Surname Fritzl - Meaning and Origin
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Fritzl: What does the surname Fritzl mean?
The last name Fritzl is a German surname, derived from a medieval given name, Fritz. The name is derived from the German word “fritze”, which means “to protect” or “to guard”. It is a name that is often associated with guards, warriors, or leaders.
The Fritzl surname seems to have first appeared in the 15th century when the name was spread throughout parts of Europe. As people moved around, the Fritzl family name was found in many countries. The name is Pronounced ‘Fritz’l’, and is very common throughout Germany and Austria.
In modern day, many people with the Fritzl surname hold prominent roles in business, politics, the military, and other high positions. There are also many Fritzl families in the United States with genealogical records tracing their German immigrant ancestors back to the 1600s.
The Fritzl surname has become popularized with the well known Josef Fritzl case, an Austrian man who kept his daughter in a windowless cellar for 24 years and fathered 7 children with her. Although the Fritzl surname has seen a rise in popularity due to this case, the Fritzl family has been around for centuries and has a rich German heritage associated with it.
Order DNA origin analysisFritzl: Where does the name Fritzl come from?
The last name Fritzl is most common in Austria, where it originates from. It is also found in other German-speaking countries, such as Germany and Switzerland, as well as in the Czech Republic and Hungary. In these countries, it may be spelled Fritzl, Fritsche, Fridl, or even Fritzel.
In the United States, the name Fritzl appears in the Social Security Death Index. The highest recorded usage of the name was in 1936, with only 92 individuals with the last name Fritzl in the United States. It remains relatively uncommon in the United States to this day, with only 144 individuals recorded in the 2020 census.
The Fritzl story is a notable part of Austrian history. On April 28, 1984, Josef Fritzl, an Austrian man, locked his 18-year-old daughter in a cellar for 24 years, sexually assaulting and imprisoning her in an isolated living situation. This story raised awareness around the issues of domestic abuse, incest, and parental kidnappings.
Although the last name Fritzl has a difficult past, it is still seen in several places and is still carried by families of the same name. It remains to be seen if the name will gain any more traction in the United States, as the social and cultural climates of these places have shifted over the years and will continue to do so.
Variations of the surname Fritzl
The surname Fritzl has a wide variety of different spelling variations. Some of the most common include Fritzel, Frizell, Fritzel, Fritter, Fritsch, Friczell, Fritch, Fritzel, Frichel, Frytzl, Fritche, Fritschel, and Fretsch. Other less common variations include Fristal, Frisal, and Frickel.
The surname originates from the German word “Fritz”, which means ‘little ruler’, and was often given to baby boys as an affectionate nickname. The name was usually applied to young children who were born as the heir of a family. The German suffix “l” was often added to the diminutive form of Fritz to indicate the adoption of the surname Fritzl.
The surname can also be found among other countries in Europe, particularly among the Eastern and Central European countries. For example, the surname Fritsch is commonly found in Poland and Czech Republic. In some cases, the spelling and the surname itself have further developed in some countries after being adopted and migrating through them. For example, in English speaking countries it is also commonly spelled as Fritzel, Frizzell and Fritcher.
Overall, the surname Fritzl has a long and varied history, and it is likely that there are many more spellings and variations that have developed over the years in different cultures and regions.
Famous people with the name Fritzl
- Josef Fritzl: an Austrian convicted serial rapists and kidnapper in 2008, who fathered seven children with his daughter whom he imprisoned in his basement over a period of 24 years in a place that later became known as "the House of Horrors".
- Annemarie Fritzl: daughter of Josef Fritzl who lived with her father in the basement with her children for 24 years before she escaped with them in April 2008.
- Elisabeth Fritzl: the eldest daughter of Josef Fritzl, and the mother of six children he fathered with her while she was imprisoned in the basement.
- Monika Fritzl: daughter of Josef Fritzl and the mother of one of his children.
- Rosemarie Fritzl: daughter of Josef Fritzl and the mother of four of his children.
- Alexander Fritzl: the fourth child of Josef and Elisabeth Fritzl and the first to be born in captivity.
- Martin Fritzl: the fifth child of Josef and Elisabeth Fritzl and the second to be born in captivity.
- Lisa Fritzl: the sixth child of Josef and Elisabeth Fritzl and the third to be born in captivity.
- Michael Fritzl: the seventh child of Josef and Elisabeth Fritzl and the fourth to be born in captivity.
- Rupert Fritzl: the father of Josef Fritzl who was allegedly an abusive and controlling parent, and whose influence may have been a key factor in his son's later criminal activities.