Surname Heyll - Meaning and Origin
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Heyll: What does the surname Heyll mean?
The last name Heyll is an English surname. It is believed to be an occupational name, deriving from the Middle English word, 'heyl', meaning 'a short-term public official or sergeant'.
The surname is particularly popular in Scotland, likely due to its presence in the English language when the area was colonized by England. Interestingly, despite the geographical distribution of the surname, it does not appear to be connected to any particular crest or coat of arms.
The root of the name is less clear. It may have originated from the Old French personal name Heile or Hayel, derived from the Germanic elements ‘hagan’ meaning ‘enclosure’ and ‘laud’ which means ‘praise’. It is also possible that the origin may come from the Middle-English word ‘hail’, derived from the Old English word ‘halh’ which means ‘place of refuge’ or ‘protector’.
In any case, Heyll is likely a surname which had grown from a former profession, later becoming adopted as an English surname in the 14th century. Despite its relative obscurity the surname has endured over time, showing the longevity of this occupational name. It is still carried by descendants of the original family to this day, possibly alluding to the strong ties they may have had to their community.
Order DNA origin analysisHeyll: Where does the name Heyll come from?
Heyll is a surname most commonly found in Austria and Germany, where it originated centuries ago. Records indicate that it first popped up in the Middle Ages and has remained in these countries since then. In Austria, the name is especially concentrated in the states of Upper and Lower Austria. In Germany, it is found mainly in the western and southern parts of the country.
Compared to other countries around the world, the name Heyll is relatively rare. It is uncommon in the United States, United Kingdom, France, and elsewhere. The name can, however, be found in countries where Austrians and Germans have emigrated. In the United States, the name can be found in some numbers in California, Illinois, New York, and New Jersey.
Given the lack of records, it is likely that there are few, if any, substantial Heyll families outside of Austria, Germany, and their neighboring countries. The name is largely associated with cultural and geographical central Europe, where its origins remain largely unknown.
Variations of the surname Heyll
The surname Heyll has several variations, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. The variations of the surname are Heyl, Heil, Heill, Heyle, Heyel, Hiell, Hiele, Heile, Hille, Hiall, and Hyell.
All of the above surnames can be classified as derivatives of the German surnames of the same origin, Heiland and Heilmann. The main difference between these variants is that the German Heil and Heiland are derived from the Old German 'Helig' or 'Heilag' meaning 'holy', while Heilmann and Hille are related to the Old German 'helm', meaning 'helmet', suggesting that some of its original bearers derived from the occupation of being a soldier.
The surname Heyll is also believed to have come from an old personal name, derived from the Old High German 'hailag', meaning 'kind' or 'gracious', thus making it a name that indicated one had a pleasant character. It is also likely that those who originally bore this name were members of a clan or kinship group, as there are numerous records of several different families with the same surname who shared the same area of origin in Europe.
Most notably, the Heyl and Heil families were originally prominent in Bavaria, and the Heill family was well known in Saxony, while the Heyle families were based in the Upper Palatinate region, and the Hiell family was found mostly in the Silesia region of what is now present-day Poland.
Thus, the Heyll surname has several variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin, all of which have Germanic roots and likely share a common origin story.
Famous people with the name Heyll
- David Heyll: a German doctor and radiologist, who worked in the field of biomedical technology and pioneered stereoscopy techniques
- Harry Heyll: an American silent film actor
- Lutfi Heyll: a Bosnian footballer
- Ekmeleddin İhsanoğlu: a Turkish academic and former secretary general of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation
- Elvin M. Heyll: an American architect, whose designs included churches, schools, stores and homes
- Jake Heyll: a British actor and filmmaker
- Heland Heyll: an American businesswoman and philanthropist
- Hans Heyll: a German soldier and airman during World War II
- Julius Heyll: a German lawyer and politician
- Jörg Heyll: a German journalist and editor