Surname Kritschil - Meaning and Origin
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Kritschil: What does the surname Kritschil mean?
The last name Kritschil is of German origin, deriving from the Middle High German word kritscel, which means "little critter" or "small creature". It is likely that this surname was first created by people who lived near streams, rivers, or other bodies of water, and in that context, the word "Kritschil" refers to someone who was seen as resembling or being similar to small aquatic creatures.
The history of the German Kritschil family first appears in the German state of Saxony, where it was a prominent name during the Middle Ages. At that time, most people would have identified with the land or its borders, rather than with its nation. As a result, many families bore regional nicknames like Kritschil.
This surname has also been adopted in many countries around the world, as people of German descent emigrated from their home with the hopes of finding a better life. During the 20th century, Germany was joined by several other nations, and in the process, many German surnames were adapted and changed.
In the modern day, Kritschil is still a very common surname in many European countries, especially in Germany. It likely has been adopted by people of various nations who are related to German emigrants.
As Kritschil is a popular surname, there are many variations of its spelling. Some of these variations include: Krytschel, Kritzchil, Kritschel, Kritschell, Cristhel, Krittschil, Kreitschil, and Kreitschel.
Order DNA origin analysisKritschil: Where does the name Kritschil come from?
The last name Kritschil is most commonly found in Bavaria, Germany. The name can trace its roots back to at least the 1700s, when records show a Hans Michael Kritschil living in Bavaria. The name is still relatively common in the region today, although the largest concentration of Kritschils is in the city of Munich.
Other parts of Germany such as the state of Baden-Württemberg and parts of the former East Germany still have pockets of Kritschils as well. The name is also found in Austria, although slightly less often than in Germany. An interesting note is that the name is also found with some frequency in the United States, Canada, Australia, and other places around the world. In the United States, the Kritschil name is most commonly found in Illinois and parts of Pennsylvania.
The Kritschil name is believed to have Germanic origins, deriving from the words "kretsch" or "krisch" which mean “to break” or “to shatter”. The name translates literally to “shatterer” or “destroyer”. Some speculated that the name was taken on by soldiers in past wars.
Today, the Kritschil surname can be found throughout the world, from its historical origins in Bavaria to the United States and other countries. It is still relatively common in its region of origin, making it easy for Kritschil's to trace their ancestry to the Bavarian region of Germany.
Variations of the surname Kritschil
The surname Kritschil is likely an old German name that was primarily found in areas of Germany such as East Prussia and Pomerania. It was first recorded in these areas in the 12th century and is believed to have originated from the old German word ‘kritschel’, which means ‘crooked’.
Variants of the name Kritschil can be found in other German-speaking countries, such as Austria and Switzerland, as well as in other countries that had large German-speaking populations such as the United States, Canada, and South Africa. Some of the variants of this surname include Kritschull, Kritschulle, Kreitschel, Kreitschul, Kreitshul, Kretschil and Kretschull.
In some cases, the spelling of the surname may have been altered over time due to differences in pronunciation and dialects. As a result, alternate spellings of Kritschil can be found, such as Kreitschil, Kretchil, Krittschil, Krittschull, Kreitschill and Kreschill.
Surnames with a similar origin to Kritschil can also be found in other countries. For example, in Poland the variant Kriszczel is used, while in Hungary the variations Kritschill and Kritzcel are found.
Despite the various spellings and variants, the origins of the surname Kritschil are likely the same. It is a very old name and provides a link between present-day families and their ancestors.
Famous people with the name Kritschil
- David Kritschil, American television producer and writer
- Barbara Kritschil, German opera and oratorio soprano
- C. G. Kritschil, Austrian physician and anatomist
- Arthur Kritschil, German architect
- Chris Kritschil, Canadian ice hockey player
- Abraham Kritschell, American artist
- Donny Kritschil, Australian cyclist
- Alina Kritschil, American figure skater
- Kayla Kritschil, American triathlete
- Franz Kritschell, Austrian physician and author