Surname Österle - Meaning and Origin
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Österle: What does the surname Österle mean?
The surname Österle is mainly found in southern Germany. It is a toponymic surname which means “from Österle”, which is a habitational name derived from the place of Österle, located in southwestern Germany.
The name Österle originates from the Old High German ‘oster’, meaning ‘east’, and ‘le’ or ‘lei’, meaning a meadow or a piece of land. Culminating in its original meaning, Österle translates to mean “meadow or piece of land at the east”, attesting to its origin as a place name.
The earliest bearer of the surname Österle is believed to have been Juwig Osterle, a noble family living in 1400 in Wissembourg, now located in France. The surname is still seen today in several parts of Germany, including Bavaria.
However, the name is not limited to Germany, being seen in locations such as Austria, Hungary, Switzerland, and particularly in America, with many examples of descendants of German immigrants bearing the name.
In conclusion, the surname Österle is believed to be of German origin, deriving from the place-name Österle, meaning “meadow or piece of land at the east”. The earliest bearer of the name was Juwig Osterle, a noble family in Wissembourg in the 1400’s. Today, the surname is mainly found in the German-speaking countries of southern Germany, Austria, and Hungary, and in the United States due to the presence of descendants of German immigrants.
Order DNA origin analysisÖsterle: Where does the name Österle come from?
The German-Swiss last name “Österle” is common in many European countries, particularly throughout Germany, Switzerland, Austria, and Liechtenstein. It is also documented in other parts of the world including the English-speaking countries of Canada, the United States, and Australia.
In Germany, the name can be found in many cities and towns including Munich, Stuttgart, Frankfurt, and Berlin. In Switzerland, Österle is mainly centered in St. Gallen, Aargau, and Zurich. In Austria, it is mainly documented in Vorarlberg, Burgenland, and Vienna.
Given the geographical coverage of its current distribution, Österle is likely a contraction of two German terms, “öster” (east) and “le” (the). Put together, the terms mean “those from the east”, and suggest that the surname’s origins stem from a family who moved eastwards into the region for some reason.
The Österle surname is associated with a number of noted individuals who have gained prominence in different aspects of society. German-Swiss entrepreneur, Ulla Österle, is well-known in the engineering industry. Austrian actor and theatre director, Marcel Österle, is regarded as a trailblazer in the performing arts. Austrian-born American professor, Werner Österle, is an esteemed expert in the field of computer science.
Today, it is quite likely that the family of Österles are still scattered across Europe and beyond, with members of the family frequently achieving success in their fields of interest.
Variations of the surname Österle
The surname Österle (pronounced EA-ster-LAY) is a name of Germanic origin that has many variations and spellings. It is what is known as a “habitation name,” which is a type of surname derived from the name of a place of origin. In this case, Österle is derived from the Old High German word “strilo,” meaning “place at the edge of a forest.” The most common variant spellings of the name include Oesterle, Easterle, Esterle, Österli, Oesterli, Easterli, and Esterli.
The surname Österle is also found in many other forms when used outside of its Germanic roots. In other languages, it could be Esterl, Esterle, Oesterlin, Esterling, Osterling, Osterloh, Osterloo, Osterlo, Oesterly, Esterly, and more.
A few of the common surnames derived from Österle include: Ostler, Österli, Osterloh, Österling, Osterle, Oesterling, Oestern, Östlich, Easterling, Esterl, Esterly, and Oesterlyn.
In addition to these variants, the surname can also be found in a wide range of other forms thanks to the long history of migration and cultural exchange when members of the Österle family have made their homes in other countries. Some of these variants could include: Ostrley, Ostrie, Ostrosky, Öström, Ostrowski, Östlund, Östraat, Ostrovsky, Ostroffsky, Ostrover, Ostrum, Osterberg, Osterfold, and Osterland.
No matter what spelling or variation of the name is used, it all ultimately originates from the same place—the Germanic word “strilo,” meaning “place at the edge of a forest.”
Famous people with the name Österle
- Peter Österle: a German Social Democratic politician and a member of the Bundestag.
- Tom Österle: a former international rugby player who played as a centre.
- Johannes Österle: an Austrian-German linguist, poet, and publisher who is known for his work in neo-Latin lingustics and for his re-discovery of an anthology of poems by neo-Latin poet Johannes Saubert.
- Konrad Österle: a German architect and professor at the University of Stuttgart who was instrumental in the development of the city's modernist architecture.
- Bastian Österle: a German international rugby player who currently plays for the German national side.
- Fabian Österle: an Austrian footballer currently playing for FC Blau-Weiß Linz in the Austrian Football Bundesliga.
- Petra Österle: a German sport shooter who has competed in the 2004, 2008 and 2012 Summer Olympics.
- Friedrich Österle: a former competitive sailor from Germany who competed for his country in four consecutive Summer Olympics, starting in 1992.
- Wilhelm Österle: an Austrian bassoonist, composer and painter. He was a member of the Vienna Philharmonic in 1955 and later founded the Österle Quartet, a wind quintet.
- Timo Österle: a former professional road cyclist who competed in multiple stages of the Tour de France.