Surname Hörtl - Meaning and Origin

Hörtl: What does the surname Hörtl mean?

The last name Hörtl is a German/Austrian surname derived from the word “Hörtel,” which is a pet form of the name “Hortmann.” It was likely first adopted by someone with that given name, and the name likely originated from a manor house or dwelling (“Hort”) in the local area. The Hörtl surname originated in the region of Upper Austria and is most often found in Germany and Austria today.

The term “Hort” can also be used to refer to a storage place or closet, so it’s possible the name was also adopted by someone who either owned such a place or assisted with its upkeep in some way. Furthermore, the component “-mann” would also indicate that the name was originally used as a reference to someone who was male.

The name Hörtl has several different spelling variations, including Hartl, Hertl, and Hertel. It is still quite common in Germany and Austria, and is also found in countries as far away as the United States. In the U.S., it is most associated with the state of Wisconsin, which has a large German-American population.

Although the origin of the name remains uncertain, it appears to have been most likely derived from someone's personal name, and either referred to an owner of a manor house or someone in charge of a storage closet. It is still fairly common today and is found in several countries around the world.

Hörtl: Where does the name Hörtl come from?

The surname Hörtl is most commonly found in the Central European region, particularly in Austria, Germany, and the Czech Republic. According to HouseofNames.com, people with the surname Hörtl originated in the district of Carinthia, located in the very southern part of Austria, and spread far and wide from there. This surname may also appear in other forms, such as the Slavic spelling Hertl, Hertele, and Hirtl.

The name is thought to have originated as an occupational surname. In old German, the word "Hörtl" meant craftsman or builder, most likely referring to a woodworker or carpenter. This is supported by the fact that the name is most common in areas where the Austrian-Bavarian dialects are spoken.

Today, one can find people named Hörtl throughout Europe, particularly in Austria, Germany, and the Czech Republic. Furthermore, according to WorldNames PublicProfiler, it's also fairly common in the United States, especially in Wisconsin and Minnesota.

In addition, those with variants of the name, particularly Hertl or Hirtl, can be found across the globe, including in parts of Australia, Canada, France and even eastern Africa.

Variations of the surname Hörtl

The surname Hörtl has many variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. The most common variants are Hoertl, Hoartl, Hörtle, Heertl, and Hortle. Other variants and alternate spellings of the name include Hörtel, Hirtl, Hurytl, Horyt, Hertl, Hartl, Hurstl, Haertl, Hartel, Hurtl, Hearthl, and Herzl.

Variations of the surname can also be found in other languages. For example, in German, the surname may be spelled Hörtl, Hörtle, or Hörtel; in Czech, it may be spelled Hoertl, Hořtl, or Hořte; in Slovak, it may be spelled Hörtel or Hörtelová; in Hungarian, it may be spelled Haarl or Hajtl; and in Serbian, it may be spelled Hörtl or Hörtlov.

The most common surnames derived from the same origin as Hörtl are Hartl, Hertl, Hertel, Herzl, and Hertz. These surnames all share the same root as Hörtl, which is believed to derive from a Germanic given name, composed of the elements hart meaning “hard” and lind meaning “soft.” The name is thought to be a nickname given to one who was noted for having both characteristics. It may also have been derived from Old German hyrʒtl, meaning “pewter.” In parts of the U.S., the surname may have the spelling of Hartle, though this is believed to be an alteration of the original form.

Famous people with the name Hörtl

• Johanna Hörtl: a German disabled sports champion who competed at the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
• Robert Hörtl: a German figure skater who won the German Junior Championships in 2009.
• Alain Hörtl: a retired Swiss football player.
• Christian Hörtl: an Austrian footballer who currently plays for SV Ried.
• Ursula Hörtl: an Austrian alpine skier who has competed at the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships.
• Veronika Hörtl: an Austrian-born operatic soprano who has performed for the Berlin State Opera.
• Albert Hörtl: a German naturalist, author and entomologist.
• Tobias Hörtl: an Austrian-born footballer who currently plays for Austria Wien.
• Andreas Hörtl: a German musician.
• Christine Hörtl: an Austrian ice dance coach and choreographer.
• Bernd Hörtl: a German film director and editor.
• Konstantin Hörtl: a German equestrian and Olympic medalist.
• Barbara Hörtl: an Austrian ski jumper who has competed at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships.
• Sabine Hörtl: a German middle-distance runner who has competed at the 2012 and 2016 Olympic Games.
• Lukas Hörtl: an Austrian skeleton racer who has competed at the World Skeleton Championship.

Other surnames

Hörtling