Surname Prentl - Meaning and Origin
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Prentl: What does the surname Prentl mean?
Prentl is a variation of the German surname Prendl (or Prendel), derived from the medieval personal name Prentel or Prentilo. The personal name is thought to have derived from a diminutive of the given name Prentl. This name is a combination of the Germanic words “prae”, which means “before”, and “tio”, which means “people”, or more generally “society”. In other words, the surname Prentl can be translated to “person in charge of the people” and could be interpreted as “leading the people”.
The earliest corroborated appearance of the Prentl surname dates back to 1690 in the village of Marzoll, Germany. It is likely that the Prentl family originated from the Bavarian region, yet it is also possible that they had roots elsewhere in Central Europe. As the Prentl name was quite rare even at that time, it is highly probable that all instances of this name in present-day share a common genealogical ancestor.
The surname Prentl is still found throughout Europe, although it is not particularly common. It is most prevalent in the former East Germany, such as in the Bavarian provinces of Thuringia and Eastern Saxony, reflecting its likely origins. Outside of Germany, people with the Prentl name are found primarily in the North American country of Canada.
Order DNA origin analysisPrentl: Where does the name Prentl come from?
The last name Prentl is most common today in various parts of Austria. According to an Austrian genealogical database, Prentl is the nation's ninth most common surname. The highest concentrations of people with this surname are located in Upper Austria, the city of Vienna, and the Styria region. The name might have rooted from the Middle High German given name Hoffrent, which has the similar meaning of "a free tenant or farmer" and was a popular given name in the Middle Ages, especially popular throughout Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.
The last name Prentl also appears in other European countries such as Hungary, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Czech Republic, and Slovenia. However, it is significantly less common than in Austria. It is less common in the United States as well, though it can be found in some areas of the country. Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York are among the states where it is more common.
The last name Prentl is usually considered a patronymic name, derived from the given name Philipp or its variants. Its pronunciation can vary slightly from region to region, with some pronouncing it as PREHNT-el, or PREHN-tel. Furthermore, early records like church or civil documents show that sometimes the last name Prentl was also used as a nickname. This occurred when people who were known by this name had to add either their father's name or a common geographical feature in order to avoid confusion.
Variations of the surname Prentl
The surname Prentl has several variants, spellings, and related surnames. These include Prentz, Prenttel, Printzl, Prentall, Prantl, and Pranzl. Depending on the region and language, the surname may also be expressed as Präntl, Prentel, Prantle, Prentell, Prentle, Prentall, Prantel, and Prendel.
The origin of the surname Prentl is thought to be German, meaning ‘obedient’ or ‘pliant’. The earliest recorded forms of the surname appeared in the 15th Century, in records from the area of what is now modern day Germany.
The surname Prentl began to spread from Germany to Austria, Hungary, and the Czech Republic in the 1600s and 1700s. There, it took on local variants, such as Prendel in Hungary and Prentzl in Slovakia. Towards the late 1700s and early 1800s, the surname spread to the United States and Canada, primarily with immigrants from Germany and Eastern Europe.
It is also possible that some instances of the surname Prentl are derived from other European surnames, such as Brandt, Prant, and Prand, which have similar meanings. It’s also possible that those names could have been adopted to honor a mentor or teacher, as the surname Prentl originally derives from the German word for ‘obedience’ and ‘pliancy’.
Famous people with the name Prentl
- Jure Prentl: Slovenian historian, author, politician, and professor
- Albert Prentl: Canadian-born San Antonio, Texas-based artist
- Jakob Prentl: Austrian artist known primarily for his still-life and figure paintings
- Jacques Prentl: French racing cyclist
- Pavel Prentl: Czech-born Italian steam engine designer
- Peter Prentl: German ice hockey goaltender
- Paul Prentl: Dutch Roman Catholic priest and a Christian Brother
- Boris Prentl: Croatian footballer
- Gina Prentl: German actress
- Viktor Prentl: Austrian track and field athlete