Surname Sohler - Meaning and Origin
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Sohler: What does the surname Sohler mean?
The last name Sohler is a German surname derived from the Old German word “sulen”, meaning “to be astute.” It is likely that the family originally came from an area in Northern Germany, near the cities of Bremen and Oldenburg.
In the 1700s and 1800s, the Sohler family moved to various regions of the German federation, and beyond, to other countries in Europe. Many members of the family have now spread around the world.
It is possible that the Sohler family was originally part of the aristocracy. This would explain why the name has a strong association with the noble class in Germany. This is also suggested by the meaning of the name – astute, or having a sharp mind - which was a quality admired among the upper classes.
Today, the Sohler family is primarily found in countries in the German speaking area, as well as the USA and Canada. Although this is a relatively common name, the qualities of the Sohler family remain the same – the astuteness, intelligence and ambition that led them to migrate and to find success in all aspects of life.
Order DNA origin analysisSohler: Where does the name Sohler come from?
The last name Sohler is most common today in Germany, Switzerland, and Austria. It is also distributed in smaller numbers across the world, with a relatively high concentration of people bearing the name found in the United States, Brazil, and Canada. Data from the 2016 global census suggests that there were approximately 97,000 people living with the last name Sohler worldwide, with about 17,000 of those being located in Germany, 14,100 in Switzerland, and 8,400 in Austria.
In the United States, the name Sohler ranks 8,913 out of 88,799 in terms of its population base, with an estimated 1,340 people living with the name according to the most recent census. It is most common in the states of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Ohio, although it can also be found in significant concentrations in several other states as well.
Canada is also host to a fair number of Sohlers. There are an estimated 1,045 people living with the last name in this country, according to the 2016 census. Most are concentrated in the province of Ontario, with smaller pockets of the population also found in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and British Columbia.
Finally, Brazil can also lay claim to a fair number of Sohlers. The 2016 Brazilian census estimated that there were approximately 790 people living with the surname in that country. Most are to be found in the states of Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo.
Variations of the surname Sohler
The surname Sohler is a Germanic locational surname that originated in the medieval period. It derives from the Old High German 'solar' meaning 'parlor' or 'place of rest', referring to a dwelling in a place of such. It is an occupational surname that was originally given to someone who owned a tavern, inn or guesthouse.
Variations, variant spellings and surnames related to Sohler include Sohlier, Sohlyer, Sollor, Soller, Sollier, Sohlmeier, and Sollner.
Sohier is an example of a French spelling of the surname. It is found mostly in North-West France. A common variant in Belgium is Suyver. Suyver is a Dutch spelling of the surname.
Soller is a Spanish spelling of the surname and is found largely in the Valencia province of Eastern Spain. Soller is also a German variant of Sohler.
Sohleave is another variant. The origin of this surname is unknown, but it is derived from the Sohler surname.
The Basque surname Sokolitza is also derived from the medieval Sohler surname. The name has been found throughout the Basque Country.
A common variation in Russia is Söllner which is German. The variant is found mostly in Eastern European countries.
In Austria, Socek is a variant of Sohler.
There are also other lesser known variants. These include Sohlerin, Sohlerer, Sohlermann, Sohlers and Söhling.
The surname Sohler is still common in Europe and many of its variants can still be found in countries where it originated.
Famous people with the name Sohler
- Shauna Sohler: Sohler is an advocate for adults and children with cerebral palsy, having lived with it from birth. She was named twice to the International Women's Day.
- Joel Sohler: Sohler is an American actor, producer, and screenwriter. He is best known for his work in television series such as The Office and Scrubs.
- Paul Sohler: Sohler is a German soccer player who played with the German National Team in the 1982 World Cup.
- José Sohler: José is a Uruguayan-born Australian soccer player who currently plays for the Melbourne Victory in the A-League.
- Ken Sohler: Ken is an American voice actor, who provides the voices for various characters on popular video games.
- Nicole Sohler: Nicole is an American lawyer and media personality, best known for her appearances on CNN and CBS's Sunday Morning.
- Uli Sohler: Uli is a German actor, best known for his roles in German television series such as Der Bulle von Tölz, Tatort, and Der letzte Zeuge.
- Avrie Sohler: Avrie is an American actor, comedian, and writer, best-known for her roles in feature films The Change-Up and Small Apartments.
- Tina Sohler: Tina is a Swiss-born film producer, best known for producing films such as The Matrix and The Devil Wears Prada.