Surname Holtzapfel - Meaning and Origin
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Holtzapfel: What does the surname Holtzapfel mean?
The last name Holtzapfel is of German and Jewish origin. It is derived from two possible sources, either from the German words “holz” and “apfel” meaning wood and apple respectively, or from the palatalized form of the Germanic personal name “Holtz” meaning forest. In the former case, the surname would indicate someone who worked in the wood and apple trade, either as a farmer, grower, or dealer; in the latter, the surname would refer to a person from a settlement near a protected forest. As a Jewish surname, Holtzapfel is often associated with the Yiddish word “holtz” meaning a small bird.
It is interesting to note that Holtzapfel is also considered a Jewish surname, as some Holmes consider it an Americanised version of the Yiddish given name “holtz”, often referring to a small bird. This may suggest that the original Holtzapfel bearers were Jewish immigrants to the United States. During WW2, the Holtzapfel family was persecuted, leading to many of them settling in the US, where their surname was Americanised to the more easily pronounced version.
Overall, the name Holtzapfel has a wide range of origins, from trading goods to protected forests, to small birds. It carries an important history and a strong heritage that many are proud of today.
Order DNA origin analysisHoltzapfel: Where does the name Holtzapfel come from?
The last name Holtzapfel is very common in Germany. It is also found primarily in the United States, although there are some Holtzapfels living elsewhere, including Canada, Argentina, and Chile. Holtzapfels in the United States are primarily descended from German immigrants who arrived to the U.S. in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
In Germany, the last name is most commonly found in the former East German states of Saxony-Anhalt, Saxony, and Thuringia. It is also found more scattered throughout the rest of Germany, typically in the southern and central regions. It also appears to be present, though not as common, in selected parts of the Netherlands, Switzerland, Austria, Luxembourg, Poland, Lithuania, and other European nations.
Holtzapfel is a German occupational surname that means "maltster", or someone who works with malting barley or wheat to make beer or whisky. The surname was likely adopted by people in Germany who were skilled in the profession of malting grain, likely sometime in the Middle Ages. It is an old name, and though not as common as it once was in Germany, there are still numerous people carrying it today.
Variations of the surname Holtzapfel
The surname Holtzapfel has many variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. The most common spellings are Holtzappel, Holtzapple, Holtzaple, Holtzapel, Holtzpfel, Holzapfel, Holzappel, and Holtzepfel. It can also be found written as Holtzaphil, Holzapfl, Holtzeplet, Holtzupfel, and Hultzappel.
In more than one hundred years of immigration to the United States, immigrants of this name have Anglicized it in various ways, such as Holzapple, Holtzapple, Hoffman, and even Hoke.
The surname is an occupational name, from the Middle High German word 'holzapheil', which literally means 'wood hollow'. The original bearer of the surname was a person who carved wooden items for a living.
The Germanic variant of the surname is Holzapfel, which is a more modern spelling. This spelling can be found in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and other countries with German influence. Other variants of this surname include Holtzpfel, Holtzappel, and Holtzaple.
In addition to being an occupational name, Holtzapfel has also been a popular given name in Germany. So, in addition to the other variants of Holtzapfel, there are also variants of the name itself, such as Holtz, Holtzmann, and Holzmann.
Finally, the surname Holtzapfel has also provided a basis for other surnames. One such example is the surname Hoelzappel, which is derived from the combination of Holtzapfel and Hoelzappel. It is mainly found in Austria and Germany.
Famous people with the name Holtzapfel
- Cindy Holtzapfel, an American television and film actress best known for playing Louanne Stephens in the 1993 film “What’s Eating Gilbert Grape”.
- Peter Holtzapfel, an American media personality and author, most well-known as the author of the memoir “Struggle Street: Life on the Wrong Side of the Tracks”, in which he recounts his rough upbringing in Chicago.
- Kurt Holtzapfel, an American entrepreneur and investor, the former CEO and co-founder of Momentum, an investment platform for entrepreneurs and investors.
- Mike Holtzapfel, an American actor and comedy writer, best known for his roles on the BET series “Real Husbands of Hollywood” and “The Carmichael Show”.
- Gisela Holtzapfel, a German Olympic athlete, who competed in the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich as a bobsledder, winning two silver medals, one in the two-woman and one in the four-man bob.
- Joe Holtzapfel, an American retired Special Forces officer, considered one of the pioneers of the U.S. Army Special Forces. He was awarded the coveted Silver Star for bravery in combat on two separate occasions during the Vietnam War, in 1966 and 1968.
- Erich Holtzapfel, an Austrian film-maker and television director, best known for his work on the movies “Die Welle” and the television show “Der Patriot”.
- Kurt R. Holtzapfel, an American scientist and neurologist, best known for his research into the causes and treatments of some of the most common neurological disorders, such as ALS, epilepsy, and multiple sclerosis.
- Alexander Holtzapfel, an Austrian-born architect and designer, best known for his modernist designs, including the iconic Holtzapfel Tower in Vienna.
- Susanna Holtzapfel, a German architecture historian and professor, best known for her research into the history of modernist architecture and its influence on contemporary urban design.