Surname Schwärtzel - Meaning and Origin
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Schwärtzel: What does the surname Schwärtzel mean?
Schwärtzel is a Germanic surname originating from the Middle High German word "swarz" which means "black". It can be found as a surname across many German-speaking countries, including Austria, Germany, Liechtenstein and Switzerland.
The name is thought to have arisen from a physical description of the original bearer - either their actual skin tone, or from the colour of their clothing. In some cases, it may have also referred to the colour of their hair. The surname Schwärtzel may also be derived from a profession - most likely metalworking - as "swarz" often referred to blacksmithing tools or charring wood in the past.
In other cases, the name could have arrived as part of a toponymic system, which meant that individuals bore a specialised surname which was connected to a specific area they lived in, or to their former birthplace or residence. This was particularly common in Lower Saxony and other parts of North Germany.
Whether it is a name of profession or simply a surname born through a description of an ancestral figure, the name Schwärtzel is a Germanic family name which has been passed down for many centuries. Its original roots may never be completely certain, but the name has come to hold its own sense of legacy and history within the many Germanic countries which provide the home of the Schwärtzel family.
Order DNA origin analysisSchwärtzel: Where does the name Schwärtzel come from?
The last name Schwärtzel is most common today in Germany, Switzerland, and Austria. The name is derived from the German word 'schwarz,' which means 'black.' Historically, variations of the name have alternately been spelled Schwärzel, Schwärzle, and Schwarzle.
In Germany, the name Schwärtzel is most heavily concentrated in the southern and eastern parts of the country. This includes the states of Baden-Wurtemberg, Bavaria, Prussia, and Saxony. In Austria, the name Schwärtzel is heavily concentrated in the province of Graben and in Switzerland, the most concentrated area is the city of Zurich.
Overall, records show that the Schwärtzel name has been present since at least the middle ages. Records of marriage banns dating back to 1600s indicate that the name was most often used in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany. This is located in the northeastern part of the country. It is likely that the name originates in that region due to its heavy concentration there in the 16th century.
Given its heavy concentration in southern and eastern Germany, Switzerland, and Austria, it is likely that the Schwärtzel name is still popular in this region today. Records from as late as 1995 indicate that the Schwärtzel surname is present in all three countries.
Variations of the surname Schwärtzel
The surname Schwärtzel is believed to originate from German, and has many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. Some of the spellings of the surname include Schwertz, Schwertzle, Schwertzel, Schwartze, Schwartz, Schwartzel, Schwartzele, Schwartzel, Schwartzelle, Schwartzen, Schwartzenberger, Schwartzenberg, Schwartzenberger, Schwartzenburg, Schwartzburg, Schwartzfelder, Schwartzkopf, Schwartzkopff, Schwertzer, and Schwertzler.
The surnames Schwärtzel and Schwartz both derive from the Old High German word, ‘swert’ or ‘swerz’. ‘Swert’ referred to someone who was skilled with a sword or spear, and hence the surname likely related to a blacksmith or weaponsmith, or a person who may have employed such skills in defending their villages and towns.
The alternate spelling, ‘Schwartz’, is of even older origin. The prefix ‘schwarz’ referring to something being dark or black, and could refer to someone for their hair, eyes, complexion, or clothing. For example, someone may have owned dark clothing or blacksmith tools.
The spelling Schwartze is likely of the same root origin of the ‘schwarz’ element, however it could also be a shortened version of the name Schwartzenberg or Schwartzendruber. Other derivations of the surname Schwärtzel are the names Schwartzkopf, Schwartzkopff, Schwertzer and Schwertzler, all which employ the ‘schwarz’ root, but with terms that refer to someone’s hairstyle, or their head shape.
With these many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin, it pays to examine the various options thoroughly in order to trace one’s family origin.
Famous people with the name Schwärtzel
- Johann Karl Schwärtzel- a German naturalist and ornithologist
- Julius Schwärtzel- artist and photographer
- Wilhelm Schwärtzel- composer
- Alfredo Schwärtzel- brazilian politician
- Martyn Schwärtzel- British painter
- Camilo Schwärtzel- Brazilian industrialist
- Leon Schwärtzel- Argentine writer
- Walter Schwärtzel- Swiss painter
- Massimo Maria Schwärtzel- Italian sculptor
- Elisa Schwärtzel- Brazilian actress