Surname Preißling - Meaning and Origin
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Preißling: What does the surname Preißling mean?
The last name Preißling is of German origin and is an occupational name for a tax collector or a money broker. It is derived from the Middle High German word 'preisling', which translates to 'one who is willing to pay'. This indicates that individuals with this surname were likely people who were entrusted with collecting tolls and taxes on behalf of a ruler or governing body, or were money lenders.
The presence of this last name is found predominantly in West and Western Central Germany, though mainly in Wuerttemberg and Bavaria. This is likely due to the fact that these were powerful states during the Middle ages and had a need for tax collectors and lenders in order to maintain political control.
The Preißling surname is an example of the naming conventions of the region during the Middle Ages, as the name held a certain occupational meaning. This helped designated individual roles and responsibilities in society and assert authority during this time period. Additionally, by designating someone the role of money broker, it helped form a sense of economic security in a country that relied heavily on taxation and lending in order to fund war efforts and expenditures.
Today, the Preißling name is found throughout Europe, as its presence was made known by those who immigrated to other parts of the continent and those with German ancestry. As a result, the name carries a rich and diverse history.
Order DNA origin analysisPreißling: Where does the name Preißling come from?
The last name Preißling is a German surname and is primarily found in Germany and other German-speaking countries such as Austria and Switzerland. It is particularly common in the German states of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg.
The noble family ‘de Preißling’ were first found in the parish of Borken in the distant 13th century. The town of Borken is situated in North Rhine-Westphalia, in the west of Germany near the Dutch border.
In addition to Germany, over the centuries, the Preißling family has spread to other countries such as the USA, Canada, England and Australia. It became especially established in the USA in the 19th century as a result of many German immigrants.
Today, there is a small concentration of Preißling families in the United States in the states of Ohio, North Carolina and Texas. Elsewhere, smaller family numbers can be found in Canada, the United Kingdom, Belarus and some countries of central and eastern Europe. Preißling is also found in Israel, as Ashkenazi (Eastern European) Jews called Preissling settled there in the 20th century.
The Preißling family have become increasingly rare since the mid-20th century and very few bearers of the name remain today. It is nonetheless still a proud Germanic surname and one with a long and interesting history, firmly rooted in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia.
Variations of the surname Preißling
The surname Preißling is a German family name, derived from the Middle High German phrase “preizlin”, meaning “striking one”. The English spelling of the name is Priesling or Prieslng, but other variants exist. Variations of this surname include Preissiling, Preißelting, Preißlingen, Preisleng, Preißle, Preessling, Preisling, Preislinger, Preisslinger, as well as many more.
The alternate spellings of Preißling can often depend on geographic location. Preisleng, for example, is a spelling commonly found in Austria and other Central-European countries. Meanwhile, Preißlingen is a German dialect spelling found in the Southern parts of the country.
In addition to the variants of Preißling, there are some surnames of the same origin. The German names Preißele and Preessig are likely derivatives, as are the English-language surnames Presling and Priestly. Priesling is another related name, which is likely borrowed from the variation Preißling.
Surnames of similar origin, but not necessarily related to Preißling, include Preveling, Prevele, Preisel and Preville. Additionally, the surnames Prislen, Priesel, Preslin, Preslen and Preesling are likely derivatives of some form of Preißling.
Overall, the surname Preißling is of Germanic origin and its variants can be found all over the world. Different geographic locations and dialects can result in a wide variety of spellings for the same name, but the same origin remains.
Famous people with the name Preißling
- Jonas Preißling, German footballer
- Thomas Preißling, former German footballer
- Johannes Preißling, painter of abstract art
- August Preißling, German painter from the 19th century
- Volker Preißling, Professor of Computer Science at the Technical University of Munich
- Horst Preißling, former German footballer
- Wilhelm Preißling, former German footballer
- Ernst Preißling, German baritone from the 19th and early 20th centuries
- Paul Preißling, German violinist and composer from the 20th century
- Wilhelm von Preißling, German hang glider and paraglider pilot