Surname Piehl - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'P'
Piehl: What does the surname Piehl mean?
The last name Piehl is of German origin. It is derived from the German word “Pieh” which means that the original bearer of this surname was someone who was of the occupational title “axman” or a professional axe maker or wielder. The axe would have been used for chopping wood or clearing forests and for this reason it bestows a strong feeling of self-reliance and resourcefulness among those who carry the name.
The Piehl family originated in a region of Germany where forests and woodlands were common, and having an individual with a skill in working with an axe would have been especially valuable. Axemen would have been important members of a rural working class community, affording them quite a bit of social standing and respect.
Today, those with the Piehl surname predominantly reside in Germany, with a smattering of other Piehl families living in Austria, Sweden, and the United States. Many have embraced the occupational title’s heritage and proudly identify themselves as members of the “Axmen of the Piehl House” when referring to their ancestry.
Quite a few Piehl descendants have achieved success in various fields, such as industry, education, and entrepreneurship, and they can look back to the hardworking spirit of their ancestors with pride. The power and strength of the axe continues to influence the essence of the Piehl name.
Order DNA origin analysisPiehl: Where does the name Piehl come from?
The last name Piehl is most common in the United States, with the highest concentrations in the states of Wisconsin and Minnesota. According to available records, Piehl is of German origin, but may also have derived from a locale.
Early records of the Piehl surname date back to the 14th century, where it was documented in the Middle and Lower Rhineland. During this period records of citizens with the Piehl surname were found in the city of Goslar and in other nearby regions.
Immigrant records from the 1700s and 1800s suggest the Piehl family emigrated from Germany to the United States primarily for religious reasons. By 1870, the Piehl string began to grow in various parts of the Midwest and Northeastern United States.
Today, the Piehl surname continues to be found throughout the United States. Currently, over 2,300 people in the United States bear the Piehl surname. In Wisconsin and Minnesota, Piehl is among the 300 most common surnames, with the highest concentrations in the cities of Milwaukee and Minneapolis. In other states, the Piehl surname is relatively rare.
Piehl is also found in Canada, where it is listed among the top 1,000 most common surnames. The majority of those bearing the Piehl surname in Canada descend from German immigrants that settled in the Great Lakes region in the 1800s.
Variations of the surname Piehl
The surname Piehl is a Germanic name of many variants, spellings, and surnames, all from the same origin. It is sometimes spelled as Pihl or Pihla. Over time, Piehl and its variants have branched off into several surnames, such as Pfeil, Pfiel, Fiehl, Pfiehl, and Fiehls. All of these names share the same root, which can be traced back to the same Germanic source.
The Piehl variant of the surname originated in the Posen region of Germany in the Middle Ages, although it is now a common name across the continent. The spelling of the surname has changed over time from the medieval Piehl to more modern variants, such as Pfeil and Pfiel. The variant Fiehls is more common in Germany's northeastern regions.
The surname Piehl may also be found in some other countries, including Finland. In this country, the Piehl name may be spelled as Pihel, which is an adaption of the original Germanic spelling. Similar surnames may also be found in Sweden, such as the variant Pyhl.
In the United States, the Piehl surname has roots from several Germanic countries, and can be found in trace amounts in the population. In the U.S., Piehl may also be spelled as Pfehl, Piel, Phel, Fiehl, or Fehl.
No matter where the Piehl name is found, each variant of the surname shares a similar origin and meaning. The Piehl name translates in German to "spearhead," and the variants all connote a similar meaning. Although the spelling of the name has changed over time, it is easy to see how the Piehl surname and its variants have all branched out from the same source.
Famous people with the name Piehl
- Brad Piehl: Former Major League Baseball pitcher who had a successful 1991 season.
- Soren Piehl: Danish Actor.
- Lauri Piehl: Finnish army officer and politician who later became Finland's Prime Minister.
- Amy Piehl: Film producer and entertainment executive.
- Susie Piehl: American singer, songwriter and actress.
- Jens Piehl: German Olympian in Bobsleigh events.
- Roope Piehl: Finnish former professional footballer who won the Finnish player of the year award in 2006.
- Randy Piehl: American college football coach and former player.
- Priya Piehl: Indian Actress, active during the 1980s and 1990s.
- Kaarlo Piehl: Finnish farmer and politician who served 13 years as a Member of Parliament.