Surname Heckerl - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'H'
Heckerl: What does the surname Heckerl mean?
The last name Heckerl is of German origin, and it means "weaver" or "clothmaker." In the Middle Ages and Early Modern period, weaving was an important industry in many areas of Germany, and the Heckerl name would likely have referred to a textiles worker.
In modern times, the surname is still commonly found in Germany, particularly in the Rhineland. It is also known in former German-speaking territories such as Austria, Switzerland, and parts of Eastern Europe. Historically, Heckerl was a common name in Protestant regions of Germany, especially in the states of Prussia and Saxony.
In some cases, the name Heckerl may be an Anglicized form of the German surname Heckel, which has the same meaning as Heckerl. Alternatively, the name may have originally been derived from the Middle High German word "heckelen," which means "to wallow" or "to tumble."
The Heckerl name can be found in records of the last few centuries, although the earliest recorded example is from 1580 - a document in the Prussian archives mentioning a "Buchhändler (Bookseller) Heckerl."
The Heckerl family can trace its history across many countries and centuries. It is a reminder of the importance of the textile industry in Europe over the centuries, and it is a symbol of the important role that Germans have played in shaping modern-day society.
Order DNA origin analysisHeckerl: Where does the name Heckerl come from?
The surname Heckerl is mainly concentrated in German-speaking countries such as Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. The name is not particularly common in German-speaking countries today, but there are a few people who bear it in each of those nations.
In Germany, the Heckerl surname is found predominantly in the northern and eastern states of Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia. In Austria, the most common place the surname is found is in the Salzburg region. It is much less common in western Austria. In Switzerland, the surname mainly appears in the southern canton of Graubunden.
Outside of German-speaking countries, Heckerl is much less common. In other European countries, the surname is almost nonexistent. In the United States, the surname is also very rare. It may be found in a few places, but it is more likely to be an Americanized version of another Germanic surname, such as Höck or Hecker. In Canada, the surname is also quite rare.
Overall, the surname Heckerl is found today in the German-speaking countries of Germany, Austria and Switzerland, primarily in the northern and eastern regions of Germany and the Salzburg region of Austria. Outside of these countries, the surname is generally quite rare.
Variations of the surname Heckerl
The Heckerl surname has several variants of spelling, as well as other surnames which originated from the same family or region. The most common spelling of Heckerl is Heckerle, although variants are also found spelled as Heckerli, Heckler, Heckerlin, Hechler, etc.
The original spelling of the name likely originated from the German word 'hacken', meaning 'to chop or hew'. Thus, it is assumed the surname was originally a nickname for someone who was known for being a good hewer of wood or stones.
Other surnames originating from this same family or region can include Hecker, Heckman, Heckerd, Hecken, Hocker, Deckert, Dechler, Haferkamp, and Deckers. Hecker’s origins most likely stem from Lower Saxony, Germany, although members of the family have since spread to other countries such as the United States and Canada.
Heckerl is a relatively uncommon surname, and those who adopt it today may be proud of their familial history. Knowing and appreciating the origin and spelling variants of one's own surname can be an important part of preserving family heritage.
Famous people with the name Heckerl
- Harald Heckerl: German Hochspringer who won gold at the 1932 Summer Olympics
- Dieter Heckerl: German rower who won a bronze medal at the 1972 Summer Olympics
- Joe Heckerl: American football player who was part of the undefeated 1972 Miami Dolphins team
- Helmut Heckerl: Former Field Hockey player who competed for East Germany at the 1976 Summer Olympics
- Lea Heckerl: Austrian former alpine skier who represented Austria at the 1988 Winter Olympics
- Manfred Heckerl: Austrian fencer who won gold at the 1972 Summer Olympics
- Leif Heckerl: American-born Norwegian luge racer who competed in the 2006 Winter Olympics
- Erna Heckerl: Austrian botanist and medical scientist
- Christian Heckerl: Actor and theater director from Austria