Surname Möhrlin - Meaning and Origin

Möhrlin: What does the surname Möhrlin mean?

The last name Möhrlin is a Germanic surname, meaning “of the marshland” or “of the marsh”. It is thought to have originated in Bavaria, where marshland was common. It is likely that the surname was derived from the Old German words “mõra,” which referred to lowland areas near a river or stream, and “lin,” a suffix commonly used to signify a person or place of origin. The Möhrlin surname may also have derived from the Middle High German words “möra or möre,” which can refer to a person from a marshy area or a meadow.

Today, the Möhrlin surname remains common in Germany, with an estimated 600 holders of the name living in the country. It is also common in Portuguese-speaking countries, such as Brazil and Portugal, and is thought to have been brought to the region by German immigrants in the 19th century.

In general, the Möhrlin surname is associated with rural areas and it is thought to reflect a family’s origins from these lowland areas. Those carrying the Möhrlin name today are likely related to the Marsh Swamp Tribe, which was one of the few Germanic-speaking tribes to remain resistant to Christianization and conversion to Catholicism during the Middle Ages.

Möhrlin: Where does the name Möhrlin come from?

The last name Möhrlin is most common in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, and Liechtenstein. It is an occupational name derived from the Middle High German word mohr(e), meaning “miller”. The majority of the surname’s bearers live in Germany, followed by the Swiss cantons of Zurich and Vaud. Most bearers of the Möhrlin surname hail from southwestern Germany, including Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, and Rhineland Palatinate. The cities of Mannheim, Ludwigshafen, Karlsruhe, and Stuttgart are particularly known for high concentrations of the surname. In Liechtenstein, the surname is also popular and is spelled Möhrle. In Austria, the surname is most commonly found in the states of Styria, Vienna, and Lower Austria.

The Miller/ Möhrlin (or Möhrle) families have a long history in the region, as millers and craftsmen. They have passed down occupational skills from generation to generation for centuries and are renowned for their quality work.

The name has extended beyond the borders of Europe, with Möhrlins to be found throughout North America, Latin America, and Australia.

Variations of the surname Möhrlin

Möhrlin is a German surname of Swiss origin. Common variants of this name include Mohrlein, Mohrlen, Mohrlien, and Mohrlind. It is believed that these variants are derived from a medieval German form of the name, Meurlein, which was itself derived from the Latin term for “little” and the German for “Moor”. This suggests that the original bearers of the Möhrlin surname belonged to a group of people known as “Moorians” who had migrated to Switzerland during the Middle Ages.

The Swiss spelling is Möhrlin, while the German spellings are Mohrlein, Mohrlen, and Mohrlien. Mohrlind is an earlier spelling of the name, which is now almost exclusively found in Switzerland. Variants of this surname also exist in other European countries, such as Austria and France.

In some parts of France, the surname is spelled Möhring, and in Austria, the spelling is as Möhrling.

Other surnames of Swiss origin sharing the same root as Möhrlin include Mörrlin and Möhrling, which are variants of the same surname that have slightly different orthographic roots.

Möhrlin is a somewhat uncommon name, and it is likely that individuals with this surname are relatively distant relatives. However, individuals with any of the variants mentioned above may be related.

Famous people with the name Möhrlin

• Charles Möhrlin, a Swiss figure skater
• Björn Möhrlin, a Swedish professional golfer
• Johnny Möhrlin, a Swedish rock singer and songwriter
• Sandra Möhrlin, a Swedish Pop singer
• Otto Möhrlin, a Swedish ice hockey player
• Bernhard Möhrlin, an Italian racing cyclist
• Ulrika Möhrlin, a Swedish musical actress
• Jack Möhrlin, an American professional golfer
• Alvar Möhrlin, a Swedish sport shooter
• Louis Möhrlin, a 19th century Austrian violinist

Other surnames

Möhrling