Surname Söhnlein - Meaning and Origin
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Söhnlein: What does the surname Söhnlein mean?
The last name Söhnlein is of German origin. It is derived from the Old German word "sihon" meaning son. This name would have been given to the "son" of someone or a family line.
The family name is quite common throughout German-speaking countries. It is also found among non-German speakers, especially those of German or Austrian descent. In North America, the name has been Anglicized as "Sohn" or "Sussman".
The earliest known members of the Söhnlein family appear in written records in the 15th century. They lived in what is now Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. The family is believed to have originated in the Havelberg-Stendal region. From there, various branches relocated to other parts of Germany, Switzerland, and the Czech Republic. Records of Söhnlein family members living in the United States date back to the mid-1800s.
The Söhnleins were generally landholders or farmers, although various branches of the family moved into other professions, such as merchants, doctors, and lawyers. These professional individuals often adopted German or Latinized versions of the surname, such as Soehnlein, Sonnlien, or Sonnlein.
Today, the Söhnleins retain a presence in Europe and North America. They remain connected through a social organization, which they use to stay in touch, and also to honor and remember their ancestors and the family’s history.
Order DNA origin analysisSöhnlein: Where does the name Söhnlein come from?
The last name Söhnlein is a German surname, derived from early forms of the first name Sogen and the German word lein, which means "little". The surname is most commonly seen in Germany, particularly in the south of the country, as well as Austria. Other countries where the name is found include Luxembourg, the Czech Republic, and the United States.
In Germany, the name is more popular in the southern states of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg, which together account for almost half of all people of this surname. It is also commonly found in the states of Rhineland-Palatinate, Hesse, and Thuringia.
In the United States, the name is not as common as in Germany, with only about 500 people bearing the surname. It is, however, widely distributed throughout the country, especially in the Midwest and the mid-Atlantic and New England states of the East Coast.
Today, the last name Söhnlein is still relatively rare, but its presence is felt in all of these regions. Due to the large emigration of Germans after World War II to countries like the United States, its presence is likely to continue and even grow in the coming years.
Variations of the surname Söhnlein
Söhnlein is an old German surname believed to have originated from the Latin word sonus, meaning ‘sound’ or ‘echo’. The variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin are as follows:
Sohnlein, Sohnlein, Sohlein, Sohlines, Soehnlein, Soehlein, Sohrlein, Sohrtlein, Söhrlein, Söhrtlein, Soehnlien, Soehlin, Soerlein, Soertlein, Sohrnlein, Sohrnlein, Söhrelin, Söhreelin, Söhrenlein, Söhrenlin, Söhrenlein, Söhrenline.
The surnames of the same origin include Sonlein, Zonlein, Sühling, and Sehling. Sonlein is a variant of Söhnlein which is derived from the Latin meaning “son”. It is a fairly common surname in Germany and is found throughout the world.
Zonlein is another variant of the same origin that is derived from the words “zon” and “lein”, which together loosely mean “lovable son”. This surname is believed to have been used in the Middle Ages and is still found today.
Sühling is a variation of the same origin which is derived from the term for “younger son” and again is found in numerous areas of the world. Lastly, Sehling is a surname derived from the Old German words “seh” and “ling”, roughly meaning “little sound” or “echo”. This original meaning of Söhnlein is thus mirrored in its various variants.
Famous people with the name Söhnlein
- Maximilian Söhnlein: a German actor, known for his roles in movies such as Parken (2013), Degowski (2016) and Burlesque (2017).
- Reinhold Söhnlein: a German singer and songwriter, best known for his songs “Stardust on My Shoulders” (2009) and “You Haunt Me” (2011).
- Rudi Söhnlein: a German footballer, who played for clubs such as VfL Bochum, Schalke 04 and FC Basel.
- Yylene Söhnlein: a German actress, who appeared in films such as Gettis (2014) and Sisters of Berlin (2015).
- Ella Söhnlein: a German author, whose works include Zweite Welt (Second World, 2017) and Der Spieler und die Zeit (The Player and the Time, 2019).
- Ernst Söhnlein: a German geologist and paleontologist, who was a professor of geology at University of Frankfurt from 1908 to 1927.
- Rudolf Söhnlein: a German physicist, who conducted research on atomic structure, spectroscopy and thermodynamics.
- Christoph Söhnlein: a German composer, whose works include Der Leuenberger Gebet (The Lions' Prayer, 2004).
- Ina Söhnlein: a German artist who works primarily with ceramics and plaster: her work is part of the permanent collection at the National Gallery of Berlin.
- Konrad Söhnlein: a German politician, who served as a member of the state legislature in Lower Saxony from 2009 to 2013.