Surname Ottl - Meaning and Origin
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Ottl: What does the surname Ottl mean?
The last name Ottl is of German origin and dates back to at least the 1600s. It could have several possible meanings, such as:
• Derived from the Middle High German word "otel", meaning "little oat," and could have indicated someone who cultivated oats or some other grain crop.
• Derived from the Middle High German word "ottel" which means "herder" or someone who reared cows, sheep, and other livestock.
• Someone who lived in a particular place or house, since the term "Ottl" was sometimes used as an addition to a surname to designate a geographic origin.
• A short form of the personal name Adalottl, which is a combination of the German masculine given name Adal (noble) and the diminutive ending -ottl, meaning "descendant of a noble man."
• Derived from the German surname Ott or Oett, which comes from the Middle High German element "ott," meaning "wealthy." Individuals with this surname could have been well-off or had some other type of financial resources.
In conclusion, the last name Ottl could have several potential meanings, many of which are related to either a profession, a geographic origin, or some type of financial status. Researching your family tree may help to provide more information regarding its exact origin.
Order DNA origin analysisOttl: Where does the name Ottl come from?
The last name Ottl is most commonly found in Germany today. It is believed to have originally been derived from a Germanic name "Otto", which is thought to have meant "wealthy". Records show that the first recorded use of the last name Ottl was in the 13th century in the small town of Muehlhausen in Bavaria, Germany. Since then, the last name has spread to many parts of Germany, particularly in the provinces of Bavaria, North-Rhine Westphalia, Baden-Wuerttemberg, and Saxony-Anhalt.
The frequency of the surname Ottl varies quite significantly across the German states, with Bavaria having the highest amount of occurrences. In Saxony-Anhalt, it is only rarely encountered. According to 2019 statistics, a total of 1,683 people are reported to carry the Ottl name in Germany, with most of them living in the state of Bavaria (1,424).
Outside of Germany, Ottl is an uncommon name, though it can be found in small numbers in the Czech Republic, Austria, and Switzerland. Subsequently, it is possible that those bearing the name Ottl in these countries may have Germanic roots, given the geographic proximity. There are also a few Ottl’s living in the U.S., Canada, and other parts of the world, though it’s difficult to make any connection with its Germanic origins.
Variations of the surname Ottl
The surname Ottl has many variants, spellings, and surnames of similar origin.
One of the most common spellings is Oettl, which is a variation on the original spelling. Other variants include Oetl, Oettli, Oetli, Oettle, Öttl, Öttle, Ottel, Ottele, Ottill, Öttel, Ottli, and Ottel.
Surnames related to the Ottl surname include Aettler, Aetlr, Aettle, Etle, Ettle, Oehler, Oehler, Oeler, Oener, Oetel, Oetele, Oexl, Oetlem, Öttler, Öttele, Otteler, Ottelr, Ottener, Ottler, Wantz, Wantz, and Wenz.
Most of these surnames are found in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, while some also have a presence in Hungary, Czech Republic, and other parts of Central and Eastern Europe.
Whether the surname is spelt Ottl or one of its many variants, it is derived from the German word 'ott', meaning 'to jump or to jump about'. This suggests the name is of nickname origin and was likely first taken on as a descriptive term for an active or lively individual. It became a hereditary surname in the late medieval period as families moved and adopted fixed surnames in their areas of settlement.
Famous people with the name Ottl
- Anton Ottl: German footballer.
- Alphonse Ottl: French politician.
- Fritz Ottl: German conductor and composer.
- Johann Ottl: German medieval sculptor.
- Helmut Ottl: German weightlifter.
- Anton Ottl: Austrian zoologist and entomologist.
- Lothar Ottl: German field hockey player.
- Ambros Ottl: Austrian alpine skier.
- Johannes Ottl: German Olympic fencer.
- Peter Ottl: German psychologist.
- Jürgen Ottl: German handball player.
- Michael Ottl: German football player.
- Theoderik Ottl: South African tennis player.
- Kurt Ottl: American racecar driver.
- Robert Ottl: German actor.