Surname Hörtel - Meaning and Origin
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Hörtel: What does the surname Hörtel mean?
The surname Hörtel is of Germanic origin. It is a variant of the old Germanic personal name "Hertil" which means "in the spear". It may also derive from the Middle High German word "mouth" (meaning "mortal" or "dust"), which could have been used as a surname in reference to a person's physical or spiritual mortality. The name can also be associated with the Germanic elements "hart" (hard) and "helmo" (helmet) which may refer to warriors who were known to be brave and tenacious.
Throughout the Middle Ages, individuals with the Hörtel name were often known as master builders and stonemasons in Germanic settings. They developed and maintained structures that were meant to last and kept and adopted architectural styles of the time.
The Hörtel name was widespread throughout Germany and Austria up until the beginning of the 20th century. Today, families with the surname Hörtel can be found all around the world, particularly in Europe, the Americas, and Australia. The name Hörtel is still seen as a symbol of strength and tenacity, representing values that were esteemed by the Saxon and often rugged ancestors who used it.
Order DNA origin analysisHörtel: Where does the name Hörtel come from?
The last name Hörtel is most common in Germany and Austria today. In Germany, there are approximately 1,900 people with the last name Hörtel recorded in the telephone directory DeutschlandSchleifer. This makes it the 8,878th most popular German name. In Austria, nearly 300 individuals have the last name Hörtel listed in the phonebook AustriaPhone. This makes it the 2,072nd most common Austrian surname.
Outside of Germany and Austria, the last name Hörtel is not as widespread. In the United States, the surname Hörtel only appears in census records 20 times. Most of those individuals are from German, Swiss, or Austrian backgrounds. There is also a single family in Canada with the last name Hörtel that originated in Austria.
The name Hörtel is derived from the German word hörte, which means “hear” or “listen”. It is most likely a habitational name, referring to someone who lived near a loud place such as a mill, waterfall, church bell tower, etc. This is a common origin for German surnames.
The last name Hörtel is still relatively uncommon today outside of its main regions of prevalence. However, as people with Germanic backgrounds immigrate to other countries, it is possible that the surname may become more widespread in the future.
Variations of the surname Hörtel
The surname Hörtel has several variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. These include Hörtle, Hoertel, Hörtel, Hürtle, Hörtl, Hoertl, Hörtl, Härtl, Härtel, and Härtle. Although they may appear to be significantly different, all of these surnames share the same origins.
The origin of the surname Hörtel is from the Middle High German word "hort" or "horc", meaning "thicket, forest". Thus, the surname Hörtel is believed to have been derived from a place name or toponym, and is likely a geographically-determined or locative surname related to the presence of forestal thickets.
The name Hörtel is especially common in the German states of Bavaria, Sachsen, and Hessia. It is also found in the German-speaking parts of Belgium and Luxembourg, as well as in parts of Austria, Hungary, and Poland.
With its many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin, the surname Hörtel is a widespread family name. Whether Hörtel, Hörtle, Hoertel, Hoertl, Hörtl, Härtl, Härtel, or Härtle, the surname is undeniably connected though its origin of a place name or toponym. Although spelled differently, this surname group is tied together and each variant is just as meaningful as the next.
Famous people with the name Hörtel
- Laura Hörtel: German actress best known for her role in the crime drama series Tatort.
- Henry Hörtel: German film director known for his work on Agnes and His Brothers, High Society and Wild Horses.
- Bella Hörtel: German singer and songwriter best known for her singles "Neonlichter" and "Kantschu".
- Hans Hörtel: German architect and co-founder of Berlin buildings Kranzler Eck and KaDeWe.
- Christian Hörtel: German actor best known for his roles in Supreme Chronicles, The King's Musicians, and Bad Guys.
- Eric Hörtel: German theater and film actor, best known for his roles in films such as Der rosarote Panther, Königin der Arena and Matula.
- Michael Hörtel: German author, journalist, and theater critic who wrote for Der Spiegel, Die Welt, and Theater Heute.
- Alexander Hörtel: German actor, best known for his appearances in the television shows Es wars einmal and Ein Fall für Dr. Steiner.
- Heinz Hörtel: German electronics engineer and former CEO of the German electronics company Robert Bosch GmbH.
- Hermann Hörtel: German actor known for his roles in The Cold Equations and The Elected.