Surname Marschal - Meaning and Origin
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Marschal: What does the surname Marschal mean?
The last name Marschal is of Germanic origin and is derived from the Old German phrase “marescalc” which means “horse servant” or “stable servant”, suggesting the original bearer of the name was a cohort of one of the many types of cavalry that existed in the Medieval period. As a result, the name is frequently associated with royal courts and households, suggesting that the original bearer of the name may have served as a soldier or officer in one of the many military services of northern Europe.
The oldest known recorded examples of the surname date back to the 13th Century and are believed to be from the southern German city of Nuremberg. It is likely that the branch of the family that adopted the name during this period descended from a line of mercenary soldiers that had been hired by local feudal lords to protect their lands. This has been further supported by recent DNA analysis which has revealed that many early bearers of the surname can trace their ancestry back to Frankish tribes that settled in Northern Germany during the period of Charlemagne's reign.
The modern usage of Marschal as a surname is still prevalent in many parts of Germany and Europe today, spelt variously as Marschall, Marschal, Marischal and even Marshalde in some cases. It is the name of several German noble families who, through intermarriage, have spread their influence across Europe, not least the current holder of the name, Prince Guido Friedrich Marschall von Bieberstein, who is the Minister of State at the Federal Foreign Office of Germany.
Order DNA origin analysisMarschal: Where does the name Marschal come from?
The last name Marschal is most commonly found in Germany today. It's a variant of the surname Marshalk which is derived from the Middle High German word Marichalshaim which means "soldier or military follower". Other variants of the name include: Marshall, Marshal, Marshalle, Marschall, Marschalck, and Marschalk.
In Germany, Marschal is most often found in the North-Rhine Westphalia region, which is the most populous and densely populated state in the country. The states's capital, Düsseldorf, is the 11th most populous city in Germany. Other cities in North Rhine Westphalia's where Marschal is commonly found include Bonner, Duisberg, Bochum, Dortmund, Essen, Cologne, and Wuppertal.
The name is also found in some other European countries, including but not limited to; Switzerland, Austria, Hungary, Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, Norway, Finland, France, and the Czech Republic as well as the United States.
In the US, Marschal is not very common. Instead, the surnames Marshall and Marshalle are much more common, especially in the Northern states. In fact, the Census data from 2000 show that there were 6,391 people in the US with the last name Marshall and only 12 with the last name Marschal.
Variations of the surname Marschal
Marschal (also spelled as Marschall, Marshchalk and Marshchall) is a German language surname, derived from the German word “Marschall” which means “marshal”. The surname is believed to have originated the Middle Ages, when marshals were appointed by kings or lords to oversee their marshlands; this is the likely explanation as to why the surname was adopted. Over the centuries multiple spelling variants have evolved. These include, among many others; Marschell, Marshell, Marshal, Marshel and Marshale.
The surname can also be found with many other spellings and given names such as Marscal, Marschalck, Marschalek, Marschalk, Marschalek, Marschke, Marschel, Marschill, Marshchal, Marshchalk, Marshchalle and Marshchil.
In addition to the German-origin of the surname, Marschal is also found among various ethnicities and cultures. For example, within South Africa, the surname is also found among Afrikaans-speaking people. Additionally, some individuals from Eastern European countries have adopted the surname, which is likely due to the various immigrations of Germans from countries such as Poland and Romania.
In the United States, the surname has been simplified, and multiple Americanized versions have been adopted. American variants include; Marshale, Marshalle, Marshalk, Marshalek, Marshalk, Marshak, Marschel, Marshall, Marshell, and Marshalek.
In summary, Marschal is a German origin surname that has evolved and been adopted among different ethnicities and cultures, with multiple spelling variants.
Famous people with the name Marschal
- Clark Marschall: American historian and professor
- Kenneth Marschall: American maritime artist
- William J. Marschall: American anatomist and professor
- Edward Marschall: German church musician
- Peder Marschall: Danish assassin
- Karl Marschall: German philosopher
- John Marschall: American Civil War soldier
- Wilbur Marschall: American politician
- John Marschall: American actor
- Marlene Marschall: German Olympic swimmer