translates as “wise man”. Other similar surnames include “Witting”, “Whitling”, “Wickling” and “Witchel”.
It is thought that the earliest recorded use of the Wittl surname dates back to the 13th century in the modern-day regions of Thuringia and Saxony in Germany. Numerous people with the Wittl surname emigrated to the United States at the beginning of the 20th century and today approximately 21,000 people in the United States alone bear the Wittl surname.
Famous people with the name Wittl
- Clemens Wittl, a German Olympic rower in which he won a silver medal for the double sculls in 2004
- Martin Wittl, a German boxer who competed in the 1952 Summer Olympics
- Gustl Wittl, a prominent German composer and conductor
- Uli Wittl, a former German field hockey player who competed in the 1976 Summer Olympics
- Erika Wittl, a German figure skater and coach
- Jürgen Wittl, a German sculptor and painter
- Florian Wittl, a German actor, director, writer and producer
- Dominik Wittl, a German Olympic rower, who participated in the 2012 Summer Olympics
- Brando Wittl, a Swiss former ice hockey player
- Jerome Wittl, a German hockey player who competed in the 2010 Winter Olympics
- Sophia Wittl, a German curler who competed in the 2018 Winter Olympics
- Margarete Wittl, a German cross-country skier in which she competed in the 2014 Winter Olympics
- Fritz Wittl, a former Swiss ice hockey player
- Hulda Wittl, an Austrian cross-country skier in which she competed in the 1988 Winter Olympics
- Shainah Wittl, a German indoor volleyball player who competed in the 2004 Summer Olympics