Surname Zille - Meaning and Origin
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Zille: What does the surname Zille mean?
The last name Zille is a German surname. Its meaning is fairly uncertain though it is thought to originate from the Middle High German word "Zil" meaning "aginade", "row", or "line". Its use as a last name could refer to a family’s participation in farm labor—working in long rows in the fields—or it could be an alternate spelling of Selle, which means "cleaner" or "purifier".
The Zille surname is most commonly found still found in Germany, particularly Westphalia. In addition, Zille families can be found in other parts of Europe, such as England, with records of the surname dating back to the 18th century. The name is even found in the United States, as migration of many German families occurred during colonial times.
The Zille family is known for many notable achievements over the years, ranging from writers and politicians to painters and academics. For example, the German writer and painter Heinrich Zille was a major figure in the expressionist art movement of early twentieth century Berlin. In addition, German politician Eva-Maria Zille held a seat in the European Parliament and sits on the Committee of Women’s Rights and Gender Equality.
The Zille surname is an interesting one with an uncertain origin. It is a testament to the many generations of German farmers, artists, writers, politicians and more that have been proud to bear the Zille name.
Order DNA origin analysisZille: Where does the name Zille come from?
The last name Zille is most commonly found today in the country of Germany. This name is reported to be linked to the name Zill, an occupational surname for a zille; someone who operated a flax oil mill. It was found earliest in the 16th century in the area of Pomerania, which is now known as Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and lies northeast of Berlin.
During the 17th century, the name Zille began to spread across Germany, most likely due to migration. This could either be voluntary movement or occupational changes, as people sought a better life elsewhere. Today, Germany is home to the highest percentage of people with the Zille name.
Outside Germany, the Zille name can also be found in Switzerland, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Denmark, the United States, Canada, and South Africa. As with any last name, most people can trace their roots back to the same country, but there have been migrations over the centuries that resulted in people from different countries and regions to share the same surname.
As a result of migration, family reunions, and the internet, the Zille name no longer belongs solely to Germany. It has a place in much of the world's population, as a reminder today of the cultural intermingling and travel of times gone by.
Variations of the surname Zille
Zille is a popular surname of Germanic and Jewish origin. It is derived from the Middle High German word "zil", meaning a horizontal beam that supports a structure. Variants of this surname include Zill, Zil, Zilch and Zillman.
In Germany, the surname Zille is found mainly in the northern regions. Alternatively spelled Zill, the name is common in Austria, where it is found with both a double-l spelling (Zille) and a single-l spelling (Zil).
In Jewish communities, the name has been adopted to Yiddish as Tsil and is found mostly among Ashkenazic Jews, especially in countries like Germany, Austria, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic.
In the United States, the surname Zille is not very common. It is believed to have arrived with German immigrants, although there is no definite record verifying this. Variants that are commonly found in the USA include Zill, Zilch, and Zillman.
In recent decades, the name has seen a resurgence in popularity and appears to be increasingly used as a first name. As a result, surnames like Ziller, Zillmann, Zillinger, and Zillenbauer have emerged.
Famous people with the name Zille
- Heinrich Zille: a well known German artist in the early 20th century, noted for his depictions of everyday life in Berlin in a realist style.
- Militant Zille: South African political leader who headed the South African Party from 1911 to 1924 and was a major proponent of Afrikaner nationalism.
- Savior Zille: Dutch actress, singer and voice actress best known for singing the theme song to the 1970s television show Skyhawks, as well as for her acting roles in Dutch films.
- Stevie Zille: South African cricketer whose international career spanned from 1983 to 1990.
- Wits Zille: Dutch football manager who managed Vitesse Arnhem and Feyenoord Rotterdam from 1978 to 1992. 6.Thomas Zille: German entrepreneur, businessman and lawmaker who started the Gildeposition GmbH company in 1986.
- Terhart Zille: German Renaissance painter who was a brother to Heinrich Zille and is best known for his painting of the 1568 Great Imperial Diet of Augsburg.
- Helmut Zille: Swiss zoologist and professor of evolutionary ecology at the University of Basel.
- Nico Zille: German physicist and professor of Applied Sciences and control systems engineering.
- Paulus Zille: German astronomer and astrophysicist who helped found the Max Planck Institute of Astrophysics.