Surname Öchslen - Meaning and Origin
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Öchslen: What does the surname Öchslen mean?
The last name Öchslen is of German origin and derived from the German word “Öchs” which means a kind of cart. The word “len” means small or little.
As such, Öchslen is thought to refer to a family which may have worked in the production and transportation of goods by cart. It is also possible that those with Öchslen as their last name may have been a family of cartwrights.
This surname is generally found in German-speaking countries, including Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein.
The earliest recorded example of the surname Öchslen is found in 1550, in the Basel region of Switzerland. However, the name is much older and it is likely that the name had become commonplace among German-speaking families centuries before then.
A literal translation of Öchslen is “little cart people”, although it is likely that the name has come to mean something closer to “wagon wranglers” or “cart masters” over time.
The name is still common today in German-speaking Europe, particularly in South Tyrol, where up to 2.5% of the population carry the name.
Order DNA origin analysisÖchslen: Where does the name Öchslen come from?
The last name Öchslen is a German surname, which is still quite common in some regions of Germany and Austria today. The most common place where Öchslen is found is in the German state of Bavaria. In Bavaria, Öchslen is a relatively small surname, but it can also be found in some other regions of Germany such as East Prussia and North Rhine-Westphalia. It is also present in some other countries in Europe such as Austria and Switzerland.
Outside of Europe, there are also people with the last name Öchslen living in the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
The meaning of the surname Öchslen is not clear, but it likely comes from a place associated with a trade or profession. It could be derived from the German words "uchsel," meaning "ox," or "ockel," meaning "heap of stones." Öchslen could also be related to the German word "schale," meaning "shell" or "vessel."
The surname Öchslen is an old one, with the earliest recorded use of the surname dating back to 1490. Despite having such a long history, the surname still lives on today, albeit in relatively small numbers.
Variations of the surname Öchslen
The surname Öchslen is derived from the Middle High German word 'Oechelesin', which means 'noble'. Variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Öchslen include Oechslin, Oehslen, Oetzelen, Oechels, Oehelser, Oehlschlag, Ochel, Ochslin, Ochie, Ochslen, Okslen, Anssen, Anssern, Anselin, and Anssellin.
The variants of Öchslen originate from the same Germanic root as the word 'achsel', or 'shoulder'. This name was initially given to an individual of noble birth or of a high rank in society. Over time, the spelling of the name changed slightly to its current form Öchslen.
In Germany, the Öchslen surname is mostly found in the states of Bavaria, Rhineland-Palatinate, Hesse, and Baden-Wurttemburg. It is also quite popular in Switzerland where it is found in the canton of Graubunden. The Öchslen variant is not found as commonly in other European countries such as Austria, Italy, or the Netherlands.
In the United States the Öchslen surname is most commonly found in the states of California, New York, and Pennsylvania. This is due to the influx of German immigrants that settled in these regions in the mid 19th century.
In Australia, the surname Öchslen is mostly associated with families that emigrated from Germany in the late 1800s.
Overall, the Öchslen surname is still quite popular in Germanic speaking countries as well as countries such as the United States and Australia where German immigrants settled in the past century.
Famous people with the name Öchslen
- Sven Öchsler: a German stuntman and actor who has worked in international films including "Suburbicon," "Mad Max: Fury Road," and "Trainwreck." He has also played roles in television series like “Prison Break” and “Strike Back.”
- Hans-Jürgen Öchsner: German figure skater and five-time European Championships medalist in the 1960s.
- Günther Öchsner: a German footballer who played for clubs in the German and Swiss leagues, and for the national team.
- Lothar Öchsner: German actor, best known for appearing in several German films and television series.
- Harald Öchsner: a former German field hockey player who competed in the 1960 Summer Olympics and was part of the squad that won the bronze medal in the European Championship.
- Werner Öchsner: German movie actor and director, appearing in several films such as Einmal ist keinmal, Farm of the Dead, and Verflucht, verdammt und Halleluja.
- Klaus Öchsner: a German entertainment and audio engineer who has produced stage shows, television programs, and numerous records.
- Walter Öchsner: German organist, who in1988 won the Bach Prize at the Handel Organ Competition in Göttingen, and is currently professor at the University of Augsburg.
- Alfred Öchsner: a German-Austrian mountain bike racer who has won multiple national and international competitions.
- Alfred Öchsner: a Swiss cyclist who won several races in the 1930s, including the Circuit des Trois Provinces. He also competed in the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin.